Unser Landscaping Set After Widening

TIRED OF BLOWING DIRT ON UNSER: Jim called to ask if there is any landscaping on the horizon for Unser between Ladera and St. Joseph.

Specifically, because the natural landscaping that was there was removed during a water project, and now the dirt blows freely.

Mark Motsko, who handles information for the city of Albuquerque’s Municipal Development department, says landscaping will be part of the upcoming project that will widen Unser from Interstate 40 to Ouray.

Motsko says that $5.5 million in work “will narrow the existing median in order to provide an additional driving lane and bicycle lane in each direction. Right now, the design is almost complete. We are hoping to bid the project by the end of the summer, and begin construction before the end of the year. After the construction is complete, which should take six to eight months, we’ll allow some time for the drivers to become adjusted to the new configuration, and then landscape the medians.”

WEIGH IN ON PASEO MASS TRANSIT: West Side drivers know the problems inherent with getting across the river during rush hours.

Next week they can weigh in with solutions.

The Mid-Region Council of Governments and the Rio Metro Regional Transit District are starting public meetings next week on “new public transportation (on Paseo) that would connect northwest Albuquerque and Rio Rancho with the Journal Center and other major destinations east of the Rio Grande.”

They will be talking “potential routes, destinations and the types of service being proposed.”

To get in on the discussion, attend the public meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson NE, in the auditorium, or from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Albuquerque Police Department Northwest Substation at 10401 Cibola Loop NW.

Rio Metro Director Terry Doyle says in a news release that “the West Side is projected to add 250,000 residents in the coming decades. One result is that traffic along Paseo del Norte is expected to grow from 82,000 vehicles per day now to 180,000 by 2035. We can’t build enough roads to carry all West Side residents, so it’s important to explore other options such as premium transit service.”

“We think transit will play an increasingly important role in the region, and this study gives us a chance to figure out what the service in this area should look like.”

For more information, check out the MRCOG website www.mrcog-nm.gov.

IN DEFENSE OF THE RIO RANCHO MVD: After a recent column included a reader critical of the help he received at the Rio Rancho contract Motor Vehicle Division office, another reader sent in an alternate viewpoint.

“I am writing in defense of the MVD personnel,” she emails. “We moved to Rio Rancho in 1999, and within the first month we were at the MVD on Sabana Grande in Rio Rancho with both cars’ title(s), registration(s), insurance card(s), and our driver’s license(s) — plus a book to read while waiting our turn. It is a busy office. When our number was called, everything went smoothly and fast, and the person who took care of our papers was competent, pleasant and quick.

“I must now renew my driver’s license every year and have nothing but good experience with the MVD personnel. Many (customers) go there without doing their due diligence, then are upset if told they must come back with this or that paper. Of course, there (are) those with chips on their shoulder(s), those whose time is so precious that this obligation is an inconvenience they can’t bear!”

MORE ON THE WESTSIDE TURNS: Bob Bittner has an update on the signals at the Westside/Golf Course intersection. Last week’s column raised his concern about the lack of dedicated left turns from Westside onto Golf Course, explained the high cost and limited traffic volumes right now, that the city had made some adjustments and planned to check out any possible additional changes to ease drivers’ wait times.

Bob emails “late (Thursday) afternoon I saw some city workers looking at/perhaps adjusting the lights. Hopefully some improvement will be seen in the future. I certainly understand the cost restrictions on installing the needed dedicated turn signals.”

Assistant editorial page editor D’Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for the Metro area on Mondays and West Siders and Rio Ranchoans on Thursdays. Reach her at 823-3858; road@abqjournal.com; P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103; or 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