Tuesday, July 22, 2008

'Walk' Signal Should Read 'Run'

By D'Val Westphal
Of the Journal
       CAN WE JUST WALK TO WAL-MART SAFELY? Mikki called with that question recently.
    She says that for residents of far-north Rio Rancho who want to walk across N.M. 528 to the retail giant, there's "no sidewalk on Montoya at 528 on the right side."
    And when it comes to navigating the intersection, "I have to run as soon as that little guy (on the crosswalk light) turns white," and cars still get a green before she's out of the crosswalk.
    Mikki says there would be "enough time if people would yield on the green arrow or green signal," but Enchanted Hills Boulevard has become the City of Vision's own Talladega Speedway, and drivers just "shoot right across the crosswalk."
    Mikki's point is this: Pedestrians should be able to walk safely, and a sidewalk and enough time to cross are integral to that.
    "Pedestrian's rights have been taken," she says. "When it's our turn, everything should stop. What are they teaching (new drivers) about pedestrians? We're talking about people's lives here."
    Indeed.
    Leonard Rivera, Traffic Operations manager for the city's Department of Public Works, says "the west side of this intersection is ours — the Enchanted Hills Boulevard side."
    And while "the connection to this intersection on the Enchanted Hills side does not have sidewalk, AMREP Southwest is going to do some intersection improvements at this location — date not scheduled — that will build all of the sidewalk connections."
    As for timing, Rivera says "all of our intersections are timed according to the amount of time it would take a pedestrian to cross at a particular intersection. We use a walk (WALKING PERSON or WALK indication) time of 7 seconds minimum and a pedestrian clearance time" in line with the MUTCD — Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
    That timing is " 'sufficient to allow a pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk who left the curb or shoulder during the WALK signal indication to travel at a walking speed of 4 feet per second to at least the far side of the traveled way or to a median of sufficient width for pedestrians to wait.' "
    To help pedestrians do the estimating, the city uses "countdown timers on all crossings of minor and principal arterial roadways and school locations where signals are present."
    And while there aren't any signals in the new downtown City Center area yet, "we do have two roundabouts built into King Boulevard between Unser Boulevard and City Hall.
    "Once the area starts to build out, we will look at all types of traffic control devices and traffic calming that work to benefit and enhance the safety of the traveling and pedestrian public."
    AND WHERE ARE THE STRIPES? Mr. Bush called to ask when Mikki's section of 528 will be striped.
    He says since new pavement went down, "it's a very difficult road to drive with no lines on it."
    Phil Gallegos, who handles info for the New Mexico Department of Transportation's District 3, says crews "have to finish the paving before they can stripe. It should not be much longer."
    Assistant editorial page editor D'Val Westphal tackles commuter issues for West Siders on Tuesdays and the rest of the Metro area on Saturdays. Reach her at 823-3858 (phone), 823-3994 (fax), road@abqjournal.com (e-mail) or P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, N.M. 87103. Check out previous columns at abqjournal.com/traffic.