City of Albuquerque launching ARTx in major upgrade to rapid ride service

The city of Albuquerque, N.M., is upgrading its buses and service on the Route 790-Rapid Ride/Blue Line, being renamed to ARTx.

The new buses not only provide a more comfortable ride but also have more room inside for bicycles, as well as Wi-Fi service. The project does not involve any major road construction along the route.

The new name better indicates that the routes are a local service option that complements the ART system, giving riders who need to make several stops that are closer together a good alternative to ART, meant to move riders very quickly over longer distances.

“From new transit centers and connections to getting the long-delayed ART project up and running, we’ve made major improvements to Albuquerque’s public transit system,” said Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. “With ARTx, we’re giving the old Rapid Ride a major upgrade to better serve our residents who use these popular routes—and now you can ride ART from Cottonwood to Coronado.”

ARTx will run the same route as the #790; from UNM at Central Ave. to University Blvd., then west on Lomas Blvd., north on Rio Grande, west on I-40, and then north on Coors Blvd. past Cottonwood Mall to the Northwest Transit Center.

ARTx will not only feature a new logo but will also have the sky-blue theme color of the ART route painted on its stops, just in time for the coming school year. Stops at Coors and Sequoia and at Central and Rio Grande have already been re-painted.

“The permanent ARTx schedule will depend on the COVID-19 climate moving forward and will be developed based on what UNM and CNM are doing in the fall,” said Danny Holcomb, transit director, city of Albuquerque. “ARTx represents a big improvement in the quality of this service for UNM and CNM students and downtown workers.”