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

Mon Aug 28 20:44:08 MDT 2017

I saw some kind of vehicle counter put down across the pavement on Coal just east of Girard last week.  No signs or notice of what it was about.  We never are informed of things until they are already decided and done, ie ART.

I don’t put too much credit on the data chart approach or two-way streets.  I have lived here during most of that time on the charts and for all practical quality of life purposes the data does not tell the story of the increased lawless activity of “performance" racing on Lead and Coal and the north/south streets.  The data don’t measure the number of cars/trucks/motorcycles (CTMs) with no muffler that go like hell for a few blocks, stop to race their engines and then tear out again and maybe throwing out booze bottles and cans as they speed off.  Some of them maybe not even breaking the speed limit in real terms but sounding like going 100 mph.  I like it how sometimes it is the smallest and most benign looking vehicles that make the most noise and speed bursts.  The problem is like the other crimes in the city there is no enforcement of basic civil society laws and by not doing this more and more criminal vehicles are on our roads.  The effect of this libertarian approach to policy is that a small number of people are allowed to do harm and violence to large numbers of decent people living in the communities.  Some have said this is just part of the culture of poverty in the west.  Dave’s suggestion of a check point is a good one but the city does not enforce EPA emissions or noise standards on vehicles, not even having visible license plates often so we are back to nothing being done.

Sincerely,
Bob Anderson
Albuquerque, NM
citizen at comcast.net

On Aug 25, 2017, at 3:02 PM, Zachary Benz via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

Thank you for sharing the data, Jim.

> On Aug 25, 2017, at 1:16 PM, Jim Barrera via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com <mailto:neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com>> wrote:
> 
> The MRCOG has regional traffic data available online at:  https://www.mrcog-nm.gov/transportation/metro-planning/traffic-counts <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 <mailto: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 <mailto:citizen at comcast.net>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Aug 21, 2017, at 8:19 PM, Peter Schillke <pschillke at gmail.com <mailto: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 <mailto: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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