Snowplow contest is back; ABQ bus route changes take effect

'Tis the season to come up with cool, creative names for New Mexico's snowplows.

On Thursday, the New Mexico Department of Transportation launched its third annual Name a Snowplow Contest. The winning top 12 entries will be displayed on plows across all six highway districts. 

"What we’re looking for — creative, winter-themed, or New Mexico-inspired names," NMDOT spokesperson Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic said in a news release.

Don't be naughty. Follow the rules, which include:

• Submitting one name only.
• Names are limited to 20 characters (including letters and spaces).
• No vulgar, profane or inappropriate language.
• Politically inspired names, including plays on politicians’ names or slogans, will not be considered. "This contest is meant to be fun and nonpartisan," Bustos-Mihelcic said.
• Previously selected NMDOT snowplow names are ineligible.

Last year's winners were: Snow Bueno and Snow Way, José! (District 1), Scoop Dogg and Chips & Que Snow (District 2), Alice Scooper and Taylor Drift (District 3), Red Chilly Brrrr-ito and the Blizzard of Oz (District 4), Blizzard Wizard and Clear-o-Pathra (District 5) and En-CHILL-ada and Zia Later, Snow (District 6).

To submit an idea, visit https://www.dot.nm.gov/name-a-plow/.

Submissions will be accepted through noon Dec. 26.

BUS ROUTES: The city of Albuquerque is reminding bus riders that it has made some route changes that went into effect on Sunday.

They include:

• Route 66 buses will arrive every 30 minutes instead of 25 minutes.
• Route 53 (Isleta Boulevard to Downtown) will run on Sundays. Riders taking the bus on the other days, will have to wait an hour instead of 45 minutes.
• Route 36, which runs from 12th Street to the Rio Grande by Griegos Road, will be discontinued. It will be replaced by ABQ Ride Connect’s Rio Grande Service Zone, which will now feature Saturday service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Route 8 (Menaul Boulevard) will provide service on Indian School Road, west of 12th Street and Rio Grande. Riders can expect the bus to arrive every half-hour instead of 40 minutes. The route, however, will no longer go north on Fifth Street and south on Sixth Street.

RIO BRAVO LANE CLOSURE: An eastbound lane on Rio Bravo Boulevard by Second Street will be closed until Dec. 30.

The closure is necessary so construction crews can remove and replace deteriorated concrete at the intersection, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said in a news release.

The work is the latest part of the Rio Bravo reconstruction project that includes the widening of Rio Bravo from 4-6 lanes, addition of Americans with Disabilities Act-complaint improvements and a rebuilt railroad crossing the accommodates the widened roads.

Work is expected to be finished by May 2026, she said.

TRAFFIC FATALITIES: According to data from the New Mexico Department of Transportation and University of New Mexico, there were 37 traffic fatalities reported in November. This marks about a 5% decrease from October.

The county with the most traffic fatalities last month was Bernalillo with eight. Tied for second were Doña Ana and San Juan counties with five.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.