Bernalillo County Commissioners to discuss Alameda Drain Trail bike project funding
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A county commissioner is worried Tuesday that funding to expand a popular bike trail could be pulled. The Alameda Drain Trail was first approved in 2016, but now a portion of the nine-mile project is at risk of losing funding.
The Alameda Drain bike trail project would connect a section at El Pueblo Road to Alameda Boulevard. It would take adding paved bike lanes at the intersection near Paseo Del Norte and El Pueblo Road.
Story continues below
Investigation: Documents reveal when Albuquerque police investigated DWI unit tip
Business: Former owner of ABQ ice cream shop reflects on sale after 19 years in business
Crime: ABQ woman headed to prison after stealing nearly $400,000 from Pueblo of Jemez
“The Alameda Drain Trail fills a really important gap in the city’s bike network, allowing people who live in the North Valley and in Los Ranchos to access the rest of the city’s bike network in a safe way,” said Patrick Martin, Advocacy Chair for BikeABQ.
The Alameda Drain Trail project has been in the works since 2016 and is in collaboration with several agencies, including the City of Albuquerque. In September, the city celebrated the completion of phase one of the Second Street Alameda Drain Trail, but now, the project’s future is unclear.
Tuesday evening, Bernalillo County Commissioners will be voting on approving $3 million of federal funding to complete the fourth phase of the project. Commissioner Walt Benson is concerned that some commissioners want to use those funds for something else.
“What’s being discussed is removing the funding for it. So if the funds were gone it would have to be just delayed, but delayed indefinitely until we can get the funds to support it,” said Commissioner Walt Benson, Bernalillo County, District 4.
Commissioner Benson could not disclose who the opposing commissioners are but says it’s about giving constituents what they want and also completing the work with all the other agencies.
“To stop it now, it would be a huge setback and it would communicate to the partners that we’re not being a team player,” said Commissioner Benson.
Supporters point out that the trail would benefit many New Mexican families. “So the Alameda Drain Trail is a really important North-South connection so that people can get to the trails that will take them to Balloon Fiesta, for either the Balloon Fiesta or for upcoming soccer games,” said Martin.
Commissioner Benson says the ARPA funding for the project came from the COVID-19 stimulus funds. Other intersections impacted by this include Tierra Del Sol, Ortega Road, and Saint Francis Road. KRQE News 13 reached out to Parks and Rec, who is working on the southern portion of the trail between 4th Street and Rio Grande Blvd. Construction on this portion is expected to start in 2025.
