ART timeline
A chronology of key events in the $135.5M transportation project along Central
Former Mayor Richard Berry pushed for the Albuquerque Rapid Transit, saying it would be a transformational project for Central Avenue.
But there were skeptics nearly from the beginning, including business owners who feared losing business during construction.
With new Mayor Tim Keller’s revelation last week that major problems with the project will keep it from launching for the foreseeable future, many are questioning what happened.
Below are key dates for the project: NOVEMBER 2011
City plans to use $1 million in federal funding to study the feasibility of a dedicated bus lane on Central Avenue, from Tramway to the far West Side, a concept known as bus rapid transit.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012
City hosts a series of public meetings to gather input on a possible bus rapid transit system on Central.
NOVEMBER 2013
Mayor Richard Berry, in first State of the City address since winning re-election to a second term, says the city will pursue a bus rapid transit system and there is great demand along Central.
MARCH 2014
The Journal reports that the Federal Transit Administration has approved the city’s plans for bus rapid transit along Central, opening the door for federal matching funds. City is designing a 17-mile bus rapid transit route along Central from Tramway to 98th on the West side. Berry says he hopes to open the first segment before his term ends on Nov. 30, 2017.
NOVEMBER 2014
NAIOP and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce say the city needs a bus rapid transit system.
APRIL 2015
City Council approves a bond package that includes $13 million to make Central fit for bus rapid transit. City hosts meetings on its plans. Berry administration identifies a segment along Central from Louisiana to Coors where the city would build a $100 million system of express buses. City says passengers could be boarding Albuquerque Rapid Transit in September 2017.
JUNE 2015
Administration working on applications for federal funding for ART. Some business owners apprehensive about idea.
JULY 2015
Administration assures federal government in an application aimed at avoiding a lengthy environmental review that ART isn’t likely to generate intense public discussion or controversy. That representation is later used as grounds for litigation seeking to stop the project.
AUGUST 2015
FTA approves exemption to environmental review for ART. City plans to seek $80 million in federal funds.
FEBRUARY 2016
Businesses in Nob Hill and other neighborhoods along Central display signs opposing ART, which is now expected to cost $119 million, up from $100 million. The FTA recommends a $69 million Small Starts grant for ART. Funding is included in President Barack Obama’s budget proposal. Public meeting erupts into shouts of opposition as city officials attempt to explain ART. Several public meetings follow with opponents arguing that the project would choke traffic on Central and harm small businesses.
MARCH 2016
City officials say that besides the nearly $70 million recommended by the Obama administration for ART, the city has $31 million in other federal funds available and $18 million in city sources that can go toward the $119 million project. More than 150 businesses oppose the project. But major employers along the route, including the University of New Mexico, Presbyterian Healthcare Services and several business organizations, support it. City councilors vote 7-2 on March 21 to authorize acceptance of nearly $70 million in federal money for ART. The grant hasn’t been approved yet, but city executives are confident they will get the money because Obama included it in his budget recommendation.
APRIL 2016
ART opponents file two lawsuits to halt the project. City later hires five attorneys to defeat the lawsuits.
JULY 2016
Berry says city will buy 18 60-foot-long electric buses for ART. City is in negotiations with BYD, also known as Build Your Dreams, for the buses, estimated to cost roughly $24 million, or $7 million more than diesel buses. Operating the buses would cost about $21 million less over the next 12 years. Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, meanwhile, throws its support behind ART. City announces it has the federal approval it needs to start spending on construction for ART. Final approval for the main $69 million federal grant is still pending. Federal judge denies request for a preliminary injunction to halt ART. ART opponents appeal days later, preventing construction from commencing.
AUGUST 2016
Federal appeals court grants emergency motion to allow the city to resume preconstruction activity for ART. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently lifts its injunction that had barred the city from tearing up the roadway and beginning work. Some construction begins.
SEPTEMBER 2016
Berry administration signs $82.6 million contract that calls for local construction company Bradbury Stamm to finish work on ART in 16 months, or by late 2017. City entitled to damages of $2,500 a day if work isn’t done on time. Heavy construction to begin following month.
NOVEMBER 2016
Michael Riordan, Albuquerque’s chief operating officer, repeatedly assures city councilors that the FTA will provide the $69 million “Small Starts” grant for ART. FTA has recommended the funding, but Congress hasn’t yet approved a budget for the coming year. A transportation expert based in Washington, D.C., tells the Journal that it’s standard practice to begin work before a grant agreement is finalized and that any concerns otherwise are “completely unfounded.”
DECEMBER 2016
10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirms a lower court ruling that allowed the project to move forward.
APRIL 2017
A $1 trillion-plus budget deal unveiled by federal lawmakers contains $50 million for ART. Remaining funds expected in subsequent fiscal year.
AUGUST 2017
Berry unveils ART’s first electric bus at Civic Plaza.
SEPTEMBER 2017
In his final State of the City address, Berry says ART is about 80 percent finished and is ahead of schedule. He says the city is seeing building permits along the corridor totaling $337 million.
NOVEMBER 2017
Official says ART will offer limited service on Nov. 25 and is scheduled to start full ticketed service on Jan. 1. Berry, along with dozens of officials and citizens, take a ceremonial first ride on one of the ART electric buses on Nov. 25. Officials announce that the project is partially operational and will offer free rides to and from the BioPark’s River of Lights. ART spokeswoman Joanie Griffin says seven of ART’s buses are operating and the total fleet will be ready by the end of the year. Later that night, an ART bus collides with a driver who makes an illegal left turn. No one is injured, and the bus sustains no major damage. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, meanwhile, awards ART the institute’s Gold Standard for Bus Rapid Transit designation.
DECEMBER 2017
Griffin says heavy construction on ART won’t be done until year end. New Mayor Tim Keller, in a speech to community leaders, stresses that federal funding for ART has yet to materialize. He and his administration begin hinting at problems with ART. FTA tells Journal ART is in the Small Starts Project Development phase of the FTA’s Capital Investment Grants program and is undergoing internal review.
JAN. 9, 2018
Major problems are revealed when city officials hold a news conference on ART, including significant issues with the buses and construction or design flaws along the route. Keller calls ART “a bit of a lemon” and won’t venture a guess on when it might be operational.
JAN. 10, 2018
BYD, in a statement, pledges to work overtime to resolve the issues with its buses.
JAN. 12, 2018
Bradburry Stamm and Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, an architect on the project, pledge to work with city and other contractors to resolve problems.