After three years of incremental safety improvements, Albuquerque’s public transit system is implementing a comprehensive long-term security plan designed to address persistent safety concerns and boost ridership across the city’s bus network.
The Albuquerque Long-Range Transit Security Plan represents the culmination of efforts that began in 2022, when ABQ RIDE first started rolling out safety measures, including plexiglass driver barriers, mobile security support and enhanced surveillance systems. The new strategy calls for hiring 87 transit safety officers and establishing joint leadership between ABQ RIDE and the Albuquerque Police Department.
The plan emerged from a 2024 study conducted by Parametrix, a national transit planning and engineering consultancy, which evaluated ABQ RIDE’s existing safety practices and identified gaps in security coverage. The study recommended a multi-layered approach combining administrative oversight, increased staffing and enhanced enforcement capabilities…