[Neighbors] Monte Vista Median Study - Neighborhood Meeting Documents

[Jim Barrera]

Michael,

I'm so happy to see your comments on the proposed bike treatment here and
completely agree that the design should provide the merging area for
right-turning vehicles.  I hope the City has got the message that the
separated approach treatments like what they did on MLK and also on Girard
at Lomas are dangerous for cyclists.

State traffic laws (NMSA §66-7) do NOT address this situation directly, but
the City of Albuquerque does have a progressive ordinance in this regard:

*§ 8-3-3-12 MOTORIST TURNING ACROSS BICYCLE LANE.*
   (A)   Whenever a motorist is turning across a bicycle lane or path, such
motorist shall maintain a proper lookout for bicyclists and shall yield the
right-of-way to any bicyclist traveling in a bicycle lane or path and,
prior to turning right, *shall merge, if practicable, into the bicycle lane
to his right, if any, before the start of the turning movement.*

Thanks for commenting on this.
Jim Barrera

On Mon, Dec 12, 2022 at 3:12 PM Michael Mcdonald via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <
neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> Hi;
>
> I live on the 300 block of Amherst. I like the idea of the Monte Vista
> median, but am concerned with two crossing concepts and feel more study or
> consideration is needed. Additionally, I am concerned about bicycle safety
> along Monte Vista from these concepts.
>
> Marquette Ave and Monte Vista Blvd
>
> There are two proposals for the Marquette crossing. One proposal is a
> roundabout (titled Full Median with Roundabout). While I like roundabouts,
> my concern is that putting one there may turn Marquette into a more-used
> cut-through to Carlisle (e.g., because roundabouts enable traffic to go
> more freely in all directions). Marquette is an interior road that
> currently gets very little traffic now. It sure would be a sad situation to
> see the "calming design change” to Monte Vista turn Marquette into a
> higher-traffic through-fare. As such, I much prefer the “medium with bulb
> outs” option.
>
> Roma Ave and Amherst Dr
>
> Left turns are not allowed from Monte Vista to Lomas. As a result, I (and
> I’m sure others in the Monte Vista/Carlisle/Central triangle) often use
> Amherst to get to westbound Lomas. Additionally, we use that route to get
> to the businesses along Amherst (e.g., Jubilation and Walgreens). This
> design proposal will cut off that access and push that traffic to Roma,
> increasing traffic through those neighborhoods and lessening their calm. My
> preferred solution is to move the gap toward Amherst and possibly even
> expand the triangle park. However, depending on Roma traffic flows,
> allowing traffic to both Amherst and Roma might be needed.
>
> [image: PastedGraphic-1.png]
>
>
> Bike safety comment.
>
> The bicycle lane markings in the proposal seem to indicate that there will
> be barriers or other markers to keep cars from entering the bicycle lane
> while turning right off Monte Vista (see green stripe in image above). In
> particular, it appears to repeat the bicycle safety flaws that were
> engineered into MLK Drive in its most recent upgrade. Here’s the issue.
>
> The illustration below shows the wrong (dangerous) and correct (safer) way
> for cyclists to ride through right turn lanes (source
> https://sfbike.org/news/bike-lanes-and-right-turns/). Though this source
> is from California, similar diagrams were printed on Albuquerque’s bicycle
> safety maps when they were being published. California laws CVC 22100 and
> CVC21717 as indicated on the illustration below make the “Wrong” examples
> illegal. I believe NM has a law similar to CVC 22100, which says it’s
> illegal to make turns across lanes of traffic.
>
> Blocking traffic from moving into the bicycle lane (as was done on MLK)
> forces car drivers or indicates to them that they should make these illegal
> right turns (illegal because they must turn across the bicycle's lane of
> traffic). In making these barrier enforced illegal right turns, the cars
> unnecessarily endanger bicycle riders using the bicycle’s lane of traffic
> because the bicycles get into the car's blind spots as they pass them. I’ve
> personally had more than one near miss on MLK as a result of its flawed
> design. Please do not replicate this dangerous design flaw on Monte Vista.
>
> [image: PastedGraphic-1.png]
>
> Thank you for your consideration
>
> Michael McDonald.
>
> On Dec 5, 2022, at 9:46 AM, Monte Vista Medians via Neighbors_nobhill-nm <
> neighbors_nobhill-nm at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
>
> Good morning,
>
> We appreciate your continued interest in the Monte Vista Median Study!
> Attached is the presentation and handout. If you have any questions or
> comments, please feel free to send us an email at
> montevistamedians at bhinc.com
>
> Thank you!
>
> *Alexis Bissett*
> Administrative Professional
> *Bohannan Huston*
>
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>
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>
> <Monte Vista Blvd Median Study December 1 2022.pdf><Meeting Handout_Monte
> Vista Blvd Median Study Dec 1 2022R.pdf>
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