ALBUQUERQUE’S A-R-T BUS SYSTEM WAS TO BE UP AND FUNCTIONAL 18 MONTHS AGO … BUT IT’S STILL NOT OPERATING. AND TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL TO MAINTAIN THE BUS STATIONS ALONG CENTRAL FOR A-R-T BUSES.
THE ACTUAL BUSES FOR THE SYSTEM WERE RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THE LANES REMAIN EMPTY. MEANWHILE, CHANNEL 7 NEWS REPORTS TAXPAYERS ARE PUTTING OUT MORE THAN 300-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO KEEP THE BUS STATIONS MAINTAINED. AND WE HEAR THE COST JUST GOES UP ONCE THE BUSES ARE RUNNING ON CENTRAL.
THE CITY PLANS TO HIRE SEVEN MORE EMPLOYEES TO MAINTAIN THE STATIONS. AND NEXT YEAR, FUNDS PLANNED FOR THE A-R-T ARE 5 PERCENT OF A-B-Q RIDE’S BUDGET.
