[Neighbors] FW: 🚍 Free bus fare? Albuquerque can do it.

Thu Mar 5 10:30:14 MST 2020

Hello: I sent an email to Mayor Keller supporting the concept of free bus fare. It's a good idea for everyone. Carolina Yahne
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From: Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm-bounces at mailman.swcp.com> on behalf of Gary and Melodie Eyster via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 3:29 PM
To: neighbors at nobhill-nm.com <neighbors at nobhill-nm.com>
Subject: [Neighbors] FW: 🚍 Free bus fare? Albuquerque can do it.

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Friends and Neighbors, Here’s an update from Councilor Davis.

Please take note of the Nob Hill event tomorrow night.

Kind regards, Gary Eyster, President, NHNA

#VivaNobHIll

From: City Councilor Pat Davis [mailto:patdavis at cabq.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 2:44 PM
To: Nob Hill Neigbhorhoo Association <theboard at nobhill-nm.com>
Subject: 🚍 Free bus fare? Albuquerque can do it.

View this email in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/patforabq.com/120319-472088?e=a17da3c74d>

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Nob Hill,

About this time last year, I met with a group of young men of color in the International District to talk about transit.  They wanted to expand Mayor Keller's program providing free summer bus passes for youth to all youth year-round.

Their organizing led them to the Transit Advisory Board where their idea received the board's unanimous endorsement.  Following their lead, my staff and I worked with staff in Transit and the administration to study the idea and, after reviewing the research and similar programs in other cities, I'm proud to say that we can make Albuquerque the largest transit system in the country to go "fare-free!"

On Monday, my colleagues on the City Council voted unanimously to adopt my "Fare-Free" proposal as a budget priority in our FY21 city budget (Thank you to Bernadette, Jaqueline, Israel, Rep. Javier Martinez and all of the T4B members who came to speak in support!)

But that's just the first step.

How we implement this matters so, later this month, I'll introduce legislation establishing a working group made up of bus drivers, riders, paratransit ("SunVan") users, and our transit staff to develop the plan eliminating bus fares (and filling the small revenue gap) in two phases: first for students in 2021, and for all riders in 2022.

In the meantime, you can help by contacting the mayor<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=25a2311dd9&e=a17da3c74d> and your city councilor and ask them to support it.  And to help you make the case, I'm including some more information about our current fare system and how eliminating those barriers helps everyone access jobs outside of their neighborhood, decrease absenteeism from school and work, and increase participation in community events and after-school programs.

Read more below.

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"HOW CAN I HELP?"
Start by contacting Mayor Keller<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=529bcc68c2&e=a17da3c74d> and your City Councilor to express your support for free public transit.
You can use some of the information below when you call.

Eliminating Bus Fare in ABQ
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More than 30 American cities have transitioned to a free-fare option, but Albuquerque would be the largest. Here in New Mexico, Los Alamos' system is 100% free and Santa Fe provides free rides for students.

Although the small fare of a few cents or dollar is not a lot to most of us, for those who are transit-dependent, having to find correct change or keep track of the balance on a pass is complicated. And not having the right change or right pass can prevent someone from accessing work, community programs or school. The City's citizen-led Transit Advisory Board unanimously endorsed the idea earlier this year. The community group Together 4 Brothers surveyed young people of color and found that 70% would use transit to access jobs, education, and programs if it were free.  And Mayor Keller's program providing summer bus passes to youth proves the benefits: ridership increased systemwide by more than 10% when students were given passes.

Other cites implementing "Fare-Free" programs found that free transit:

  *   Increases access to job opportunities outside of one’s neighborhood
  *   Reduces truancy by providing reliable access to school programs, especially for specialized programs outside of a neighborhood school
  *   Increases participation in City and community events, after-school and summer programs
  *   Reduces wait times at stops caused by passengers having to manage change and passes
  *   Decreases conflicts with drivers over fares
  *   Increases ridership by 25%, on average
  *   Reduces community greenhouse gas emissions by reducing individual auto trips

And a Federal Transit Administration study of fare-free programs found that those most likely to benefit are seniors, students, and low-income riders, groups most sensitive to cost when deciding how to participate in our community.

________________________________
What's next?

The City Council has asked Mayor Keller to include "Fare-Free" transit as a budget priority for FY21.  The Mayor will present his budget to Council on April 1.  In the meantime, the Council will schedule hearings on legislation to establish a working group and ordinances to eliminate fares.  Look for those hearing dates online and in this email soon!

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CALLING ALL NEIGHBORS!

Come out to help support local on Central!

Last year, the Central Avenue corridor in Council District 6 added more than 20 new and returning businesses<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=37ee3c3711&e=a17da3c74d> in just a few months.

As the weather gets warmer and we all start looking for our favorite new neighborhood places to visit this summer, I’m launching a new series of neighborhood meetups to introduce neighbors and new businesses.

Join me, in partnership with Nob Hill Main Street, for our first monthly Neighborhood Night Out to Support Local on Thursday, March 5, 6-8pm, starting with Santa Fe Bite at 3407 Central Ave NE (next to the Guild Theatre).

Read more about this Santa Fe icon and why they chose Nob Hill when they chose to expand their green chile cheeseburger empire.  KOAT NEWS: Beloved Santa Fe Bite is bringing their famous green-chile cheeseburgers to Nob Hill<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=6c86d7396f&e=a17da3c74d>

[https://mcusercontent.com/ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109/images/309f3db5-ca44-482f-b34a-4ed592db5b91.jpg]<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=90cb54004d&e=a17da3c74d>

THURSDAY MARCH 5, 6-8pm
City Councilor Pat Davis & Nob Hill Main Street
Make it date night out!
Support local !
Meet your neighbors, city councilor, local APD officers, Block by Block teams and more!
RSVP (and share) on Facebook<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=5b5efae248&e=a17da3c74d>

UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

March 23, 5pm (arrive by 4:30pm to sign up for comment)
Finance & Gov. Operations Committee
The agenda will include 3 bills I sponsored or co-sponsored relating to gun violence prevention<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=1cb9d4736d&e=a17da3c74d>:

  *   O-19-82:<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=4c478d38f5&e=a17da3c74d> A new ordinance requiring firearms owners to lock up and secure firearms left unattended. (Davis)
  *   O-19-83: <https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=c25c210945&e=a17da3c74d> A new ordinance prohibiting weapons in City meetings and in City facilities. (Davis, Gibson, Benton)
  *   O-19-84:<https://patforabq.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ee7aaeb2e3cbfa0483e14b109&id=2fec5d071e&e=a17da3c74d> An amendment to the existing school threats ordinance to prohibit threats of mass violence against any public or private place in Albuquerque. (Davis)

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Need to contact APD?
You can make reports online or from your smartphone with no wait

EMERGENCY: 9-1-1
REQUEST AN OFFICER IN-PERSON: 242-COPS
Online or on the app:
Property crimes. Lost property. Vandalism. Sounds of gunshots. To submit reports online with no waiting, go to cabq.gov/police
or
Use the new APDMOBILE app on your smartphone

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