Santa Fe MPO news & updates

April 2024 bikes bikes bikes! Must be almost Bike Month!

Please enjoy the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization's Quarterly Newsletter, where people-powered transportation planning happens! Each quarter we share developments in our programs, plans, and projects driven by the voice of the public.

Para solicitar una traducción al español, envíe un correo electrónico a lxyngve@santafenm.gov.

New Trails Are Opening in Time for Summer!

El Camino Real Academy Trail

The MPO, Santa Fe Public Schools, Santa Fe Conservation Trust, and other community partners long ago identified the immediate need for a paved trail connection between El Camino Real Academy and Cottonwood Village Mobile Home Park, where over 200 students live. With federal funding, this trail is finally becoming a reality! The trail will be substantially complete in May and fully complete in June. It will ultimately tie into the River Trail network north and south.

Read more about trail plans and this community in our illustrated plan, "Discovering Paths Today and Tomorrow", and watch the newly released MPO video demonstrating the impact of the connection.

A ribbon cutting is tentatively planned for Bike to School Day on 5/8! Email Leah for details.

Cañada Rincon Trail

The City of Santa Fe is also nearing completion of the Cañada Rincon Trail between Camino Francisca and Calle Mejia to the east of The Reserve. This trail provides a critical connection between the neighborhoods north of Camino Francisca to the rest of the city, which it is not directly connected to by the road network.

The Cañada Rincon Trail will be complete by July of this year.

Acequia Trail at Maez

Homewise purchased a former rental property at 1268 Maez that backs up to Los Hermanos Rodriguez Park and donated a 10 foot parcel to the City to create this long-coveted Acequia Trail connection. Now people walking or biking can travel from downtown to South Meadows without using Cerrillos or Agua Fria. This is a huge win for local connectivity!

Join Homewise and partners for a ribbon cutting and opening celebration at 1268 Maez on MAY 7th! Details here.

Gearing up for Santa Fe Bike Month in May!

Local organizers have done it again, lining up a whole month of activities, "bike there" discounts, and, of course, bike rides for riders of all abilities and interests to enjoy our city on 2 wheels!

Here's a small sample from the 25+ events:

International Women’s Mountain Bike Day - May 4
Bike-in Dance Party - May 4
12th Annual Bike Swap – May 5
National Bike to School Day group rides May 7-10
Tour de Mural Cruise – May 11
National Bike to Work Day – May 17
Santa Fe Century – May 17-19
Urbanist “Book” Club – May 20
Cycle to Recycle: Buckman Recycling Facility–May 24
Art by Bike: Off the Rails – June 1

Check the bike month website for businesses participating in "bike there" discounts!

SAVE THE DATE - Art by Bike: Off the Rails, June 1st

The Santa Fe MPO is teaming up with City of Santa Fe Arts and Culture and City District 2 representatives for another fun art and active transportation mashup! If you made it to our 2022 event, you can expect the same basic ingredients: interactive stops, live performances, and a pop-up protected bike lane! This time we're taking the festivities to the Rail Trail between Alta Vista and St. Michaels, Second Street, and Lena Street.

Check our website for updates and join us June 1st, 12pm-3pm!

Interested in hosting an activity or having a table? Email Leah.

BPAC Takes Action on Bicycle Friendly Community Designation and

Maintenance Resolution

The City of Santa Fe Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) led the extensive application process to renew the City's Bicycle Friendly Community designation. Santa Fe was once again awarded Silver!

City Council will recognize this designation at the May 8th Governing Body meeting.

The BPAC also initiated the commonly termed "Maintenance Resolution", which highlighted the importance of understanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure conditions and allocating funds to their maintenance.

The Governing Body passed the resolution on March 27th, 2024.

Santa Fe Public Schools Hires

Safe Routes to School Coordinator

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program has transitioned from the City of Santa Fe to Santa Fe Public Schools via federal grant funding. Santa Fe Public Schools (SFPS) welcomed a new staff SRTS coordinator, Ryan Harris, to lead the program in March!

Ryan joins SFPS from Esperanza Bicycle Resource Center in Albuquerque where he taught youth bicycle safety and mechanics for over 10 years. Ryan has hit the ground running with a full week of events for National Bike to School Day/Week May 6-10. Want to get involved? Contact Ryan.

Plan and Program Updates

Metropolitan Transportation Plan to be updated 2024/2025

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is one of the MPO's federal requirements and guides transportation decision-making. Federal regulations require an update every five years and the MPO is looking ahead to see how we can make the MTP more interactive and accessible.

Fun stuff - Bike Month!

Bike maintenance got you down? Learn the power of home repair with the Broken Spoke Flat Tires and Roadside Repairs Clinics ($10) or the annual Bike Santa Fe Bike Maintenance Series.

Are competitions more your thing? Ship of Fools is hosting the Arroyos of Madness Alley Cat on 5/5. Test your knowledge of the city! Or channel your bicycle appreciation into poetry for the annual Baiku contest!

Bike there, get benefits! This May local businesses are once again supporting bicycle travel by providing discounts and freebies when you bike there. Check the website for the complete (and evolving) list!