Urban trends and issues
Recently, government leaders and many citizens in the city have actively pursued urban projects taken on by cities many times larger. A huge push has resulted in the somewhat successful revitalization of downtown, creating restaurants, offices, and residential lofts. The strip of Central Avenue between First and Eighth streets has become a hub of urban life, with a big-city feel. Alvarado provides convenient access to other parts of the city via ABQ RIDE the city bus system. The mayor wants to tackle a rapid transit project to ease some of the city's traffic woes. A street car is being considered and would initially extend up the Central Avenue corridor from the westside, through downtown, past UNM and the Nob Hill district, and into the Uptown Area .
A few citizens and city councilors fear Albuquerque may be "growing too quickly." They want to avoid increasing crime and traffic, worsening air quality, stressing water supplies, and encroaching on the natural environment. For instance, 1995's controversial construction of the Montaño Bridge crossing at the Rio Grande resulted in the bridge only being striped for two lanes. After a grace period, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce passed a board position in 2003 supporting the opening of two additional lanes; these lanes were eventually opened in March 2006, despite the outcry of local residents. However, a significant majority of Albuquerque residents supported the opening of the four lanes, as well as the initial construction of the bridge in 1995..
The passage of the West Side Strategic Plan provides rules concerning building permits for the extreme western fringes of the city. . This act encourages in-filling developments and discourages the movement of wealthy residents to outlying suburban areas. Urban sprawl is limited by the Pueblo of Sandia to the north, the Pueblo of Isleta and Kirtland Air Force Base to the south, the Sandia Mountains to the east and Petroglyph National Monument to the west. These limitations facilitate reuse of land within the existing city limits and have forced more efficient use of available land around the edges as well.
Because of cheaper land and lower taxes, much of the growth in the metropolitan area is taking place outside of the City of Albuquerque itself. In Rio Rancho to the northwest, the communities east of the mountains, and the incorporated parts of Valencia County population growth rates approach twice that of the city. The primary cities in Valencia County are Los Lunas and Belen, both of which are home to growing industrial complexes and new residential subdivisions. The Mid Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), which includes constituents from throughout the Albuquerque area, was formed to insure that these governments along the middle Rio Grande would be able to meet the needs of their rapidly rising populations. MRCOG's cornerstone project is the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
