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Santa Fe County is getting ready for the annual Santuario de Chimayo Pilgrimage. Every year during Holy Week and specifically on the evening of Holy Thursday (April 2, 2015) and throughout the day on Good Friday (April 3, 3015) tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Chimayo. The pilgrimage requires extensive internal and external intergovernmental coordination.

The Santa Fe County Fire Department will be present with increased staffing on Thursday from noon until midnight and on Friday and Saturday for pilgrims in need of medical attention. There will be first aid stations along NM 503, County Road 76, and at the Chimayo Fire Station. In addition to the extra staffing, Santa Fe County will have portable restrooms available throughout the route.

The Santa Fe County Fire Department is also reminding pilgrims that Santa Fe County is currently in burn restrictions due to extreme fire conditions. No open burning is allowed on the pilgrimage and cigarette butts should not be discarded on the side of the road (this is also littering). Santa Fe County is asking people to please hold any trash they have until they find a trash can to dispose of it, please do not litter.

The Sheriff’s Office announced their increased efforts as related to the pilgrimage including intergovernmental law enforcement assistance, a DWI checkpoint, and their annual distribution of approximately 2,000 glowsticks at three distribution points for the pilgrimage to help aid with visibility.

Santa Fe County Emergency Management would like to encourage pilgrims to take extra safety precautions to increase visibility along the roadways (wear bright colors, place reflective tape on clothing, carry a flashlight), ensure they are well dressed for various weather conditions (dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes), and maintain good hydration and nourishment (take water and snacks). Motorists are also encouraged to reduce speeds and take extra precaution if driving on the pilgrimage route.

North Central Regional Transit District (RTD “Blue Bus”)

In addition to its regular Chimayo Route bus, the North Central Regional Transit District (RTD “Blue Bus”) will be adding an additional bus along its Española to Chimayo route to accommodate people making the annual pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayo on Good Friday, April 3.

Two ADA accessible buses will run on a continuous loop throughout the day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (the first bus begins at 8:00 and the second at 8:30) departing from the RTD stop on the north side of the Santa Claran Hotel in front of the Arrow Motel. The route then traverses NM Highway 76 with multiple designated RTD bus stops in each direction along the way. The route concludes at the Benny Chavez Center located at the County Road 98 (Juan Medina Rd.) turnoff from NM 76, as it will be prevented from making its normally scheduled stop in the Santuario parking lot. It then makes its way back to Española along the same route.

Delays will be unavoidable due to the heavy pedestrian traffic along the route. Regular passengers of that route need to be aware that buses will not be at the designated scheduled stops at their normally posted time. It is also important to note that drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers along the route except at posted RTD bus stops.