The City of Albuquerque has begun removing unused railroad tracks at Central Crossing, marking the start of significant construction on the downtown segment of the Rail Trail project, which aims to reshape Downtown Albuquerque and reconnect historic neighborhoods.
The Rail Trail is planned as a 7-mile pedestrian parkway, envisioned as the “Trail of Enchantment,” reflecting the city’s history and culture. It will link Downtown, Old Town, Sawmill, the Rail Yards and the Bosque. The removed tracks were part of the Santa Fe Railway system, which once employed a significant portion of Albuquerque’s workforce.
“The Rail Trail will literally tell Albuquerque’s story, and just like the railroad once shaped our city, this project connects our past to our future,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “It’s a once-in-a-generation project that will impact every Burqueño by linking neighborhoods, growing our economy, and creating spaces that reflect who we are.”
Central Crossing will unite East Downtown with Downtown, two neighborhoods that have been divided by the tracks for a century. It will also connect to the Rail Trail.
“This project modernizes one of Albuquerque’s most historic corridors, reimagining it to serve the needs of our city today,” said Terry Brunner, Director of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency. “It’s a strategic effort that will expand economic opportunities, spark development, and create a vibrant urban environment for all residents to enjoy.”
The next project phase involves constructing ramps for accessible at-grade crossings.
Public transit updates will be available on the City of Albuquerque Transit Department’s website.
It is my understanding that this project will force pedestrians and bikers to cross the train tracks at-grade. Its a safety issue. Spending a lot of money instead of curing the security issue with the existing underpass is madness. Nobody has any idea what the volume of users will be. How many people are going to “stroll around” downtown ?