[Neighbors] Lead and Coal Ave. (the one-ways)

Fri Aug 25 13:16:47 MDT 2017

The MRCOG has regional traffic data available online at:
https://www.mrcog-nm.gov/transportation/metro-planning/traffic-counts

Their Average Weekday Traffic (AWDT) data for Lead & Coal show that traffic
decreased during the reconstruction project, and hasn't fully rebounded to
previous volumes:

COAL AVE -- EAST OF GIRARD - WEST OF CARLISLE

AWDT 2000         13,171

AWDT 2001         16,809    <--- (increase during Big I construction)

AWDT 2002         14,468

AWDT 2003         14,410

AWDT 2004         14,280

AWDT 2005         12,258

AWDT 2006         12,123

AWDT 2007         11,990

AWDT 2008         11,479

AWDT 2009         11,261

AWDT 2010         11,103

AWDT 2011         11,081

AWDT 2012         7,422         <--- (decrease during Lead/Coal
reconstruction)

AWDT 2013         7,392

AWDT 2014         8,584

AWDT 2015         8,618

LEAD AVE -- EAST OF GIRARD - WEST OF CARLISLE

AWDT 2000         13,301

AWDT 2001         16,534    <--- (increase during Big I construction)

AWDT 2002         13,893

AWDT 2003         13,837

AWDT 2004         13,712

AWDT 2005         12,641

AWDT 2006         12,502

AWDT 2007         12,364

AWDT 2008         13,856

AWDT 2009         13,593

AWDT 2010         13,403

AWDT 2011         13,376

AWDT 2012         9,059         <--- (decrease during Lead/Coal
reconstruction)

AWDT 2013         9,023

AWDT 2014         11,483

AWDT 2015         11,529

Eliminating Lead and Coal as important arterials into & out of downtown
will cause this traffic volume to find other streets through our
neighborhoods.  Lead and Coal are not special with regard to hot rodders.
We have them regularly on Lomas and probably every other arterial in town.
For the record, neither do I support eliminating Lomas as an arterial
thinking that that would improve quality of life on my block -- it
wouldn't, for the same reasons as eliminating Lead/Coal wouldn't.
Improving traffic enforcement has been an uphill battle, and hopefully the
new administration later this year will be able to begin making progress.
In the big picture, providing people with healthier transportation options
like the bike lanes on Lead/Coal, Silver Bike Boulevard, and greatly
improved transit will help to reduce automobile traffic through our
neighborhoods.

