On June 28, 2016, the CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association Carol Wight published the following statement. Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project should be a catalyst for a better, more beautiful Central Avenue and a better, more economically vibrant Albuquerque. Instead, it will create a bus dominated, congested street, where citizens will have to…
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Who are your neighbors affected by A.R.T.?
All of the businesses on Central Avenue stand to be affected by A.R.T. Some believe the bus will bring new customers to their business. The majority of businesses recognize that obstruction in the street will impair business.
People don't go shopping to an antique store on a bus. People don't relax at a restaurant when they have to watch the clock so they don't miss the last bus home. People don't rent a costume for an event to carry it home on a bus. People don't buy a birthday cake to carry it home in a bus. People don't shop for office supplies on a bus.
Cars have served a purpose in the U.S. Especially in the West, cars are the principal way to get around. As cars evolve based on market demands for fuel efficiency and environmental and safety concerns, cars will continue to be the best form of transportation for ABQ.
Who are your neighbors affected by A.R.T.?
Many of the businesses along Central Avenue have complained loudly after ABQ Transit released on January 22, 2016 its "updated" plans for A.R.T. Many businesses noticed how A.R.T. proposed to drastically change the corridor -- reduced parking, median removal, one lane of traffic, trees destroyed, no bike paths. Many of those same businesses have continued to complain about A.R.T. and others have joined the cause of keeping the corridor accessible. 
Center Lanes
Do Center Lanes Matter? Planners argue that center bus lanes are required for the A.R.T. project. The go to model -- Cleveland -- does not have center lanes on the whole route. Countries where center lanes dominate usually have very wide roadways. Some board the passengers from a walkway above the roadway like the picture.…
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