Safer Roads in a Flash

Albuquerque transit employee takes on bold project to boost bus route safety

Margaret Lucero had seen too many mishaps along Albuquerque’s BRT line traversing Route 66 in Albuquerque, NM, due to illegal left turns. Now her bright idea is improving road safety.

New Mexico’s largest transit agency, ABQ RIDE, launched a BRT system in 2019, ART, which has been recognized by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy as a Gold Standard BRT system. ART is the agency’s most productive service, delivering more than 2 million rides annually, which is almost twice as many riders as the rest of the system per hour of bus service operated.

Despite its success, there are approximately three ART crashes monthly due to illegal left turns, with a total of 150 incidents between November 2019 and December 2025. The average repair costs some $30,000 and takes around two months. Each damaged bus means fewer road-ready vehicles available. Paired with a nationwide mechanic shortage, riders can feel the strain.

Lucero, executive assistant for ABQ RIDE, thought the city’s Pre-Management Development Program (PMDP) might provide an opportunity to improve this years-long safety issue, and applied.

“I kept asking myself, after all these years, why are we still having accidents? At first, I thought it would be an easy fix,” said Lucero. “While the issue seemed simple, the project was more nuanced than expected.”

Previous measures to prevent illegal left turns included installing pin curbs, painting lanes, training drivers, launching informational campaigns, enlisting a safety improvement study, installing signage, and more. Despite these efforts, crashes persisted.

Once accepted into the PMDP program, Lucero embarked upon an innovative project to raise awareness of approaching buses, reduce unsafe and illegal turns, and ultimately create a safer environment while cutting avoidable repair costs.

Lucero pulled crash data and interviewed several departmental teams. During an interview, one driver suggested a flashing sign to catch drivers’ attention. She partnered with transit leadership and traffic engineering to make that happen. They strategized logistics on signage, installation, verbiage, and how to make lights flash only when buses approach through a loop detection system.

The result of Lucero’s “Illegal Left-Hand Turns” project is mounted signs that flash as buses approach three piloted stations near intersections with the highest concentration of crashes.

“These literally flashy new signs are just in time for the Balloon Fiesta,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “So, on top of improving everyday safety, they should be extra helpful for visiting drivers who may be unfamiliar with our ART system.”

The total project cost is $30,000. Lucero calculated that if one accident can be eliminated monthly, the savings would be $360,000 annually based on repair averages.

“It’s one thing to have a sign, but people become immune to them. Flashing lights more effectively alert drivers to oncoming buses,” said ABQ RIDE Safety Manager Dean Woulard.

Lucero plans to evaluate crash data after six months and again after a year to see whether the signage effectively curbs crashes. Depending on the data, she hopes to add more signs but also understands that intersections must be chosen strategically since too much signage can cause desensitization.

“I know some people will still run red lights and not follow the rules of the road. But if my project can eliminate even one accident per month, our transit system will be safer for everyone,” said Lucero.

The PMDP is a yearlong workforce enrichment program offering employees practical skills to grow their career in public service.

“PMDP is an investment in Albuquerque’s future,” said City of Albuquerque Human Resources Manager Danielle Reed. “We are helping employees who are ready to lead, gain confidence, communicate with purpose, and better understand the community we serve.”

Lucero’s project is a powerful example of the innovation that can happen when people are given the opportunity to turn ideas into action. What began as an investment in one person’s potential, can ultimately make a difference for millions of riders who rely on ABQ RIDE services each year.