HOUSE MEMORIAL 81

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Charlotte Little and Joy Garratt and Cynthia Borrego

and Harold Pope and Joshua N. Hernandez

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THE UNSER BOULEVARD CORRIDOR THROUGH NORTHWEST BERNALILLO COUNTY FROM PARADISE BOULEVARD TO IRVING BOULEVARD TO INCREASE THE SAFETY OF VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC AND REDUCE RELATED RISKS.

 

     WHEREAS, Unser boulevard, stretching from New Mexico highway 550 to Dennis Chavez boulevard in southwest Albuquerque and running through northwest Albuquerque from Paradise boulevard to Irving boulevard, is a main thoroughfare in Bernalillo county that carries people to their places of work, business districts, stores, government and service facilities and geological and ancient cultural monuments and trails; and

     WHEREAS, increasing volumes of heavy commercial, industrial and residential traffic along that corridor have greatly contributed to increased safety and traffic flow issues; and

     WHEREAS, state highway projects and construction served by the corridor contribute to increased volumes of heavy equipment and construction vehicles using the corridor; and

     WHEREAS, the heavy volume of traffic between Paradise boulevard and Irving boulevard has increased noise and disruption to residents' quality of life within residential neighborhoods adjacent to the corridor and caused physical damage to barriers intended to insulate those neighborhoods; and

     WHEREAS, the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county have initiated several planning efforts to analyze proposed improvements to the corridor; and

     WHEREAS, there is an opportunity for the department of transportation to leverage local planning efforts and financing to improve the corridor between Paradise boulevard and Irving boulevard for the benefit of residents and others traveling through the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be requested to conduct a feasibility study to identify and evaluate possible improvements to the Unser boulevard corridor through Bernalillo county, including measures that would increase safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study be conducted with the involvement of the mid-region metropolitan planning organization, the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county engineering departments, the metropolitan Albuquerque business improvement district, the mid-region council of governments and other local and regional stakeholders and businesses; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study be requested to propose implementation strategies, including the coordination of planning, design and construction of improvements and the development of management and operational agreements that can be used to advance traffic and safety improvement projects; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study be requested to leverage existing studies, but that it not commence until sufficient funds have been allocated from local public and private sources to pay for the study such that the department of transportation's financial contribution will be negligible, although the department will be requested to provide technical and administrative support for the study; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study be presented to the appropriate interim legislative committees dealing with economic development and infrastructure issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the study be submitted to the city of Albuquerque, Bernalillo county, the mid-region council of governments and the library of the legislative council service; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of transportation, the executive director of the mid-region council of governments, the mayor of the city of Albuquerque and the board of county commissioners of Bernalillo county.

- 4 -