Safety improvements, traffic congestion relief and economic development are among the goals of a transportation bond package on the ballot this election.
The ballot question seeks authorization for almost $10.7 million in spending on more than a dozen transportation projects.
The largest amount for any of the items is $2 million for the third phase of the Bridge Boulevard construction project. This phase includes planning, design, right-of-way and other improvements between Lura Place and Young Avenue SW.
The second phase of the project is underway. It includes reconstruction of the road surface from Young Avenue to La Vega Drive SW, new lighting and drainage and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and ramps.
That work is expected to be done by Jan. 21. Brian Lopez, the county’s technical services director, told county commissioners earlier this month the project was delayed by 323 days, mostly due to the failure of New Mexico Gas Co. to get its complementary projects done on time. The utility has rejected the assertion it’s to blame for project delays.
Lopez told CityDesk ABQ that the county will require all utilities to perform any replacement work or line relocations before the county’s contractor will begin its project. He said the change was made “due to the issues with the utilities experienced on Bridge Phase 2 and the poor communication by New Mexico Gas Company,” both with the public and with the county’s project team.
Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, whose district includes the project area, said he welcomes the change.
“I support the approach of requiring utility providers to relocate their infrastructure in advance of the project beginning,” Quezada said. “This will enable our Public Works team to better manage the project schedule and avoid delays.”
Lopez said the third and final phase of the project will leave the Bridge Boulevard corridor between Coors Boulevard and the Rio Grande safer for all modes of travel and more effective at moving traffic.
Another major item is $1.9 million for local connections to the I-40 TradePort Corridor, a federal project designed to upgrade the country’s logistics and supply chain systems over more than 800 miles between Albuquerque and California seaports.
Lopez said the long-term development plan is for a 6,000-acre site with clean energy infrastructure and multicomponent manufacturing zones with direct access to Interstate 40. He said it’s being developed with sustainability in mind.
He said improvements will be made to Atrisco Vista Boulevard, connecting arterial roads and utilities, and that the project — with a grand total of $30.4 million — will help the county take advantage of its position on the I-40 corridor, as well as enhance regional connectivity, improve traffic flows, and create access to crucial industrial sectors.
“Concurrently, the effort is designed to promote economic growth and environmental stewardship in the targeted regions while grounded in a commitment to community engagement and responsive development,” Lopez said.
The package also includes $815,000 for improvements to Second and Fourth streets. The latter, Lopez said, is under-capacity in terms of current and future traffic volumes, and will be rebuilt to add designated spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Other transportation projects included in the bond question include:
Isleta Boulevard improvements ($1,018,000).
Barcelona Road storm drain project ($838,000).
Coors Boulevard SW safety project ($800,000).
Alameda Drain Trail, Phases 4 and 6 ($553,000).
Street construction in the Mountain View neighborhood ($500,000).
The transportation bond question is one of six on the general election ballot, which in total would authorize about $40.5 million in spending.
The other bond questions are for public safety facilities, fleet, and county buildings, parks and recreation, storm drainage and utilities, libraries and public housing.