Rio Metro assumes operations of two Rail Runner connection bus routes

Starting next week, Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride will replace two ABQ bus routes to and/or from the Bernalillo County Rail Runner station and the Los Ranchos/Journal Center Rail Runner station, one of which serves points in Rio Rancho.

Commuters who use routes 222 and 251 will now need to call 505-352-3595 to schedule the service starting on Monday. Ride requests must be made between 6 a.m. and noon one business day in advance. Requests for Monday rides must be made by noon on the Friday before.

“We are replacing two ABQ Ride bus routes that we have funded for several years with our own Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride service,” said Danny Holcomb, transit manager-bus, Rio Metro Regional Transit District. “Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride will basically run along the same corridor that the ABQ Ride buses did, but now commuters who use those routes will have to call the day before so they can schedule the service. This is important to note because if no one requests service for a particular day, the Rio Metro bus will not show up.”

Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride Commuter 222 and 251 Operate Weekdays Monday through Friday

• Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride Commuter 222 provides transportation from the Bernalillo County Rail Runner Station to the Albuquerque International Sunport, the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, and back.
• Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride Commuter 251 provides transportation from the Los Ranchos/Journal Center Rail Runner Station to Century Rio 24, the Northwest Transit Center, Intel, and points in Rio Rancho, and back.

“We realize that any time you introduce a new service, it takes a little getting used to,” Holcomb said. “But our hope is that the transition to using this new Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride commuter way of connecting to and from these two Rail Runner stations will be fairly seamless and prove beneficial to all those who use it.”

Visit www.riometro.org/newservice to learn more about Rio Metro Dial-a-Ride Commuter 222 and 251 service and view the schedules.

Rio Metro Customer Service representatives are available at 866-795-RAIL (7245) from 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.