Albuquerque Journal

UNM, city working on football game access
By Lloyd Jojola, Journal Staff Writer

Lobo football fans looking to avoid traffic and the search for a stadium parking spot can score bus service to home games this year. But taking the train on game day is still a plan in the works.
       
City and University of New Mexico leaders recently announced an agreement in which ABQ Ride will provide shuttle service to the games.
       
Special parking lots will be set up, and bus riders will be dropped off in front of the stadium, according to ABQ Ride. UNM will work with city police so buses have easy access to and from the game.
       
The parking shuttle will be at "Lot T" at Lomas and University NE. A UNM representative will be there selling tickets for the shuttle, which will cost $3 per game, and season passes for $12.
       
"This service allows for better access to the games, freeing up parking and reducing congestion on busy streets," Mayor Martin Chávez said in announcing the agreement.
       
Meanwhile, the idea of installing a Rail Runner Express "special events platform" near Avenida César Chávez so train service could be provided on game days is still being planned, said Lawrence Rael of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, the agency that manages the train.
       
Initially, a simple station was envisioned, with shuttle service between the stadium and the train stop, but the project has grown in scope, Rael said. The state Legislature this year set aside $450,000 for the project, and the university has agreed to chip in some $500,000, Rael said.
       
Preliminary engineering and design work has started, and it's expected to be completed by late September. At that point, there should be a better project cost estimate.
       
"Part of this thing is that the university really wanted this to look like a first-class platform," Rael said. "Obviously, we're not going to make this Lobo football season, but we are hopeful that we can build it within the next year."
       
The Lobos football season kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday against visiting TCU.