CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY-FIRST COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-15-230 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Klarissa J. Peña
RESOLUTION
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Requiring The Albuquerque Bus Rapid Transit Project To Finance The Installation Of A Streetscape On Central Avenue From Sunset Boulevard To Coors Boulevard, Establishing Minimum Streetscape Standards On Central From Sunset To Coors. Designating Federal Funds In The Mid-Region Council Of Governments Transportation Improvement Program For Albuquerque Great Streets For Streetscaping Central Avenue From Coors Boulevard To The Western City Limits (Peña)
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REQUIRING THE ALBUQUERQUE BUS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT TO FINANCE THE INSTALLATION OF A STREETSCAPE ON CENTRAL AVENUE FROM SUNSET BOULEVARD TO COORS BOULEVARD, ESTABLISHING MINIMUM STREETSCAPE STANDARDS ON CENTRAL FROM SUNSET TO COORS. DESIGNATING FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE MID-REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ALBUQUERQUE GREAT STREETS FOR STREETSCAPING CENTRAL AVENUE FROM COORS BOULEVARD TO THE WESTERN CITY LIMITS.
WHEREAS, Central Avenue between the Rio Grande and the Western City Limits is a principal and historically significant travel route within the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area that connects the over 120,000 people who reside on the Southwest Area of Bernalillo County to the East Side of Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, this segment of West Central is the location of numerous small and locally owned retail shops and serves as a principle commercial corridor for the Southwest Mesa of the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County; and
WHEREAS, West Central is challenged with aging infrastructure, and commercial buildings, traffic congestion, roadway safety hazards, and a dearth of public spaces that has created an adverse identity for the corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has identified West Central Avenue as one of the nation’s most dangerous roadways for pedestrians and a primary cause of pedestrian/vehicle accidents on the corridor; and
WHEREAS, corridors on Central Avenue including, Downtown, East Downtown (EDO), Nob Hill, East Gateway and the International District have faced similar challenges and the City has responded with redevelopment efforts; and
WHEREAS, a streetscape project that improves pedestrian access and comfort provides protection from vehicle traffic is a primary instrument for facilitating redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the City has adopted a Complete Streets Ordinance that requires projects that reconstruct major streets to provide facilities that provide for protective, comfortable and convenient access along the roadway by pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, the Albuquerque Development Process Manual establishes a 6 foot sidewalk as the minimum City Standard for Arterial Streets. Established practice for providing appropriate pedestrian lighting is a 6 to 1 uniformity. On a street with traffic speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour landscape buffers are used to protect pedestrians. These areas located between the traffic and the sidewalk with adequate width to provide space for street trees and bushes.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. That the Administration of the City of Albuquerque as part of the Bus Rapid Transit Project known as the “Albuquerque Rapid Transit Project (ART)” will fund and construct a streetscape on Central Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Coors Boulevard that complies with Section 2 of this Resolution. Right of way Acquisitions shall begin at the same time as the ART project. Funding will be identified with intent to begin construction of the project identified in Section 2 of this Resolution within 1 year of the completion of the ART Project.
Section 2. That the following minimum streetscape standards are established for Central Avenue between Sunset Boulevard and Coors Boulevard.
A. Streetscaping on this segment of Central Avenue shall provide for the safety, comfort and ease of pedestrians and will beautify the street.
B. The streetscape will include a planting strip located directly behind the curb line, a sidewalk located behind the planting strip and pedestrian lighting.
C. Sidewalks will be a minimum of 6 feet in width where feasible.
D. Pedestrian lighting will provide either a uniformity of 6:1 or the lighting spaced a maximum of 75 feet apart. Street poles, mast arms and luminaires will be the same as or equivalent to those installed on Central Avenue between Girard Avenue and San Pedro Boulevard.
E. Planting Strips will be a minimum of 6 feet in width, will include trees and bushes and can retain the storm water that falls within the planting strip and onto the abutting sidewalk.
F. These standards may not fully or partially apply where their application would require partial or full demolition of a structure or removing parking spaces that are required for the commercial uses on a property to comply with the City’s Zoning Code. In such cases an alternative design shall be installed that accomplishes the goals set forth in Section 2A. of this resolution.
Section 3. Expenditure of the Great Streets funding provided through the Mid Region Council of Governments Transportation Improvement Program for Federal Fiscal Years 2019, 2020, and 2021, is restricted to development of the streetscapes on Central Avenue between Coors Boulevard and the Western City Limits and from Louisiana Boulevard to Tramway Road.
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