BUS RULES STILL THE SAME ON SECOND: School is out for the summer, but Valentino Turri is getting some homework done before it resumes in the fall.
Valentino emails “we travel south on Second Street in the morning when school buses are going north and making periodic stops to pick up students. Some of the north/south lanes are separated by (raised medians) and some areas have no dividers at all. My question is: Are we supposed to stop, going south, when a school bus is loading with (its) lights flashing? No one seems to stop, but are we supposed to?”
This question has been around almost as long as this column.
Back on Feb. 13, 2001, a reader asked what the law is when it comes to passing school buses on a two-way street with no divider, like Second. Specifically, do drivers have to stop if the bus is stopped facing north and they are headed south?”
And like Valentino, that reader pointed out that few drivers do stop. He was concerned about getting either rear-ended should he stop or a ticket should he keep driving past.
And the answer from the Albuquerque Police Department was stop if there is no raised median.
“Drivers are required to stop 10 feet before approaching or overtaking a school bus with appropriate signals illuminated, regardless of direction, except where the two directions of traffic are on a separated roadway physically divided by at least a raised median. A painted median is specifically not considered a divider in the city code.”
APD ended the 2001 column with a sentiment that still rings true a decade later: ” ‘Regardless of law, extra caution should be used anytime children are present’ because, well, they act like children and can get hurt before you know it.”
TRAPPED TURNING LEFT ONTO N.M. 528: Tom Carter called to report that frustration.
He says “it’s a major problem” to turn left from Westside Boulevard onto northbound N.M. 528/Pat D’Arco Highway/Rio Rancho Boulevard.
And it isn’t all the names slowing drivers down.
Tom says the turn arrow is too short and 15 to 20 cars back up; it takes two full signal cycles to get through.
The question is, when.
Peter Wells, Rio Rancho’s chief communications officer, says “the direction/phase in question from eastbound Westside Boulevard to northbound N.M. 528/Pat D’Arco Highway is typically low volume. Please get from the person who contacted you the specific time or times they have noticed/experienced a backup. If you are able to get this information from the individual and provide to us, the city will review the current timing and make any adjustments if needed.”
That’s the usual drill when there is an issue with signal timing – traffic engineers often have them programmed to accommodate different traffic volumes at different times of day. It’s vital to know when something is going wrong to try to address it.
Unfortunately, Tom didn’t leave his number or any contact information.
But the city is ready for the specifics if/when they come in.
Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area Mondays and for West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; or P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Go to abqjournal.com/traffic to read previous columns and join in the conversation.
— This article appeared on page 1 of the West Side Journal
