NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM PROPOSAL. THAT FROM CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE C-O-O MICHAEL RIORDAN. HE SAYS THE CITY HAS ADDRESSED MANY OF THE CONCERNS OF THOSE ALONG CENTRAL AVENUE, ADDING WIDER SIDEWALKS AND KEEPING PARKING ALONG PARTS OF THE ROUTE.
BUT RESIDENTS AND CENTRAL AVENUE BUSINESS OWNERS SPOKE OUT LOUDLY AGAINST THE PROJECT AT TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS WEEK. THE MOST RECENT MEETING ON “ART” WAS THURSDAY NIGHT AT IMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHERE RESIDENTS COMPLAINED THAT CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS INSTEAD OF USING CENTRAL. BUSINESS OWNERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN NOB HILL, SAY THE MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION WOULD HURT CUSTOMER TRAFFIC AT THEIR SHOPS.
THERE ARE THREE MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS NEXT WEEK. THE FIRST IS AT 6PM TUESDAY, MARCH 1ST, AT THE OLD TOWN POLICE SUBSTATION AT CENTRAL AND RIO GRANDE. THE SECOND IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2ND, AT 5:30PM AT PAT BACA LIBRARY AT CENTRAL AND UNSER. THE THIRD IS ON THURSDAY, MARCH 3RD, AT 6PM AT THE ALICE K. HOPPES AFRICAN AMERICAN PAVILION AT 300 SAN PEDRO NORTHEAST.