AARP Eye Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
South Central Regional Transit District (2020) Print
2020 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Transportation
└ Public or private transit access
└ Public or private transit access
Founded in 2016, the South Central Transit District serves a largely rural area in New Mexico's Mesilla Valley. Before its launch, no public transportation services covered this part of the state. Despite the area's hot summer temperatures, few of the District's bus stops had amenities aimed at helping transit riders wait comfortably. To fix this, the District added two dozen benches and four bus shelters in several communities, including Anthony, Chaparral, Sunland Park and Hatch. District staff constructed concrete pads for the benches, which sit in high traffic areas. The work represents the first phase of improvements to stops -- the District plans to add LED lighting to increase safety for riders. Project organizers say the shelters and benches are popular with students and older adults, who make up a large share of the transit system's ridership.
Photo Gallery
Image:
Click on a photo to learn more
See More Projects Like This One
New Orleans, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Lifelong housing and accessibility
Description: Part of a larger effort to construct four affordable, ADA-accessible townhouses, this project installed a wheelchair lift in one home.
Cosmopolis, WA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project upgraded an underutilized park with ADA-compliant benches, a covered area, ramps, picnic tables and more.
Rincon, PR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: To help community members reconnect after COVID-19 shutdowns, ACOMER Puerto Rico created community gardens at several centers for older adults. The organization purchased raised garden beds for each site and provided seeds for planting. Additionally, ACOMERPR held seminars on gardening techniques and recruited agronomists to provide technical assistance onsite. Local leaders manage each garden and organize group gardening sessions. Project organizers say they hope the garden plots allow residents to grow their own produce, increasing the community's access to nutritious food. This supports ACOMERPR's wider mission to offer food and medical resources to at-risk older adults and people displaced by natural disasters.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Las Cruces, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Public art installations
Description: This project will help community members beautify a revitalizing downtown through a participatory paint-by-numbers mural on the wall of a nonprofit makerspace.
Las Cruces, NM
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Bikeability
Description: To make its downtown more bike-friendly, the Downtown Las Cruces installed 40 bike tacks. Based on feedback from the local cycling community, project organizers painted the racks racer green. Engagement with local business owners and volunteers determined the best locations to place the racks. In the future, Downtown Las Cruces expects placemaking efforts to continue with new shade sails. The City of Las Cruces also has plans for a new green path to facilitate biking and walking.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP New Mexico State Office
535 Cerrillos Road
Suite A
Santa Fe, NM 87501
United States