Bernalillo County Commissioner Frank Baca has committed $250,000 from his District Directed Funding account to support operations at the Route 66 Visitor Center. The pledge is intended to help the facility move forward with staffing and exhibition planning as it prepares to open to the public.
The Route 66 Visitor Center was completed in 2022 through a joint funding effort by Bernalillo County, the City of Albuquerque, and the State of New Mexico, totaling $12.9 million. After construction, Bernalillo County managed the center until April 2024 before transferring ownership to the City of Albuquerque.
A commission formed by the city is currently evaluating how best to utilize the center for community benefit. Recent efforts by Albuquerque have focused on building repairs, and officials say that Commissioner Baca’s funding will allow them to hire staff and develop comprehensive exhibitions for visitors.
In related news, local authorities continue to face challenges with public safety. The District Attorney of Bernalillo County has expressed frustration over suspects being released without GPS monitors when they are supposed to have one. In a recent case reported by KRQE, a man accused of aggravated assault was released despite concerns raised by prosecutors.
