Post-Church Traffic Backs Up Coors

TRAFFIC ADJUSTED FOR CHURCH DRIVERS: Gina Slentz says it happens on Coors every Sunday after services.

“I would like to know why it is that there are at least two police officers at the Sagebrush Church on Coors at La Orilla who can allow traffic on Coors to backup for blocks while allowing vehicles to leave the church parking lot,” Gina’s email says. “They hold traffic back for multiple turns of the traffic light. I don’t know why a private institution has the power to disrupt the flow of traffic on an already busy road. Is there some reason they do not have to wait their turn for the traffic light like the rest of us?”

Albuquerque Police Department officer Tasia Martinez says “this is Chief’s Overtime. The church hires officers to do traffic control.”

Martinez adds “I understand a traffic study was also done at the request of the church to help accommodate both Coors drivers and church ingress/egress drivers and most of all to address safety issues during heavy traffic hours for the church.

“I went out there myself and I worked on a new traffic direction plan that basically lets the lights cycle traffic as normal while only merging the northbound Coors traffic into two lanes JUST at the intersection to allow the far right lane of east-to-north traffic on La Orilla to flow out freely,” she says. “I think that was pretty effective in the meantime while we wait to hear if the state will include another outlet.

“So long story short, we are only stopping traffic if necessary, but the church is having us monitor the traffic for now.”

TWO CENTS ON FOURTH REDUCTION: A recent column explained plans to put Fourth Street on a road diet, reducing through lanes to accommodate turn bays.

Reader Jeannette Alt prefers Fourth pleasantly plump.

Her email says “changing Fourth Street from four lanes to three would, based on my experience, slow traffic, not speed it up. I live near Second and Ranchitos and travel Fourth Street between Montaño and Alameda nearly every day. The biggest problem I find is coping with people driving well below the speed limit of 35 (mph).

“Without the second lane to pass these people, traffic would be horribly slowed down and cause considerable driver frustration,” Jeanette says. “I have not seen any problems or impediment of traffic flow with the current four-lane arrangement. I would strongly suggest that a survey of people in the area be taken before any final decision is made regarding the proposed changes.”

And John Hooker says a slimmer Fourth is a safer one. His email says “I prefer the three-lane alternatives that provide either shared lanes or bike lanes in the street, as the three-lane section with on-street parking which will operate close to or slower than the posted 35 mph. The current four-lane roadway runs at 42 to 46 mph, with frequent higher-speed passing in the right-hand lane, menacing to pedestrians, bus riders and cyclists.”

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 24 of the Albuquerque Journal