FOUR HILLS VILLAGE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
City Councilor Don Harris - March 2010
City Council Appropriated $3.5 Million to Redesign Southern Boulevard
The Mid Region Council of Governments Long Range Roadway Plan identified the Southern Avenue alignment, between Eubank Boulevard and Juan Tabo Boulevard, as an urban principal arterial that would connect to the Gibson Boulevard extension at Eubank. In anticipation of the Gibson extension, Southern Avenue’s alignment includes a 156 foot right of way width. The roadway cross-section would be four lanes with two lanes in each direction separated by a 58 foot median.
Funding for the Gibson Extension has been deleted by the City and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Organization has removed the Gibson extension from the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). The project was cancelled when the Federal Government refused to allow a portion of the roadway to pass through the northern border of Kirtland Air Force Base.
The 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan identified Eubank Boulevard between Southern Blvd and Constitution Avenue and between Central Avenue from Wyoming Boulevard to Juan Tabo Boulevard as experiencing unacceptable travel delays during rush hours. This has occurred due to the presence of Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia Labs, and the Sandia Science and Technology Park located along the southern segments of Eubank which have a combined payroll of over 31,000 employees. For the past 25 years the majority of defense and research sites at these facilities have been added close to Eubank Boulevard. This has resulted in a dramatic growth of traffic using Eubank Boulevard to ingress and egress the area.
The City of Albuquerque has underway a Sector Plan to guide development in the East Gateway Area. A goal of the plan is to redevelop Southern as both a route to Kirtland Air Force Base and the Sandia Science and Technology Park. The implementation objectives of this goal include, designating Southern Avenue a collector street, improving traffic capacity management at Eubank and Juan Tabo, constructing safety improvements around the medians to prevent head on collision, and landscaping the medians.
The planning process has included a transportation analysis to develop a commuter route that would alleviate congestion on Central Avenue and Eubank Boulevard. A number of potential routes were studied including Southern Boulevard between Eubank and Juan Tabo Boulevards. All of these routes, except Southern, were eliminated either due to environmental impacts or because constructing these roadways would require the removal of housing stock.
A Southern Boulevard commuter route would not impact environmentally sensitive areas or housing stock. The cost to develop Southern is less expensive on a magnitude of order. The right of way for Southern has been acquired, and the through lanes have been constructed. In addition, private developers have already constructed the sidewalks along the roadway and landscaped and the areas between the curbs and the sidewalks.
The remaining work on Southern includes intersection capacity improvements at Eubank and Juan Tabo Boulevards, adding a bike lane, safety improvements to the existing medians, building sidewalks on the south side of the street, a multi use trail, and aesthetic improvements consistent with the goals of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan that are currently being implemented throughout the City.
Southern Boulevard is also the location of number of large new housing developments south of Central and North of the Kirtland Air-force Base Line including, the Willow Wood Addition and Juan Tabo Hills among others. It is imperative that the development of Southern as a Commuter route does not adversely impact these surrounding neighborhoods also, as important, as a major entrance to the City’s major employment center it is necessary to develop Southern as a corridor that is attractive and appealing to parties bringing economic development opportunities to the City. Community support for this project was important and strengthened my arguments with the Council. I will continue to work to improve District 9 and Four Hills in my second term as your City Councilor.
Finally, I would like to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve your community. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. My mobile number is 553-5674 and my email is dharris@cabq.gov.