Cambridge Systematics and GLDPartners were recently engaged by the Mid-Region Council of Governments and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Trade Alliance to assess the greater Albuquerque region’s trade-related infrastructure and define the best opportunities to grow trade in New Mexico’s main metropolitan region. The recommendations have been published on MR-COG’s website: Albuquerque Project Yields New Rail and Airport Opportunities.

First, it’s important to mention that as investment advisors that work throughout the US and globally, we were impressed with the special set of New Mexico qualities including its robust research and technology base, its available industrial sites, and the condition and performance of its multimodal freight network.   The State, the local Albuquerque region leadership, its educational system, it natural setting and its art have a distinct and independent flair that makes it a quite special place.

In summary, we found that the region has a range of unique logistics and business assets, that harnessed and taken together could yield a very powerful business growth cocktail. After conducting a detailed sector-supply chain competitiveness analysis and assessment of key infrastructure, our team concluded that the region could attract considerable new investment connected with two projects. From our analysis, we recognized the potential for multimodal truck/rail-related projects in the region and for a purpose-built rail park along the mainline BNSF track. As well, building from a strong existing regional technology base (including a major Intel facility and a range of start-ups and mid-growth companies) we recommended that the Albuquerque Sunport and the area around it (the region’s main airport) be developed as a purpose-planned hub for high-velocity, high-value manufacturing. We think the region could create an investment district that takes advantage of state of the art property assets and infrastructure, with special access to both belly, integrator and freighter air cargo service – and be quite distinguished from many other airport assets.

This is what competing in the 21st century global tech and manufacturing world will look like and the Albuquerque region “gets it”.  We applaud the region’s vision to undertake such a business analysis and delivery plan – and are quite enthused about the region’s plans for a next-generation transportation and economic development strategy.

Jim Brogan, Cambridge Systematics and Adam Wasserman, GLDPartners

MR-COG –  The geographic area served by the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) has access to regional, national, and international production and consumption markets through its connections via the junction of I-40 and I-25, access to the BNSF Railway Trans-continental line, and cargo and passenger service offered by the Albuquerque International Sunport. While the region does face challenges, such as an overall industrial base smaller than the national average, the region’s research and technology sector- centered on multiple national laboratories and the University of New Mexico – is robust. To capitalize on these strengths, MRCOG commissioned this Transportation and Logistics Hub Study to more precisely assess the region’s competitiveness and ability to attract freight-related industries and identify policies, projects, and strategies to improve the region’s overall economic competitiveness and position it as an international transportation and logistics hub.

The MRCOG region has an incredible opportunity to grow and diversify its economy by leveraging its transportation infrastructure, strengths in technology and workforce developments, and regional partnerships to support existing employers and attract new businesses. By making targeted, regionally-focused investments that leverage the trade gateways – air, rail, and highway – to build its manufacturing and technology economy, MRCOG, the City of Albuquerque and its regional partners can cultivate an economy of robust growth. Moreover, increasing the freight-and logistics-enabled economy will support growth in the region as a whole – not just for a particular city or county.

Supplementing the findings and recommendations are four technical documents (included as appendices) developed for this study. Each of these reports examines a distinct aspect of the freight, industry, and logistics trends in the greater Albuquerque region.

The mission of the Albuquerque – Bernalillo County Trade Alliance is to:

• Position the Greater Albuquerque Area as a world-class source for value-added services & products
• Promote the metro-area as a strategic location for foreign direct investment
• Be the metro-area catalyst for increased bilateral trade development and job growth