Provide funding for improvements to our bus shelters and bus stop facilities to cover transit planning activities for the metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) for the city of albuquerque service…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the City of Albuquerque Transit Department (ABQ Ride) $4.136 million under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program on January 2, 2026, for capital improvements and operational enhancements in the Albuquerque metropolitan area through June 30, 2028.

The award funds four distinct project categories. Project One covers bus shelter and bus stop facility improvements, including Braille bus stop pucks, signage, ADA improvements, lighting, solar equipment, sidewalks, benches, trash receptacles, and street-scaping, with all shelters placed in right-of-way. Project Two funds transit planning activities supporting the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, including congestion mitigation, transportation safety and mobility improvements, land use planning, transit asset management implementation, and public transportation agency safety plan execution. Project Three provides acquisition and installation of transit security equipment. Project Four delivers technology infrastructure modernization: annual personal computer and server replacements on a five-year cycle, server virtualization upgrades, public address system improvements at Alvarado Transportation Center, hardware and software for field workers, wireless connectivity infrastructure at transit facilities and centers, mobile device management, and GPS tracking for all vehicles.

The recipient is ABQ Ride, the Transit Department division of the City of Albuquerque, a municipal transit agency serving fixed-route and paratransit services. Work is performed in New Mexico. This is a formula grant under 49 U.S.C. § 5307, the Urbanized Area Formula Funding Program, which apportions federal resources annually to transit agencies in urbanized areas for capital and operating assistance and transportation planning.

Activities

For project one the associated transit improvement activities may include but are not limited to braille bus stop pucks bus stop and facility signs bus stop improvements and street-scaping including sidewalks shelters benches trash receptacles ADA improvements lighting and related utility or solar equipment. All bus shelters will be placed in right-of-way. For project two the planning activities will be mitigating congestion in the city improving transportation safety mobility and traveler knowledge improving land use to support transportation efforts prioritizing and evaluating proposed transportation projects implementation efforts of the transit asset management plan and public transportation agency safety plans. For project three the security equipment activities will include the acquisition and installation of security related equipment. Finally for project four the technology activities include: annual PC replacement per replacement schedule (1/5 of the PCS in the department are replaced each year)annual server replacements per replacement schedule (1/5 of the servers replaced annually) and/or upgrade to virtualization (new technology) for more thorough server managementalvarado transportation center PA system improvementshardware/software to support field workersfacility wireless connectivity infrastructure at transit facilities and transit centersmobile device managementgps tracking for all vehicles

Expected outcomes

This funding will allow ABQ ride to make improvements to our bus shelters will keep our bus shelters ADA compliant and ensure our bus shelters are safe locations for ABQ ride passengers. To enhance mobility management develop a coordinated transit system and keep its facilities and equipment in a state of good repair. As well as to provide ABQ ride with the best security to safeguard our assets passengers and employees. Finally to provide our passengers and employees with the best technology available.

Intended beneficiaries

City of albuquerque federal and governments resources; passengers; employees and taxpayers