Roundabout decision is the correct route

Shortly after my appointment to the city’s District 2 council seat, I was overwhelmed with feedback against the proposed roundabout at the intersection of Rio Grande and Candelaria. I began meeting with council staff and the Department of Municipal Development to understand the roundabout’s history, original justification and public involvement.

There are two important ratios that were used to justify the roundabout: the number of accidents that result in injury or death and the number of collisions. The original numbers at that intersection were recently updated by the Department of Transportation for the last five years showing improvements of 37 percent and 23 percent, which brings them into line with city averages for all intersections. In the case of the collision rate the intersection’s numbers are below the national average.

The updated ratios are:

⋄  Intersection severity index (2007-2011) — 0.29 (the city’s is 0.28)

♦ Collision rate (2007-2011) — 1.24 (the national average is 2)

Improvements were accomplished without the expense of a roundabout but with commonsense upgrades the city made, including a left turn lane on Candelaria, speed radar detection signs and re-striping.

In addition to studying the intersection’s statistics, I also reviewed the public process regarding the roundabout. The Department of Municipal Development provided me with meeting dates, sign-in sheets and written comments regarding the roundabout.

There were four public meeting at Los Duranes Community Center from 2008-2012 and the attendance varied from 11 persons to 32 persons. In July 2012 there was a meeting at Los Griegos Community Center to explain that the roundabout had been selected. The attendance was so large, people were turned away.

Public outcry demanded another meeting, which was held on Sept. 27, 2012. Media attention resulted in 274 persons attending. After this meeting only 79 written opinions were documented.

There were design meetings in July 2010 to discuss updating the existing 1989 Rio Grande Corridor Plan; the meetings were not specific to the roundabout. Over four days, approximately 150 people attended.

I set up an online roundabout survey, and response was overwhelming and provided a voice for those who felt left out of the process. There were 1,190 responses from the area, 1,106 of which answered by the deadline of Feb. 18.

On March 1, I met with leaders representing both sides to review the responses. In summary, 60 percent (662 of the 1,106) of the respondents did not support the proposed roundabout.

Opponents say this survey is somehow irrelevant. I would argue that by the sheer volume of respondents, the survey was much more representative of the opinions of those who use the intersection than previously gathered written opinions. Technology has allowed transparency and access, and the public can now easily weigh in on important issues.

On April 1, the council will consider a resolution I am sponsoring which saves the more than $1 million currently committed to this roundabout for other infrastructure projects.

My resolution also restores $300,000 in badly needed 2011 capital improvement project funding for the reconstruction of major intersections citywide and retains $200,000 for additional safety improvements that the Department of Municipal Development deems appropriate for the intersection.

That same night the council will also consider a resolution sponsored by Councilor Isaac Benton that asks the Mid-Region Council of Governments to move the funding timeline on the roundabout to the federal fiscal year 2014. Intersection statistics and public opinion will not change after the October election, so I see no benefit in delaying the decision.

There are alternatives to the roundabout that are effective, less expensive and much less controversial. Unfortunately this issue has become very divisive, and many felt left out of the process.

I will continue to work on safety and speeding issues we have throughout the district. All documentation discussed will be posted on the city’s website as soon as possible.