Axing of bus deal brings another delay to Albuquerque Rapid Transit

Albuquerque’s mayor announced this week he is yanking 15 BYD electric buses off the street and will replace them with 10 nonelectric buses, bringing another delay to the troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit project.

Mayor Tim Keller recently grounded the buses after city inspectors found myriad problems with the vehicles.

The Albuquerque Journal listed the problems discovered in the Build Your Dream electric buses built in California:

  • The BYD contract called for buses that could go 275 miles on a single charge; they could go only 177 miles
  • The batteries’ range lessened even more during hot weather or overheated while charging
  • Keller feared the overheated batteries would cause a fire on the buses
  • BYD failed to build supplementary charging stations on the bus route on Central Avenue (aka Route 66) as promised
  • Problems with the buses’ braking systems
  • Lack of undercarriage protection on the buses
  • Buses that wouldn’t stop when emergency doors were being used
  • Cracks in the bus exteriors
  • Mirrors not set up correctly
  • Electrical wiring problems
  • An electric handicap chair lock that becomes unsecure when the driver turns on the air conditioner
  • Missed deadline for the delivery of buses

Bernie Toon, director of ABQ Ride, said BYD used “half measures” to solve the problems and a concerted effort to repair the buses likely would uncover more problems.

The revoking of the BYD contract means another 18-month delay of full implementation of ART.

Shortly after taking office as mayor, Keller said ART was “a bit of a lemon.” Albuquerque Rapid Transit was shepherded into existence by his predecessor, Richard Berry, who said the $135 million ART project was needed to draw millennials and high-tech companies to Albuquerque.

A BYD spokesman said “we continue to stand by our product,” and “it’s unfortunate Albuquerque decided on this course of action.”

The city didn’t have to pay BYD until it took full delivery of 20 buses. Keller said the city likely will wind up in court against BYD to get compensation for the delays and problems.

Route 66 businesses saw steep declines in revenue during about 18 months of ART construction, and several lawsuits sought to stop the project.

The city’s inspector general in June criticized the city for using general-obligation bonds on the project, proceeding with ART without a federal grant agreement in place (it finally was announced in August), awarding contracts to untested companies, and appearances of bias.

The state’s auditor also is investigating the ART project.

(Image of ART bus via Mick Rich for U.S. Senate website)

4 thoughts on “Axing of bus deal brings another delay to Albuquerque Rapid Transit

  1. “Problems with the buses’ breaking systems”. Is that an American spelling of “’braking”. Many British 19th century documents relating to trains use the “break” spelling, for example “break vans”.

    Why is the previous mayor not being sued for his ill-thought out transport scheme?

  2. A practical suggestion: erect poles along the bus route, attach wires to them, electrify the wires so that pantographs from the electric buses can pick up the current to power them while charging the on-board batteries in case a bus has to go off the wires. Proven technology and just as “clean” as the nightmare-inducing BYD failures.

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