ABQ residents hopeful about possible changes to Lomas Boulevard

The city of Albuquerque recently conducted a traffic study that offers some recommendations — including changes to light signal patterns — to improve safety on Lomas Boulevard from Girard Boulevard to San Pedro Drive.

"I think the fact that we're having this conversation at all is a great sign because people who have lived in Albuquerque much longer than I have said, 'It's just been bad for as long as we can remember,'" Strong Towns ABQ member Adrian Anzaldua said.

According to the $48,000 study, between 2019 and 2023 there were 662 crashes on Lomas between Girard and San Pedro. Of those, three resulted in fatalities and nine serious injuries. 

"We've heard from a lot of folks who live in the area (who said they're) not feeling super safe, so, with some dollars we got from state capital outlay (the city decided) to do a study to see what could be done," District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn said.

Among those who said they do not feel safe is Jefferson Middle School parent Meg Healy, who said she does not let her 13-year-old daughter, Norah Levin, walk to school by herself.

"She'd love if we let her walk to and from school on her own, but we told her, 'It won't work because it's too dangerous,'" Healy said.

She added, "Albuquerque drivers tend to view pedestrians as people who are in the way. It's tricky to change that culture for drivers without major interventions to the traffic patterns."

In an attempt to make the route safer, the city came up with some recommendations in its study. They include:

• Removing the outer driving lane and replacing it with a business access and transit (BAT) lane. Only buses and turning vehicles would be able to use it. This would reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and make turns safer, according to the study.
• Incorporating rest in red technology: This consists of smart lights designed to slow speeders by keeping lights red for drivers going over the speed limit. 

Anzaldua said changing the lights will help some people, "but what about the risk of people running that light right next to (Jefferson Middle) School?"

Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said design on the recommendations is about 30% complete.

"I think the ideas that have come out of this study are of benefit and if they are put to work, it would be one giant step in the right direction, but by no means do I think it's sufficient," Jefferson Middle School parent Robert Munro said. 

Munro said he expects things to take a while.

"I'm just trying to be realistic," he said.

Gregory R.C. Hasman is a general assignment reporter and the Road Warrior. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.