Those of you in the Los Alamos area: its the last chance to weigh in on the NM502 options!! Details below are from Betsy L through Darien R. Also, see comment regarding this project from Khal Spencer at the very bottom of the post. Khal is a local cycling enthusiast and advocate and has been following and working with this project closely.
The County Council will make its final decision regarding design of NM502/Trinity Drive at its Tues, Feb 7th meeting, beginning at 7:00pm at the Community Building Council Chambers (475 20th St, next to Ashley Pond on the Ruby K side). It is the only item on the agenda and the council chambers will be packed. The so-called Zimmerman Option, which calms traffic, improves livability and supports multi-modal transportation (read cycling, pedestrians, buses etc), has been recommended by the T-Board. Those opposing this plan are proposing a widened, 4/5 lane road past the Eastern Area neighborhood with a traffic signal at Central. The council can decide to do anything they want - and unfortunately the loudest side often carries the day. So, we have the facts on our side - now we need the voices of the people who will send emails to countycouncil@lacnm.us, and show up and speak up at the Feb 7 meeting.
Below is a statement of support that explains the proposed "Zimmerman Plan" and its benefits, and has links to more details. Select points and benefits that are especially meaningful to you and send them to CC in an email and/or speak about them at the meeting on the 7th. This email and attachment can be forwarded to like-minded friends. For those who want to see Trinity Drive become a safer, multi-modal street that also addresses the needs of adjacent homes and businesses, your support is essential and appreciated. Now is truly the time for, "Speak now or forever hold your peace."
This is to ask your support - email the county council (countycouncil@lacnm.us) / attend the County Council meeting, Tues, Feb 7th at 7:00 at the Community Building Council Chambers (475 20th St, next to Ashley Pond on the Ruby K side) - for the Zimmerman option for the east end of NM 502 with a roundabout at the Central/Trinity intersection. This option, proposed by County Engineer Kyle Zimmerman, is a compromise plan based on designs and ideas considered by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Transportation Board endorsed this option at their Jan. 19, 2012 meeting. The County’s NM 502 web site has a description and drawings of the Plan.
The Zimmerman plan with a roundabout supports the County’s goals and street design policy in the following ways.
• Respects and accommodates adjacent residents by reducing motor vehicle speeds to 35 mph near the Eastern Area Neighborhood through road design, using widened medians at Airport Rd. and Tewa Loop, and single thru lanes in each direction near Eastern Area. This reduces noise by about 4 dB in this area.
• Accommodates pedestrians by providing HAWK crossings at both East Park and east of Canyon Road, and roundabout crossings at Central Ave. Buffered sidewalks are included on both sides of the road.
• Considers needs of multi modal transportation by preserving sufficient right-of-way east of Central Ave. so that bike lanes and bus stops can be accommodated.
• Links and improves physical and visual access to our commercial areas on both Trinity Drive and Central Avenue by the roundabout at Central.
• Improves safety for all users by calming traffic with widened medians, roundabouts, HAWK crossings, and single thru lanes in each direction.
• Improves the environment and livability with a roundabout at Central that reduces vehicle delays and stops and reduces vehicle pollution emissions.
• Incorporates best planning practices of professional traffic engineers. The Plan’s lane configurations and roundabout designs have been analyzed by Kyle Zimmerman P. E. and by professional traffic engineering firms Parsons/Brinkerhoff and Ourston Roundabout Engineering. These professional engineers have found that the Plan accommodates our projected traffic volumes until the year 2030.
The Zimmerman plan was arrived at after a long and difficult process that began over a year ago. No interest group obtained everything they wanted in this plan, but it is a good compromise that accommodates our projected traffic volumes and fulfills many of the goals of the County’s street design policy. We strongly urge Council to pass this option so that we can get on with the task of upgrading NM 502 to a road that serves the needs of all corridor users.
Below is a comment from Khal Spencer, local cycling enthusiast and advocate, who has been following and working with this project closely:
Dina is right. Make your opinion heard. Loudly and clearly, but rationally.
This is a very political decision based on relative values of unimpeded vehicle throughput (i.e., high level of service during rush hour), speeds, and pedestrian safety. A lot of the resistance to the Kyle plan is based on the perceived need for more capacity and what I consider outlandish requirements for high level of service (of course, I spent decades on Long Island and in Honolulu). If you want to see how to waste dollars, take a look at Diamond Drive. It is a speedway and HUGELY over capacity even at rush hour.
But on the hill, capacity is limited by the two laner farther down the hill. Not to mention, future changes in the price of gasoline and its impact on commuters from Espanola, Santa Fe, and elsewhere. My doubts were not with the modeling being done by the citizens group, which was quite good, but with the assumptions on future growth being based on past practice. As long as we have the right of way intact, we can add more asphalt if it really becomes necessary.
Once in town, I think we might actually need more than two lanes since you really don’t want a congested downtown during rush hour. In between is a transition zone.
Frankly, none of the options are perfect for everyone, hence what five ( I think) of us who voted yes saw as a compromise solution. None of the options are terribly “bicycle friendly” unless you are already a pretty serious rider. Frankly, I enjoy Trinity as it is because if someone wants to pass me, they have another lane. Central is a bother for me because it bottles up traffic behind me. Two lane options with bike lanes result in right hook crashes at intersections, such as the cyclist who got clipped last week at Diamond and Sandia.
If the county wants something that any potential bicyclist would enjoy, it needs further thought and potentially a “European Solution”. I personally voted for the Zimmerman option on the T Board. Probably the last vote I will cast, since I am term limited off the board at the end of February. Whew.
Get involved if you want to influence the outcome.
Khal Spencer
