Bike Lanes and More New Safety Measures coming to Louisiana Blvd
Bike Lanes and More New Safety Measures coming to Louisiana Blvd.
Road safety project made possible by funds generated from Automated Speed Enforcement program
ALBUQUERQUE – This week, the City of Albuquerque’s Vision Zero program is starting work on its first major project to be paid for through funds generated from the Automated Speed Enforcement program. The project will be a restriping and re-thinking of Louisiana Blvd. from Gibson to Central. The City’s Vision Zero program aims to reduce pedestrian deaths and create safer streets for all who use them.
The Louisiana corridor has been one of the most dangerous in the city for pedestrians and cyclists, and it is one of the highest-priority roads on the High Fatal and Injury Network map. It is also highly utilized by children who use the road to walk to the two schools in the area, Van Buren Middle School and Emerson Elementary School.
“This is a meaningful, community-driven project,” said Valerie Hermanson, Public Works Strategic Program Manager and Vision Zero Coordinator. “The community told us what they wanted: safer streets, slower traffic, and better pedestrian and transit options. This project can be a model for how we look at roads and design our streets to help people move in safer and more efficient ways throughout our city.”
Louisiana will be restriped to create new bike lanes. The project will also include new Intelligent Transportation Systems to improve communication between traffic signals.
“We’re updating roads all over our city to make sure everyone can get to where they need to go safely,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “For our communities to be sustainable and safe, our streets need to work for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. We’re listening to what folks are saying they need to help their neighborhoods be the best they can be.”
“We’re investing in critical design improvements n to keep everyone safe, no matter how you use the road,” said Jennifer Turner, Director of the Municipal Development Department. “Road diets, bike lanes, and the other safety infrastructure we’re putting in are proven safety measures to slow traffic down and protect our neighborhoods.”
To determine the scope of the project, the Vision Zero team held several meetings and workshops with community members and preventative health experts. The team also used interactive suggestion boards on several bus stops in the area. That input informed the final project.
“This project will help reduce the number of accidents in the area, and really help pedestrians,” said Enrique Cardiel, Executive Director of the Health Equity Council, a Bernalillo County health equity organization. “The slower speeds and bike lanes should help keep the neighborhood safer.”
The $1 million project is scheduled to last 45 days. At least one lane will be maintained in each direction on Louisiana.
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About DMD: The Department of Municipal Development builds the city. DMD crews engineer, build, and maintain Albuquerque’s roads and storm drains, as well as design and build city facilities like community centers, libraries, and community safety centers.