If Tramway Blvd Seems Unsafe, It Is. It No Longer Meets Standards for Highways.
NMDOT "We realize it will take some time to get used to"
04.14.2022 By Mick Rich ToThePointWithMickRich@gmail.com
I looked forward to a smooth driving surface on New Mexico Highway 556/Tramway Boulevard when I saw the road construction signs (do I sound like a contractor/engineer?). The resurfaced roadway met my expectations, but the restriping of the highway created a dangerous situation for motorists and bicyclists while exposing New Mexico to multi-million-dollar lawsuits.
2022 NM556. Vehicles & a Bicyclist traveling on Tramway while the bicycle & pedestrian path is empty
NMDOT designed NM556 as an efficient and safe means of moving vehicles along the eastern edge of Albuquerque. While a bike and walking path kept vehicles and bicycles separated and safe. NM556 was designed and constructed in accordance with Federal and New Mexico highway standards
2019: NM556 & NM423 Intersection with 550 Foot-Long Right-Turn Acceleration Lane.
2021: NM556 & NM 423 Intersection. Right-Turn Acceleration Lane on NM553 Eliminated
The restriping also eliminated or decreased the length of the acceleration and de-acceleration lanes creating unsafe conditions for vehicles entering exiting NM556. The intersection of NM 556 and Paseo Del Norte Boulevard/NM423 is of particular concern because of the high number of vehicles turning south onto NM556 from NM423 and the speed of vehicles on NM556. This intersection no longer meets AASHTO Standards for right-turn acceleration lanes for highways.
NM DOT’s Kimberly Gallegos of District 3 stated in the D’Val Westphal’s Road Warrior column “What the Heck is Going on With Tramway “in the Albuquerque Journal, “This project was completed to improve and enhance the roadway on Tramway to accommodate all modes of transportation.”. NM DOT, MR COG, and MRMPO RAC design standards do not combine truck and vehicles with bicycles and pedestrians on our highways. MR COG Road Access Control policy states “maintain a reasonable traffic flow and level of service, preserve the safety of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. NM553 no longer moves vehicles efficiently and is dangerous to bicyclists
2019: NM556 & NM423 Intersection. 550 Foot-Long Right-Turn Acceleration Lane
2021: NM556 & NM 423 Intersection. Right-Turn Acceleration Lane on NM553 Eliminated
The restriping also eliminated or decreased the length of the acceleration and de-acceleration lanes creating unsafe conditions for vehicles to safely enter and exit NM556. The intersection of NM 556 and Paseo Del Norte Boulevard/NM423 is of particular concern because of the high number of vehicles turning south onto NM556 from NM423 and the speed of vehicles on NM556. This intersection no longer meets AASHTO and NMDOT standards for right-turn acceleration lanes for highways.
Gallegos stated, “We realize it will take some time to get used to”. Gallegos never read the MR COG manual which states, “The Public Participation Procedures outlines the methods and techniques for outreach purposes that favors going to where people are rather than asking them to come to us.” NM DOT’s unique perspective on this is, we make the decisions, you get used to it.
NMDOT’s attitude of “get used to it” is just another example of government in New Mexico, “We know better than you so just do it”. Write to the Governor, Mayor, State Representatives and Senators, County Commissioners, and City Councilors that NM556 once again meets Federal Standards for Highways. Make NM556 Safe Again.
Only in New Mexico
I bet McCleskey/Martinez wished they had thought of the idea of handing out money from the budget surplus to voters before the 2018 Election instead of handing the surplus to Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Governor Lujan Grisham gets high marks from New Mexico’s Democrats for her COVID-19 response. The Committee to Unleashed Prosperity Report Card just published a report on State Responses to COVID-19, New Mexico ranked 47 in overall performance and 50 in the health category.
In keeping with Albuquerque Moto, Brag It Don’t Bag It. Fox News did not include New Mexico when discussing the bottom four states for COVID-19 response. However, Fox News did include Roncheti’s video clip of the Texas Border Crisis.