Quarter-cent transportation tax passes - RAPID RIDE SAVED! (Hope: appointed, purchases)

[Pink Jazz]

Well, it's official, the quarter cent transportation tax has passed. Rapid Ride is saved .

Really, I thought the odds were against it. Expect ABQ RIDE to increase service and order more buses, including the replacement of the aging 300-series buses.

[rybert]

Bike Trails are saved as well (well, maybe)!

[Pink Jazz]

With the new mayor, I wonder if there will be a new transit director. Interestingly, Greg Payne is a Republican himself, but was appointed by Martin Chavez who is a Democrat. Hopefully Berry will keep Greg Payne.

As for future transit services, the streetcar is probably dead. However, we can hope that Richard Berry can still help improve the existing bus system. I know he was against the transportation tax as he was concerned that Chavez would use the funding for the streetcar.


Here is what I would like to see:

• A fourth Rapid Ride route (the Pink Line) on San Mateo.
• 6 addtional New Flyer DE60LFR 60-foot articluated diesel-electric hybrid buses for increased Rapid Ride service.
• 40 New Flyer XDE40 Xcelsior 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses to replace the 300-series buses.
• 15 New Flyer DE35LFR 35-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses for some lower ridership routes and some routes making tight turns (such as the 51 Atrisco/Rio Bravo).
• 6 NABI 31-LFW 31-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses for the D-Ride.

[abegofet]

Andros

at 1/2 to 3/4 million per bus your bill comes in slightly less than 35 million

considering Transit's operating budget for the next 4 years as slightly more than 12 mil/year
and that Fed Grant money is available for bus purchases at a 80/20 split and requires a 2 year turnaround befor any of that grant money is received, Perhaps you could do some math to figure out wnen transit will be able to afford all of this.

It looks to me that the soonest will be 6-8 years out (on the realistic side)