Albuquerque’s under-construction Rail Trail project — a seven-mile loop connecting Downtown, Old Town and the Bosque — lost $11.5 million in federal grant money.
New Mexico was one of at least six states to receive a letter from President Donald Trump’s administration stating that funding for pedestrian and bike trail projects has been withdrawn, according to The Associated Press.
City of Albuquerque Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner said the letter he received on Sept. 9 stated that the Rail Trail project “runs counter to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s priority of focusing on projects that promote vehicular travel.”
The grant money was awarded in fiscal year 2022 as part of a standard Department of Transportation grant, formerly named Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE, and would have funded the Downtown portion of the trail, Brunner said.
“One thing that’s kind of important about this trail is it actually improves the safety for cars and bike riders and pedestrians,” Brunner said. “Getting bikes off the streets can improve the safety of vehicles and pedestrians and bike riders alike.”
Brunner said the lost funding will make it tougher to complete the Downtown leg of the trail and that the project may be delayed by a few months, but it is still set to be completed.
“It’s made us have to seek alternative funding and alternative design goals for this trail now that the feds have said they won’t be involved,” Brunner said.
There is debate that the withdrawal in federal funding is due to Albuquerque’s immigrant-friendly status, according to KOAT. Trump has repeatedly threatened “sanctuary jurisdictions” with legal crackdowns and funding cuts since taking office in January.
Brunner said he thinks this theory is wrong because this particular grant program was denied for U.S. cities that aren’t sanctuary cities, such as Fairfield, Alabama.
“I think it’s not accurate to say that this has anything to do with our immigrant-friendly status, and this is more about the Trump administration just not liking bike trails and not liking alternative methods of transportation,” Brunner said.
When reached for comment, the U.S. Department of Transportation did not respond in time for publication.
Brunner said the trail will inspire economic growth in the surrounding areas, and offer people a place to recreate. The 16-foot wide paved trail will come with amenities, including lighting, benches and irrigation for plants, Brunner said.
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“It’s just astounding to me that any president or his administration would be against it,” Brunner said.
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on X @paloma_chapa88
Paloma Chapa is the multimedia editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at multimedia@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @paloma_chapa88
