Lab workers have additional commuting optionA new commuter bus service route from Albuquerque to Santa Fe begins operating on Dec. 1, providing Laboratory workers an additional commuting option.
Two of the four scheduled buses from the Duke City will travel to Los Alamos, according to route schedules provided by All Aboard America, which operates the park-and-ride commuter service for the state Department of Transportation.
The service between Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Española has been operating since May and averages about 3,000 riders a week, according to statistics from the Public Transportation Programs Bureau of the state transportation agency.
"This expansion is part of our new focus on providing other modes of transportation to our citizens," Transportation Department Secretary Rhonda Faught said in a news release. "The new service also will alleviate rush-hour traffic on Interstate 25 and provide a pleasant ride for commuters."
The Albuquerque to Santa Fe route will cost $2; Laboratory employees who live in Albuquerque and want to use the service will pay an additional $1 fare charge from Santa Fe to Los Alamos, which is the current fare.
According to the state, buses will leave Albuquerque at 4:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., from the Department of Transportation's District office, 7500 Pan American Freeway north of San Antonio, stop in Bernalillo and then at the department's southside, District 5 offices at Jaguar Drive and south Cerrillos Road. Only the 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. buses will travel to Los Alamos. In Santa Fe, Lab workers can pay the additional $1 fare to continue to Los Alamos. The two buses are scheduled to arrive at the East Jemez Road and Diamond Drive shuttle bus lot Technical Area 3 at 6:25 and 8:25 a.m. respectively.
On the return route to Albuquerque, the buses leave TA-3 at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m., respectively, arriving in Santa Fe about one hour later and back in Albuquerque at 6:25 and 8:25 p.m., respectively, according to the route schedule.
With the new service the existing routes between Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Española remain largely unchanged. However, the 4:45 a.m. Santa Fe to Los Alamos bus from Jaguar Drive will now leave at 5:30 a.m., and arrive at TA-3 at 6:25 a.m. The 7:50 a.m. bus from Jaguar Drive will now leave at 7:30 a.m., arriving at TA-3 at 8:25 a.m., and at Central Avenue and 20th Street in downtown Los Alamos 10 minutes later.
The Transportation Department also is coordinating the new service with Santa Fe Trails city buses and local shuttle buses to transport state government employees who travel from Albuquerque to their offices in Santa Fe.
"Since this successful program began in May on the Pojoaque corridor, we have been repeatedly asked to expand these services," Faught said. "It is our goal to expand park-and-ride services throughout the state."
To read the new schedule of bus routes, which are effective Dec. 1, click here. (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)
For more information, go to www.allaboardamerica.com online or call 1-866-551-RIDE or 424-1110.