`jimb

On Fri, Aug 25, 2017 at 12:21 PM, kingkb via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <
neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> First, I'd like to send some appreciation Ben's way for the idea and
> interest in promoting positive change - I'm guessing that the thought of a
> two-way shift is that the streets would be less welcoming to traffic (at
> this time, it's easy to pass and speed by other vehicles because there are
> two lanes).
>
> That said, I'd also like to honor the long experience of the many
> neighbors who have tried for some time to improve the situation on Lead and
> Coal.
>
> It seems we are stuck in a bit of a loop, though.  From the emails I've
> seen over previous months, the arguments for need for change appear to be
> based on anecdotal notes and personal feelings about the situation. Could
> it be helpful, instead of pressing for any specific change at this time, to
> press for some "hard data"?
>
> I believe there are ways to count the cars - the rope-like recorders that
> run perpendicular to traffic. Is there any way to use a succession of these
> to TIME the rate of passage (ie, speed) of vehicles? Is there a way to
> collect *data* on both volume of traffic and speed of vehicles - with a
> machine, rather than pictures and comments? Something truly quantitative?
>
> I'm not saying there aren't lots of cars or that people aren't speeding -
> I can hear them from Marquette at night - I'm saying that hard data would
> add something that is concrete and could more certainly be regarded as
> facts.... and maybe would be harder to ignore or discount.
>
> Please forgive if this has already been done - I can already "hear" (in my
> head, in anticipation) weary neighbors crying out in angst in response.
> Please know that I'm hoping only to add to ideas about what might be useful
> in promoting positive change.
>
> Karen
>
> On Aug 25 2017 11:31 AM, Robert L Anderson via Neighbors_nobhill-nm wrote:
>
> Peter,
>
> You are right about this.  Up here at Coal and Richmond it has gotten so
> bad the street most of the day and night is like a performance speed way
> and the accidents are tremendous now.  The mayor and ohas apparently chosen
> to ignore this and is leaving.  The north south streets too are part of the
> problem as the traffic is flowing over from the disaster on Central and
> Zuni now a one lane traffic jam that runs miles at times.
>
>
> Sincerely,
> Bob Anderson
> Albuquerque, NM
> citizen at comcast.net
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 21, 2017, at 8:19 PM, Peter Schillke <pschillke at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Ben,
>
> I've been involved with the Sycamore N'hood Assoc. for 22 years.  I feel
> that changing Lead and Coal to 2-way is tilting at windmills.  Various
> n'hood groups have pushed for this for years.  I think that what we should
> be pushing for is APD enforcement of speed and vehicle equipment laws - i.e
> loud mufflers as well as the usual infractions such as speeding.  They are
> not enforced. Motor cycles and hot rodders seem to have a free pass.  So
> called "performance " mufflers are obvious not only by their noise but also
> by  the large diameter tail pipe.  As a resident on Coal SE, With the
> Mayorial election coming up, it is a golden opportunity to question the
> candidates position and correctional plans to enforce the noise and vehicle
> equipment laws.  I have gotten emails for "Officer Appreciation Day". Ha -
> when they start enforcing the vehicle laws I may appreciate them.  Berry's
> Folly ART has pushed a lot of traffic to Lead, Coal, Copper etc.  We need
> to get political and noisy.
>
> Peter
> SNA
>
> On Tue, Aug 15, 2017 at 7:08 PM, Ben Wasserott <bwasserott at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I want to start by introducing myself. I live in the University Heights
>> neighborhood directly on Lead Ave SE. I serve on the UHA board along with
>> Julie (president), Joseph (vice-president) and Don (treasurer). Though it's
>> my first year on the board I have been involved in keeping the neighborhood
>> looking beautiful by participating in the annual clean ups. I have lived in
>> and around this neighborhood since attending UNM about a decade ago first
>> as a renter and for the last two years as a home owner.
>>
>> Though I am happy with the semi-recent Lead/Coal improvements (going from
>> 3 lanes to 2, widening the sidewalks, etc.) it is clear to me that the city
>> has not gone far enough in making these streets adaptive to the residential
>> areas they pass through. Specifically, the city has declined to change the
>> streets from one-ways to residential two-way streets. As they are
>> currently, Lead and Coal not only function as major arterial highways but
>> the traffic which they bring is increasing. Automobile speeds and crashes
>> have also increased dramatically.
>>
>> I would like to reach out to all the neighborhoods affected by the Lead
>> and Coal Ave. from 2nd Street East to San Mateo to get a sense of what
>> everyone thinks should be done about improving these streets. I hope to
>> find some common ground among all the impacted neighborhoods to create a
>> coalition of sorts. With this coalition I wish to pressure the city to make
>> improvements to Lead and Coal.
>>
>> With Don's help I have identified the following neighborhoods impacted by
>> the one-way Lead and Coal corridors. If this list is incomplete or
>> incorrect please let me know. From West to East: Huning Highland,
>> Sycamore, Silver Hill, University Heights, Nobhill Southwest and Nobhill
>> Southeast.
>>
>> In addition to getting all of your initial thoughts on what should be
>> done I would like to visit each neighborhood at least once in person
>> *and* invite all of you to attend one of the UHA board meetings as well.
>>
>> Thank you for your time. I hope we can all work together on this.
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Ben Wasserott*
>>
>
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