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