Albuquerque has launched or completed nearly $167 million in capital projects across the city, from new parks and fire stations to library upgrades and public art. These efforts aim to improve daily life and core services in every City Council district.
This series breaks down where the money went, what was built and how it was funded in each district. And this November, voters will help decide what comes next.
Southwest growth leads to big upgrades
More than $3 million in recent public funds are transforming District 3 on Albuquerque’s southwest side. City leaders are investing in community centers, parks, public safety and animal care facilities to meet the needs of one of the city’s fastest-growing areas.
Projects range from a gym at Westgate Community Center to lighting upgrades at Alamosa Park and improvements for fire and animal welfare services. Most of the work is funded through General Obligation (G.O.) Bonds and partnerships with the state and Bernalillo County.
With another bond vote coming this fall, residents will soon weigh in on the city’s next round of capital priorities.
Public safety hub underway
District 3 will soon be home to the Southwest Public Safety Center, the city’s first facility to house police, fire and community safety services in one location.
The $23.9 million project at Amole Mesa Avenue and 98th Street will feature a 21,000-square-foot building shared by Albuquerque Police (APD), Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) and Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS). Officials say it will cut response times and create a stronger public safety presence on the southwest mesa.
“I am pleased that residents and businesses here in District 3 will soon have the resources of our city’s first responders more readily available,” said Councilor Klarissa Peña at the 2024 groundbreaking. “The SW Public Safety Center will increase safety by decreasing emergency call response times and enhance public confidence in our first responders.”
Phase one includes Fire Station 23, a new APD substation and an ACS office. Both APD and ACS spaces are in design. The city is requesting $18 million from the state to fund phase two, which would add a transit Park and Ride station.
“It has been 20 years since the City of Albuquerque added a new fire station to help meet the needs of our community,” said AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo. “Our call volume has risen about 40% and Fire Station 23 will be the first new fire station to help address the demands for service.”
Once complete, the facility will include a four-bay garage for AFR, 3,000 square feet for APD and 2,000 square feet for ACS.
The city previously invested over $164,000 in bond funds for Station 23. The proposed 2025 bond cycle includes $4.5 million to upgrade AFR facilities citywide, including work on Station 23.
Upgrades at Westside Animal Shelter
The city allocated just over $354,000 for improvements to the Westside Animal Shelter at 11800 Sunset Gardens Road SW. Projects included HVAC upgrades and a new animal clinic.
The 2025 bond proposal sets aside $1.7 million for the Animal Welfare Department — $1.5 million for shelter improvements and $200,000 for replacement vehicles. According to the city, all 2025 funding is focused on rehab, not emergency repairs.
Westgate Community Center keeps growing
The Westgate Community Center at 10001 De Vargas Road SW opened in 2021 and continues to grow in phases. Phase two, launched in 2023 with $5 million from the governor’s office, added a splash pad, early childhood classrooms and two multipurpose rooms.
Phase three, backed by $1.5 million in G.O. bond funding, will build a new gym. City officials say future phases could bring a park with a walking trail, fitness stations, a playground and shade structures.
The center already offers a fitness room, computer lab, game room, flexible meeting spaces and a senior meal site.
“These additions and features to Westgate Community Center will offer greater access to more residents,” Peña said. “We are excited to see the progress and the potential to enhance the lives of our community residents.”
Alamosa Park gets a glow-up
Alamosa Park at 1100 Bataan Drive SW received more than $537,000 in G.O. bond funds for new LED lighting. The nearby skate park, located at Coors and Bridge, was the first of five parks citywide to receive the upgraded lighting.
The city also refurbished the tennis courts, added a BMX dirt bike trail, installed a shade structure and rebuilt the perimeter fence to make the space safer and more enjoyable for youth and families.
Route 66 Visitor Center
Perched atop Nine Mile Hill, the new $14 million Route 66 Visitors Center is now open for public previews. The 21,000-square-foot facility celebrates Albuquerque’s history along the iconic Route 66 and serves as a flexible gathering space for public and private use.
Built with state, city and county funding, the center is now officially owned by the City of Albuquerque after a vote by the Bernalillo County Commission in February. Visitors can stop by Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the move-in phase.
The center is part of a larger push to boost tourism along the Route 66 corridor and encourage visitors to explore Albuquerque’s historic west side.
Bond-funded improvements include more than $54,000 for new flooring. Since 2022, nearly $1 million in site improvement funds have been allocated, most of which remains unspent as final work continues. The project also received grants for Route 66 signage and centennial celebrations. New signs now mark the Route 66 West neighborhood.
How the bond program works
The Capital Implementation Program, or CIP, manages bond-funded construction and repair projects across Albuquerque. These include roads, parks, libraries, police and fire stations, and community centers.
Most projects are funded through G.O. bonds, which are backed by property taxes. The tax rate stays the same because new bonds replace old ones as they’re paid off. Most city debt is retired within six to seven years thanks to low interest rates.
By law, 1% of all G.O. bond funding goes toward public art. Other project money can come from state, federal and private sources.
For the 2025 cycle, city departments submitted more than $200 million in project requests. After internal scoring and community review, the Environmental Planning Commission holds hearings before the final plan goes to the mayor and City Council. The Council must hold at least one public hearing before voting to put each category—or “purpose”—on the ballot.
The two-year bond cycle helps city staff plan ahead and gives the public time to weigh in. In January, the Council set the official criteria for the 2025 cycle.
Albuquerque voters have historically supported bond measures. In 2021, 70% of voters approved every bond question on the ballot.