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AN ARTICLE in Thursday’s Journal presents an inaccurate picture of the current discussions about the Candelaria and Rio Grande Boulevard roundabout.
The article states that the neighborhoods around that intersection have been concerned about its safety for at least seven years. But our neighborhoods have been concerned about high speeds, red light running and accidents at the intersection for all the years we have lived here. What has been going on the past seven years is an intensive effort working with the city of Albuquerque to identify the safety problems at that intersection and address them.
Three engineering studies have been done by the city. The first one, by Parsons Brinkerhoff in 2008, identified a roundabout as the most effective solution if the money could be found to pay for it. The second study, by Wilson and Associates in 2009, collected further data on accidents and the character of the intersection and determined that a roundabout would be workable there.
In 2010 the city was awarded $1,125,000 in Federal Highway Safety Administration funds specifically to build a roundabout at the Candelaria and Rio Grande intersection. Based on that funding, a third engineering study, by Bohannan Huston, has completed construction drawings and the project is ready to go to bid.
The article presents a picture of a simple set of opinion differences regarding this intersection. I am quoted as saying our Neighborhood Association “believes” the roundabout is the best solution.
Our neighborhoods are way past the opinion stage. We have worked closely with the city for the past seven years to document, analyze, gain funding for, create the engineering drawings and purchase the necessary right of way for this important safety improvement to the intersection.
I would appreciate a fuller and fairer representation of the facts in this matter.
SUSAN STRAND JOHNSON
Vice-president, Rio Grande Boulevard Neighborhood Association
