ABQ RIDE Goes Green One Flower at a Time
ALBUQUERQUE: On Monday, April 22, 2024, ABQ RIDE celebrated Earth Day with a special flower planting project at the Alvarado Transportation Center in partnership with a 4th grade class from Lew Wallace Elementary School. A group of 21 students from the downtown school assisted ABQ RIDE and City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation staff with planting over 100 annual flowers inside the bus yard at the ATC. To further honor the message of Earth Day, ABQ RIDE also provided free transportation for the students to and from the event with one of the department’s fully electric buses.
“Providing a clean and inviting environment for travelers and commuters who make their way through the Alvarado Transportation Center is a key factor in promoting safety within ABQ RIDE,” said Transit Director Leslie Keener. “We are honored to partner with Lew Wallace Elementary School on this project and work together to clean up and revitalize our downtown community.”
“As we work hand in hand with our future leaders, we're cultivating a vibrant and welcoming environment at ATC, a key component of our city’s Downtown Core. Together, we're transforming downtown Albuquerque through our attention to green space and community partnerships,” said Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner.
After the planting concluded, the students were provided with a box lunch and goodie bags that included coloring pages, ABQ RIDE swag, and other informational materials about the City of Albuquerque, transportation, and sustainability. ABQ RIDE will display a special sign at the flower planting site to symbolize the department’s appreciation for the students’ hard work.
Today’s planting event was part of a larger ATC beautification project designed to create a clean and inviting environment for bus riders and travelers making their way through the area. Over the next several weeks, the department will work to restore existing landscaping in medians and pedestrian walkways throughout the facility.
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ABQ RIDE strives to be the first choice in transportation services for the Albuquerque Metropolitan area. By using this alternative to the single-occupant vehicle, riders are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate traffic congestion while building a strong, resourceful, and sustainable community.