Bus to the Future: Transit for Everyone for Any Reason

Looking back at the 2025 Shared Futures Cohort

Photo by Lisa Hurst

This spring I poured myself into an art installation as part of the 2025 Shared Futures Cohort—an ArtScience initiative that fosters collaboration between local artists and scientists.

Five scientists and five artists were paired up to create art for local children’s museum, Explora, that reflects challenging problems related to our scientist’s area of expertise.

I was paired with transit planner, Adrianna Fragozo, whose research showed the harrowing effects of providing micro transit to rural communities. Sifting through interviews with riders of this new transit system in Farmington, I came across people who hadn’t left their house in years. People who needed medications delivered, and had no option to drive themselves anywhere.

Living in New York City for eight years, I was familiar with what a reliable public transit system looked like. Adrianna was raised in Colombia, and was also familiar with relying on public transit. When both of us moved to Albuquerque, we were shocked at how the local community doesn’t embrace public transit.

What would it take for a community to embrace public transit? How could we make the bus a fun, safe, trustworthy option for people who drive their own cars?

I imagined a soft landing for everyone. Could we offer everyone a clean sip of water? A way to find a job? Child care? A way to get directions to the hospital. Or a way to find free food? Could a bus fulfill our needs?

We developed an image of a rug hanging on a wall, with two chairs that made you feel like you were sitting in a new type of public transportation. A Bus to the Future.

Hundreds of hours, over 30 cones of cotton yarn, and gallons of paper pulp later—we present to you:

“Bus to the Future: Transit for Everyone for Any Reason”

Now on View at Rainosek Gallery (School of Architecture & Planning at the University of New Mexico) through August.

Come to the Closing Reception!

Friday August 15th from 4:30-7pm

George Pearl Hall
2401 Central Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM

Photo by Lisa Hurst

Me and Adrianna at Explora’s Opening Night!

Read our Project Statement:

Imagine a time 30 years from now: You’ve scheduled your ride pick-up using an app 10 minutes before deciding to run to the store. On the back of the seat in front of you is a charger where you can plug in your biodegradable PearPhone 1000. Then you press a button for a fresh sip of clean water. You sit peacefully looking out at the Albuquerque landscape knowing emergency services, doctor appointments, child care, and food resources are available at the press of a button.

This sustainable and human-centered vision is what we hope for the future of public transportation—where mobility freedom is available to everyone, for any reason, at any time. 

Our installation, “Bus to the Future: Transit for Everyone for Any Reason,” is a sustainably built example of what a “future bus” could look like. It’s built with enduring materials including upcycled aluminum chairs, papercrete (made out of 50% post-consumer paper, and 50% concrete), and tufted cotton yarn. At the foundation of it all is Microtransit, an app-enabled on-demand public transportation service. Research on this transportation method done in rural New Mexico showed riders used their services for healthcare, food, child care, and shopping at local businesses. These life enhancing experiences instilled a sense of options, freedom, and a more spontaneous life. “Bus to the Future” imagines a reality based on microtransit that would make mobility insecurities described in the following quotes a thing of the past:

“This is the first time in three years that I’ve ever went shopping.”

“You might as well give me a ride. Because if I don’t get my prescription, I’m gonna be in the emergency room in 24 hours. And you’re gonna have to give me a ride to the emergency room, and that’s very expensive.”

“Hey, if Walmart didn’t deliver my groceries, I wouldn’t be alive. I haven’t left my house in three months.”

While sitting in these chairs, reflect on the freedom of mobility you may or may not have in your life, and how having access to public transportation makes for a fuller, safer, and more enriched life for everyone.

With most systems struggling financially, the future of public transportation is at risk. Federal government will contribute a maximum of half the operational funding for public transportation, but only when the other minimum of 50% is already raised from the local government. Buy-in from local communities is essential for public transportation to exist and support those facing transportation insecurity. Rural communities are especially in need of services like microtransit, and with New Mexico being 60% rural, infrastructure like “Bus to the Future” will make a significant impact.

As populations rise and resources dwindle—public transportation is the future of movement. When a community embraces shared transit, case studies show enhanced safety, reduced emissions, a boost in local business, and improved quality of life.