[Neighbors] Nob Hill seeks your support on Lead and Coal Aves.

Thu Feb 11 18:05:40 MST 2021

Hello Everyone,

I can’t help but to weigh in here with a couple of thoughts – for whatever they may be worth. First, I don’t understand why Lead/Coal have to be considered heavy feed streets with timed traffic lights. Please consider the information presented on the most recent traffic flow/volume map below:
https://www.mrcog-nm.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4382/2019-Traffic-Flow-Map-for-Greater-Albuquerque-Area-PDF
Are Lead/Coal built to be “express streets”? If so, why? Their traffic volume is quite low (about 12K each) compared to many other major arteries in Albuquerque. My point – why must the lights be timed on Lead/Coal?

Second, this is just a musing… I remember several years back when both roads were being reconstructed. When Coal was shut down, Lead became 2 - way for a short time. Same for when Lead was shut down Coal became 2- way. I have a pleasant recollection of both roads feeling more neighborhood friendly, despite being busy. I have travelled to many cities, as I am sure most of you have. I have been in historic neighborhoods such as those in Denver, Philadelphia which were rendered unwalkable by fast moving one-ways tearing between lovely old streets. As long as these two streets remain one-ways, even if traffic is somehow slowed down a bit, I can’t see a vast improvement - no matter how much is spent on the highest technology. My point – why can’t both roads be turned into 2 way streets?

In closing, as owner of Flying Star and Satellite Coffee and a long time veteran business owner and (former) resident who deeply loves Nob Hill, I have seen so many unfortunate decisions made by our leaders which have resulted in the degradation of our quality of life, use and enjoyment of our neighborhood and business district. I feel it’s downright tragic that our streets have lost their charm and character and frankly, their real purpose. They exist only to move vehicles – buses, cars – and have become the scourge of our neighbors, endangering pedestrians, cyclists, our pets and children. I know how much work has been put into the solution by the neighborhood to date. If our Councilor, Pat Davis and other officials can find a quarter million dollars to buy untested technology, can they find the same to remodel this street instead?

Yours,

Jean Bernstein

From: Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm-bounces at mailman.swcp.com> On Behalf Of vaneldredge via Neighbors_nobhill-nm
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2021 4:48 PM
To: Jim Barrera <chiledoggie at gmail.com>; Melodie Eyster <meyster1 at me.com>
Cc: gail at gailchasey.com; Joseph Aguirre <jaguirre_87106 at yahoo.com>; a.sedillolopez at nmlegis.gov; John Pate <JPate at molzencorbin.com>; Neighbors Nob Hill <neighbors at nobhill-nm.com>; TheBoard <theboard at nobhill-nm.com>
Subject: Re: [Neighbors] Nob Hill seeks your support on Lead and Coal Aves.

Great work Jim.
In your research were you able to determine if this equipment is manufactured in New Mexico? If not, is Representative Chasey willing to send a quarter of a million dollars in Capital outlay money to an out of state company?
Thanks for all the information.
Van

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Jim Barrera via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com>>
Date: 2/10/21 12:48 PM (GMT-07:00)
To: Melodie Eyster <meyster1 at me.com<mailto:meyster1 at me.com>>
Cc: gail at gailchasey.com<mailto:gail at gailchasey.com>, Joseph Aguirre <jaguirre_87106 at yahoo.com<mailto:jaguirre_87106 at yahoo.com>>, a.sedillolopez at nmlegis.gov<mailto:a.sedillolopez at nmlegis.gov>, TheBoard <theboard at nobhill-nm.com<mailto:theboard at nobhill-nm.com>>, Neighbors Nob Hill <neighbors at nobhill-nm.com<mailto:neighbors at nobhill-nm.com>>, John Pate <JPate at molzencorbin.com<mailto:JPate at molzencorbin.com>>
Subject: Re: [Neighbors] Nob Hill seeks your support on Lead and Coal Aves.

A couple neighbors asked me to weigh in on this issue, so I will share what I know.
There are some speed-actuated traffic signals in operation elsewhere in the U.S.  One type has the signals “rest in red” on all approaches.  When the detectors sense vehicles approaching at or under the speed limit, the system gives that approach a green light.  If the detectors sense vehicles approaching at above the speed limit (possibly with some leeway allowed), it holds that approach on red until the vehicles arrive and have to stop.
Traffic engineers have learned several things about these systems:
1.  For them to be effective, there must be driver education about the system.  Drivers must understand that their behavior (speed) is directly affecting whether they get a green light or not.
2.  Related to #1, these systems may be effective at isolated intersections with single-lane approaches, where the behavior/reward is obvious to the driver.  They are not considered effective for roadways with multiple lanes, where other vehicles will often trigger the system punishing everyone else who was traveling at the speed limit.
3.  They are not recommended for roadways with high traffic volumes.  Other cities have found that about 5,000 vehicles per day is the maximum traffic where these systems work well.  Lead/Coal each move upwards of 14,000 vehicles per day.  At these higher traffic volumes, such systems triggering extra red lights will just cause unnecessary congestion.
4.  These systems can work well at isolated intersections, but they are inappropriate for a corridor with timed coordinated traffic signals.  Lead/Coal is a coordinated corridor with signals timed for 30 MPH.  During peak commute periods, they move the platoons of vehicles efficiently through the system.  A speeding vehicle in the middle of the night may be stopped by this system, but during rush hour, just a few activations will turn Lead/Coal into gridlock.
A second type of system is not rest-in-red, but one that operates like a normal traffic signal alternately giving the main street and cross streets green lights/red lights.  When the green is on the main street and it senses a vehicle approaching at above the speed limit, the system will change it to yellow and then red.  The system would have to detect the speeding vehicle far enough in advance of the intersection that the safe required yellow time can be provided and go to red before the vehicle arrives.  On Lead/Coal, this type of operation may be effective to curtail the excessive speeders in off-peak hours like at night when there is little traffic.  But it would still be inappropriate to do this during coordinated timed operation for peak traffic hours.
`jimb

On Mon, Feb 8, 2021 at 11:13 AM Melodie Eyster via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com<mailto:neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com>> wrote:
Good morning, Antoinette and Gail.

Nob Hill and surrounding neighborhoods need your support for the Lead & Coal Safety Upgrades Capital Outlay Request, LCS Project ID 1275.

Capital Outlay Request Amount: $250k
Total Project Cost: $350k
Funding Secured: $100k
State ICIP Project ID: 30957
LCS Project ID: 1275

Along with our sister associations, University Heights and Southeast Heights, Nob Hill Neighborhood Association has long sought an answer to the speeding, reckless driving, and high speed accidents on Lead & Coal Aves. We’ve tried virtually everything but the situation is still horrible.
City Councilor Pat Davis has come up with an innovative idea to install speed sensitive traffic signals known as rest in red signals that only turn green when the approaching vehicle is traveling at or below the speed limit. The project is in the study and design phase.
The capital outlay request of $250,000 would be combined with City funds of $100,000 to implement this project, save lives, and enhance quality of life for hundreds of families on the corridor.

We urge your support and we urge any neighbor who feels the same to reach out as well.

Kind regards,

Gary Eyster
President, Nob Hill Neighborhood Association

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