The Albuquerque City Council unanimously ratified Mayor Richard Berry’s Route 66 Action Plan for a 15-mile stretch of Central Avenue in the city, reported the Associated Press and other media outlets.
The plan comes with infrastructure improvements, tourism additions and historical preservation, among other things.
You can read a summary of the plan here, but here are the highlights:
- A so-called “digital backbone” that better attracts high-tech businesses.
- Transportation improvements that are safer and better for bicycles, cars, buses and pedestrians.
- Improvements of the city’s bus system.
- More signs from Interstate 40 to guide travelers to Route 66 and its historic sites and attractions.
- Streetscape improvements.
- More opportunities for public art.
- New neon signs and preservation of the existing ones.
- Preservation and redevelopment of historic Route 66 buildings.
- Facade improvements to existing buildings.
- Filling in gaps on Central Avenue with new development.
- Encourage business development.
- Increase residential development.
- Better branding of Route 66.
- A new website touting Route 66 in Albuquerque.
- Building visitors centers and interpretive sites.
- Special events and festivals.
Keep in mind this is a “long-range” plan — it will take years to have all these things come together. And with an initial budget outlay of $150,000, it will take years to come to fruition.
The complete plan is here. However, be warned — it’s 122 pages of an Acrobat document.
(Image of Route 66 in Albuquerque by OpenThreads via Flickr)