ART gets $14M grant; rest of $75M grant remains unclear

Albuquerque's mayor announced Monday the troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit project will receive $14 million from a Federal Transit Administration grant, but the fate of a long-anticipated $75 million grant from the agency remains unclear. The Albuquerque Journal reported: Mayor Tim Keller in a Monday news conference at the Uptown Transit Center said the federal government … Continue reading ART gets $14M grant; rest of $75M grant remains unclear

El Vado Motel in Albuquerque to begin taking overnight guests Monday

After almost a 13-year hiatus, the historic and redeveloped El Vado Motel in Albuquerque will begin accepting overnight guests Monday. KOB-TV reported the latest development with the Route 66 landmark. For now, prospective overnight guests can use this link at Booking.com get a room. A perusal of the site shows El Vado has rooms priced … Continue reading El Vado Motel in Albuquerque to begin taking overnight guests Monday

Los Lunas lands grant to design Route 66 museum

The village of Los Lunas, New Mexico, received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help design and plan a Route 66 museum and visitors center. The Valencia County News-Bulletin reports the village will work with the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning on the project. The grant … Continue reading Los Lunas lands grant to design Route 66 museum

Los Lunas tourism plan includes possible Route 66 museum

The village council of Los Lunas, New Mexico, recently approved a strategic tourism plan that includes a possible Route 66 museum. The News-Bulletin reported the village wants to collaborate with other municipalities in Valencia County to boost tourism to the region. The newspaper reported: The objectives of the plan include creating a road map brochure … Continue reading Los Lunas tourism plan includes possible Route 66 museum

Inspector general’s report criticizes ART project

Albuquerque's inspector general on Thursday issued a scathing report about the troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit project along nine miles of the city's Route 66 corridor. The report, in effect, repudiates former mayor Richard Berry, who championed the project and shepherded ART through a divided city council. Berry said ART, which caused 18 months of construction … Continue reading Inspector general’s report criticizes ART project

ART construction ends, but issues remain

New Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller proclaimed Thursday that major construction along Central Avenue  for the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project was finished, and businesses along that Route 66 corridor could breathe a sigh of relief. However, major issues remain along the troubled nine-mile bus system, with no quick resolution in sight. The Albuquerque Journal reported: During … Continue reading ART construction ends, but issues remain

New Mexico Tourism produces new video about Route 66

A few days ago, the New Mexico Tourism Department uploaded a 12-minute video about Route 66 in the Land of Enchantment. Typical of the department's New Mexico True videos, it's a high-quality production: I commend it to your attention. https://youtu.be/3hLVfSQlzs4 Interviewed in the film are: Johnnie Meier, owner of the Classical Gas Museum in Embudo … Continue reading New Mexico Tourism produces new video about Route 66

El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening

The historic El Vado Motel in Albuquerque is moving closer to reopening -- probably sometime in May -- after a lengthy redevelopment on the long-closed Route 66 property. While in Albuquerque earlier this week, we dropped by to check on progress on the property, which is being converted into a boutique motel with food pods, … Continue reading El Vado Motel inches closer to reopening

VIDEOS: De Anza Motor Lodge sign taken down for restoration

Workers on Wednesday took down the neon sign for the De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque to be restored -- one of many steps to rehabilitate the long-closed historic Route 66 property into a boutique motel. Melissa Lea Beasley, president of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, wrote in that group's Facebook page: Today the … Continue reading VIDEOS: De Anza Motor Lodge sign taken down for restoration

Route 66 motels may help ease housing shortage in some areas

Old motels -- including those on Route 66 -- are being eyed as a solution for a growing housing shortage in parts of the United States. An article in Bisnow.com cites The Sundowner Motel and the Luna Lodge -- both on Route 66 in Albuquerque -- as examples of once-seedy properties recently converted by New … Continue reading Route 66 motels may help ease housing shortage in some areas