Albuquerque’s most famous artery — Central Avenue — tends to attract the most attention, but its neighbor to the north is vying for some of the spotlight this year. City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn’s District 7, which includes a long stretch of Lomas Boulevard, argues it’s one that needs a fresh look.
At stake, she said, is providing a safer environment for pedestrians and bicyclists and a more efficient one for drivers and those on public transit. Fiebelkorn wants money to analyze traffic calming options, safer crosswalks and the installation of timing signals for stoplights.
“All of those things really need to be looked at, even in crosswalks it does not feel safe. It’s just a little scary,” Fiebelkorn said. “It kind of feels like you’re playing Frogger if you try to get across the road.” (One of the objects of the popular 1980s-era video game Frogger was to direct five frogs to their homes by dodging traffic on a busy road).
Fiebelkorn said she’s already secured about $52,000 in city funds to jumpstart the ideas, but needs another $500,000 in capital outlay money from the Legislature to really get things moving. The increasingly influential group Strong Towns ABQ supports her plan and is helping to persuade lawmakers as well.
The 60-day legislative session started last week in Santa Fe. All of Albuquerque’s city councilors have a respective list of legislative priorities for their districts, some requiring state funds.
‘Rest on red’ technology
Fiebelkorn said part of the plan — so-called “rest on red” technology — would likely appeal to drivers who feel like they hit every red light when driving on Lomas. If a speeding driver approaches an intersection, the system switches the light to red. Those going the speed limit, however, will encounter fewer instances of stop and go.
“If you’re speeding, you’re going to get stopped at every light,” Fiebelkorn said. “I think that will be a huge step in the right direction in terms of slowing people down.”
The technology is already being used on one-way stretches of Lead and Coal avenues, which stretch from the Nob Hill area to Downtown and are known for speeding drivers.
“If it’s good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for Lomas,” Fiebelkorn said.
The project’s initial focus is Lomas from Girard Boulevard to San Pedro Boulevard — about six miles. Fiebelkorn said she’d like to extend the plan to Eubank Boulevard (also in her district), but it’s a good start.
“We chose these sections between Girard and San Pedro, because that’s where the most folks are trying to get across the street to get to shopping, to get to a park — that’s the most busy area on Lomas,” she said. “That’s where folks are reporting that they really want to be able to walk and bike, but they just don’t feel like they can safely.”
An assessment of green stormwater infrastructure options is also part of the plan.
“We’re also going to look at the possibility of using green storm water infrastructure to reduce some of the water issues in that area,” Fiebelkorn said.
Her other District 7 legislative priorities include securing funds for streetscaping along San Pedro and Girard, improvements to the Hahn Arroyo, advancing the Menaul Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Plan, supporting the efforts of the Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative, improvements to the North Diversion Channel, and new signage and redesign at the Workers’ Memorial Park.
“I have been working with my representatives and senators who are in those areas to tell them how important these are, and then we’ve been asking our citizens in District seven to reach out to them and ask them to support,” Fiebelkorn said.
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