Albuquerque — Streetcar Slowdown

Rail Transit Online, January 2007

A $270-million downtown circulator streetcar project that seemed to be on the fast track to implementation has all but evaporated along with support from elected officials.  The scheme, a basic four-mile (6.4 km) line along the Central Avenue corridor utilizing modern streetcars plus a segment to the airport, was championed by Mayor Martin Chavez.  In early November, the city council approved an extension of a quarter-percent transportation sales tax to finance construction.  Streetcar supporters appeared confident that the council at its Dec. 4 meeting would authorize the sale of revenue anticipation bonds to finance the work.  But later in November, a growing number of council members decided that voters should make the final decision and began talking about a special election early in 2007.  Meanwhile, opposition to the proposal began building along with second thoughts by the politicians.  By the Dec. 4 meeting, the streetcar was a dead duck and the council unanimously agreed to withdraw the bond sale ordinance from the agenda.   Further consideration of the project was postponed indefinitely and Mayor Chavez now says he favors a broad analysis of Albuquerque's transportation requirements.