City leaders seek compromise for Rail Trail, Westside Indoor Sports Complex funding
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – A recent Albuquerque City Council decision has put a portion of funding for the Rail Trail project in jeopardy. Now, city leaders are aiming to reach a compromise.
'One of the strong things we have is this bike community, and building up this infrastructure; I just think it's a positive thing,' said Cyndy Bowra, a local bicyclist.
It's the latest shakeup in the progress toward building one of the biggest projects in Albuquerque, a 7-mile-long multi-use trail in the heart of the city called the Rail Trial. 'A $500,000 cut by the City Council really hurts,' said Terry Brunner, Director for Albuquerque's Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency.
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The Rail Trail project is already under construction near the Sawmill District. However, earlier this week, councilors voted to move half a million dollars from the project to fund the Ken Sanchez Westside Indoor Sports Complex. Mayor Tim Keller vetoed that decision.
'I'm a cyclist here in Albuquerque and I strongly support all the trails that we are doing here,' Bowra explained.
The city says they plan on introducing a new piece of legislation in hopes of reaching a compromise that would fund both projects. 'Hopefully, by the end of the summer, into the early fall of 2025, we'll have people traversing this trail from Tiguex Park over to Sawmill Market,' says Terry Brunner, Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director.
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According to the city's Government Affairs Office, councilors would first need to uphold Mayor Keller's veto with a majority vote, which would free up the $500,000 for use. The city could then reappropriate the $500,000 back toward the Rail Trail, and another $500,000 for the sports complex.
'The extra $500,000 would come from city council neighborhood set-asides,' said Government Affairs Official, Josh Anderson.
While city leaders debate on how the funding should be used, the next part of the Rail Trail could soon come to life near the downtown Alvarado Station on Central. According to the city, they have 90% of the design for that portion of the trail complete and are waiting for the green light from the state to begin construction.
'We're starting construction any day now to remove one of those railroad tracks to give us a little bit wider berth,' Brunner added.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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