CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY-SECOND COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-16-17 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Dan Lewis
RESOLUTION
title
Directing The Administration To Install A Traffic Signal At The Intersection Of Paradise Road And La Paz, Assigning Council Capital Set-A-Side Monies From Fund 305 (Lewis)
body
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF PARADISE ROAD AND LA PAZ, ASSIGNING COUNCIL CAPITAL SET-A-SIDE MONIES FROM FUND 305.
WHEREAS, it is the Charter Duty of the Albuquerque City Council to adopt legislation that is beneficial to the people of Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Municipal Development contracted with Souder Miller and Associates to complete a Traffic Signal Warrant Study at the Intersection of Paradise Boulevard and La Paz Drive Northwest. This was in response to safety concerns regarding pedestrians crossing Paradise at La Paz and to efficiently and safely egress and ingress traffic to and from the campuses of the James Monroe Middle School and Sunset View Elementary School; and
WHEREAS, the study determined the intersection met Warrant 5 “School Crossings” of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for authorizing the installation of a traffic stop control device that fulfills federal standards; and
WHEREAS, the findings of the Traffic Signal Warrant Study do not fulfill the Department of Municipal Development’s requirements for warranting traffic signals. These requirements are established to maintain a balanced flow of motorized vehicle traffic throughout the region and to not unduly impede or frustrate motorists. Additionally, the study determined the existing school crossing beacons and school zone provided appropriate protection for students crossing from neighborhoods on the north side of Paradise Boulevard to the school campuses; and
WHEREAS, a series of circumstances effecting the use of the intersection requires that the City Council, to protect the public’s health and safety, act extraordinary to the Municipal Development Department’s requirements; and
WHEREAS, frequent violations of the 15 miles per hour school zone have mostly eliminated the safety provided by the zone and flashing beacons. Though the Albuquerque Police Department and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department frequently patrol the school zone they are not able to maintain a continued presence when it is in effect. The teachers at the two public schools were taking the responsibility of crossing the students. That practice was halted by the public school system due to liability issues; and
WHEREAS, students residing on the north side of Paradise must be bussed to school, due to the danger of crossing Paradise on foot. Installing a signal will allow them to walk to school. The City of Albuquerque has worked to improve safety for children where paths to school intersect with vehicle traffic by constructing traffic calming devices around schools and along school routes, and installing traffic signals where a vehicle entrance to the school intersects with an arterial road. These actions are consistent with the National Safe Routes to School Act adopted to improve safety on walking and bicycling routes to encourage children and families to travel between home and school using these modes; and
WHEREAS, policy II-D-4 of the Albuquerque Bernalillo Comprehensive Plan states it is the policy of the City to balance the Street System by encouraging bicycling and walking in and between activity centers. In fulfillment of this policy the City adopted the Complete Streets Ordinance, which requires development and operation of the City Street System to accommodate for all modes of transportation including pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, the intersection of Paradise and La Paz provides access to the west side of the Paradise Hills Community from the regional arterial system and is the primary vehicle entrance to James Monroe Public Middle School and Sunset View Elementary. It is the arterial crossing for a walking trail that links the north and south sides of a de-facto activity center that includes the Petroglyph National Monument, the school campuses, the complex of gymnasiums located at the schools, the Paradise Hills Baseball Complex, the Ventana Ranch Park Soccer Complex and Tennis Courts, the Paradise Hills Community Center, and the Paradise Hills community and skate park and Swimming Pool. The trail and crossing of Paradise are used by pedestrians from nearby neighborhoods to walk the trail for exercise or to reach these facilities. Persons who travel by car to the recreation complexes and find parking on the opposite side of Paradise Boulevard from these facilities must also cross Paradise as a pedestrian to reach their destination; and
WHEREAS, a signal will support public health by allowing adults and children to safely cross Paradise, making it possible to walk to and from school, and the recreation complexes. Many Americans suffer from Type I and Type II diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and other illnesses associated with the lack of adequate exercise. Allowing adults and children the opportunity to walk to neighborhood destinations and school will improve physical health and for young people enhance the cognitive mapping capacity; and
WHEREAS, a signal at La Paz and Paradise, to minimize the impact on traffic flow on Paradise, can be designed and operated so that the stop command (red light) is only activated on Paradise when a vehicle and or a pedestrian activates a trigger on La Paz.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The City Council, to provide for the health and safety of the people of Albuquerque, directs the Administration to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Paradise Boulevard and La Paz Drive Northwest.
Section 2. The following Capital Improvement Program Council Set-a-Side Funds are reserved for the design and installation of a signal at Paradise and La Paz:
CAPITAL ACQUISITION FUND-305
Department Project Source Reserve
DMD/STREETS
2009 District 5 Street Projects 11 GO Bonds $330,000
These funds can be replaced in lieu thereof the appropriation of State Capital Outlay Funds.
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