The public meeting over Mayor Berry's rapid bus transit plan (ART) that erupted into chaos Wednesday night drew wide reader reaction. Joanie Griffin, who provides public relations for Bradbury and Stamm, the contractor for the $119 million project on Central Avenue, came with this:
“I was one of the people trying to speak as part of the ART team last night. It was complete chaos. I do appreciate that people are upset. But screaming at City employees and the contractors does nothing to facilitate the process. Our intent with this series of public meetings is to present what is currently planned and get feedback from people. It's not a do you want ART or don't you want ART conversation. It's what can we do to mitigate the construction impacts and make this a project that works for people.
Rather than yelling and screaming, come up with some constructive alternatives and solutions. Right now businesses on Central are dying without ART. So what would they do to improve the business climate if not ART. Making a scene isn't constructive for anyone.”
Susan Bradway writes:
“While progress is a good thing, infrastructure must be in place to support that progress. The ART is a good idea but the infrastructure is not there. An economy near recession combined with a construction endeavor that will drive most would be shoppers away is an instant recipe for economic disaster for merchants along Central Ave. Combine the construction chaos with Albuquerque's elevated violent crime rate and that should about drive everyone out. Maybe that is the REAL plan. On some levels this is like the Behavioral Health debacle. Drive the present businesses out and put favored new ones in. Disgusting at best.”
Reader Jim Cooke writes:
“Joe, as an auto-free resident of the SE Fringecrest neighborhood I wonder how far $25 million would go in providing improved bus and jitney service in all the grossly under served districts peripheral to Central. Pretty far, I'd bet. I can hop on the No. 16 bus going West and, in minutes, get to Central where one risks drowning in the river of No. 66s, 666s and 777s. Fine. But try to make it to an appointment in the South Valley, North Valley, or anywhere north of Central and one needs to factor in hours to account for serpentine bus routes, long walks and time-in-stir spent at connecting bus stops, not to mention the challenge of distilling those connections from the Transportation Department's opaque schedules.
ART is a particularly unimaginative project. We need the jobs, granted. Why not make those jobs permanent by de-Centralizing the existing scheme?”
Reader Dan writes:
“. . . This is $120 million shot in the arm that creates construction jobs, will spur economic development, improves transportation and makes ABQ look less blight-y which is a real problem in attracting businesses and new residents. Plus it preserves a right-of-way for future mass transit upgrade (street car, light rail). The businesses on Central opposing this are insane in my opinion. Businesses are already leaving and closing and a shovel has yet to hit the ground. While we think Nob Hill is such a great walkable area it is only by our car-centric standards. The sidewalks are too narrow (BRT project would widen them) and cars travel too fast (BRT would reduce lanes in some area to one car lane which would slow traffic and make it easier to cross the street). My preference would be a streetcar or light rail but that option is not on the table. It’s pure fantasy given our dire economic realities. If a vocal minority (who skew older) kill this project, ABQ is in worse shape than I feared.”
There was another boisterous public meeting on ART Thursday night with most people in attendance adamantly opposed but feeling helpless that the project will be rammed through no matter their views. And where was Mayor Berry? Nowhere in sight to explain the massive $119 million project.
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I am posting these other links relating to “That Meeting” below.
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