An important step is being taken in an ongoing plan to build some 7 miles of multi-use trails in downtown Albuquerque.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has just announced the awarding of $10 million in state funding to build what will be a loop of trails connecting various parts of the downtown and adjacent areas.
In making the announcement, the Governor said the project will “build new and safer recreation options for residents and visitors.”
What is being officially called the Albuquerque Rail Trail will extend along the traditional rail spur line from the downtown core to the Sawmill District and Market, the historic Albuquerque Old Town, and the Bosque Trail near the banks of the Rio Grande.
The trail project is seen as the lynchpin to a larger mixed-use development that will include multifamily housing and business space in what is known as the Downtown Rail Corridor.
The Albuquerque Rail Trail project is expected to be completed in three phases, at an estimated cost of $39.5 million. Thus far, the City of Albuquerque has committed some $15 million for the portion of the trail running from Central Avenue to Lomas Boulevard.
Additional funding is being sought out of Washington.
According to city documents, aspects of the trail will include both separate pedestrian and bicycle paths, as well as, at another point, a two-way cycle track. The downtown portion will be “within the rail alignment, showcasing the historic buildings and activating adject properties.”
A primary goal of the rail project, besides its economic development potential, is to “connect the diverse communities it travels through and build bridges across those that have been disconnected.”
By Garry Boulard
