The Mid-Region Council of Governments will be presenting the Draft Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for the UNM/CNM/Sunport Transit Study at a series of public meetings this month. The Draft LPA reflects more than a year of analysis and public feedback, and it will be presented at the following meetings:
 
Tuesday, Sept. 10, 12 - 1 p.m.
UNM Student Union Building, Lobo Room A/B
 
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 12 - 1 p.m.
CNM Student Resource Center, Room 204
 
Thursday, Sept. 12, 6 - 8 p.m.
Loma Linda Community Center, 1700 Yale Blvd. SE
 
“The idea is to identify a proposed route that would connect many of the state’s key destinations, including UNM, the UNM Hospital, CNM, the stadiums, and the airport, as well as nearby neighborhoods and businesses,” said Dewey Cave, executive director, Mid-Region Council of Governments.
 
The project would include several Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) elements, including bus-only lanes, designated stations with real-time information, and advanced buses that are more comfortable and easier to board.
 
“BRT buses aren’t any faster than regular buses, but they have fewer stops and don’t get stuck in traffic, which saves a lot of time,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, who sits on the Transit Study’s Task Force. “It’s been quite successful in other cities, and we think it could be implemented here in a way that fits the surrounding area.”
 
The draft alternative may still be revised, and the study team will ask for public feedback. Once the alternative is finalized, the project will enter its development phase. If federal funding is awarded, it could be ready for construction within just a few years. The study will also recommend land use and parking policies that would support transit and encourage a more efficient transportation network.
 
The UNM/CNM/Sunport corridor is the region’s largest activity center, drawing more than 74,000 people every day and housing 20,000 residents. While the area has excellent east/west transit service, a 2011 study found that there are key opportunities to improve transit access to businesses, jobs, and other destinations along the north/south corridor.