Bus system could cut lanes on Central

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The city is looking at a plan that could squeeze central into one lane in each direction or cut out street parking to clear the way for a bus system that's very much like light rail with a price-tag that  could be a couple $100-million.

City of Albuquerque transit officials spent Wednesday in Ohio taking notes on the Cleveland's Bus Rapid Transit System. They said it is a possible plan to fix the congested traffic mess down Central Avenue, the heart of Albuquerque.

Drivers, like Chris Martin said it's needed.

"I try not to because of the traffic is so heavy, especially through the UNM and Nob Hill area," Martin said.

City officials said Ohio's Bus Rapid Transit system works like a light-rail system, even has modern buses and stops that look the part. Two lanes are designated for buses only and they can control the stop lights to keep passengers on the move.

City officials said it works on Cleveland's main drag and it will work in Albuquerque.

"What you're doing is you're attracting riders and bringing them to a destination in a very timely manner, the downtown, the medical complexes, The University of New Mexico," ABQ Ride Director Bruce Rizzieri said.

It could be great for bus riders, like Claire Blanton, who say Albuquerque's Rapid Bus system isn't.

"It's not that fast, it takes more than 15 minutes for me to get up here sometimes," Blanton said. Not that it takes that long to drive up here but it takes that long at all the stops and then trying to get back into traffic takes a long time."

Martin said it might be a good fix for drivers too.

"I think it would be a great idea, it would alleviate a lot of the back up traffic with the buses," Martin said.

However, they both had concerns about how it would be accomplished and if that meant that it could cut the two-lanes in each direction down to one.

"That might be a problem, they'd have to widen the roads, Martin said.

City officials said they're in the early stages of the plan and don't know for sure if the buses would mean fewer lanes or no parking. They will soon have a series of public meetings to get input from the community.

The city says if all goes well, construction could be done on central and the buses rolling in five years.

Cleveland spent $200 million on its eight-mile rapid transit bus system. Central runs more than 15 miles from tramway to 98th street but city officials think the cost-per-mile here could be done cheaper and they think the feds would pick up a lot of the tab.

Six years ago then-mayor Martin Chavez stirred up some serious debate when he proposed building a light-rail system that would run from the river to Nob Hill and from Central past the stadiums and the UNM Pit to the airport.

The cost of that was estimated at $225 million.