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Feedback for a Crosswalk

NOB HILL--It seems to be about a month since the traffic lights and crosswalks were installed and working at the corner of Central Ave. and Wellesley. For those of you not too familiar with Nob Hill, that is the corner where Kelly's brewpub is located.

At the time the city administration objected, saying more study was needed. Be that as it may, City Councilor Rey Garduño pursued a course of immediate action, getting a resolution passed on September 9th that sought a full stoplight within a month or so. It actually took 3 months. I regard that as pretty darn fast.

The question is, "Are you happy?" How is it working out? How serious are traffic delays? Is it worth it? Do people cross the street more? Does it help crossing the street further east on Central? I think it is time for some feedback.

One of the things that makes Albuquerque different from many cities, like say Chicago, is that we ordinary citizens keep thinking we can make this wonderful place even better. At some point that kind of citizen input requires feedback from the greater community. That's you.

So the question remains, "Are you happy?"

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Comment by Nobhill Resident on February 21, 2010 at 11:43am: I'm disappointed ( is that unhappy? ... I suppose ) that the Morningside traffic light has yet to appear as well as finishing the "lighting" upgrade between Morningside and Girard. The Morningside / Central intersection area is a much more dangerous crossing for pedestrians than Wellesley.

I have used the Wellesley crossing often. The problem continues with drivers not being aware they must yield to pedestrians crossing North/South. Elsewhere on DFC there is mention of roundabouts but also Zebra crossings. More attention is need on the part of drivers ... the lights have not solved the problem entirely. I think Council person Garduño lacks an even enthusiasm for ALL of the district when attention is not placed on everything that is pro-ported to be supported.

I welcome any slowing and reduction of traffic along Central from Downtown to Louisiana. Commercial vehicles not making deliveries on Central should be banned, no though commercial traffic. I also support spreading out the flow of bus service along that section so that there isn't bunching that results in long waits and "Bus Full" problems that have increased since the advent of the # 777. Unfortunately unless the bump outs are removed and no parking is implemented along that segment of Central ( Downtown to Louisiana ) and replaced with dedicated "Bus Only" lanes ( currently implemented on the South bound side of Central between Girard and University, things will not get better. Implementing a bus only lane in the current configuration could be done, however we don't know what the unintended consequences would be to general traffic.

The whole bus system and traffic in core areas needs to be scrapped and re-engineered instead of patch work fixes that cater to small areas of the City to take into consideration the general changes in Albuquerque over the last few years.

I still want the light at Morningside, at least if I get hit in the crosswalk and the light is in my favor I or my estate can sue without "contributory negligance" being a factor.

Comment by The DitchRider on February 21, 2010 at 11:56am: I am not sure of the status of the Morningside light. I do know that their was not funding for the entire Central Ave. corridor in terms of new street lighting. They put up what they could. I'm confident those new white light poles will run all the way down Central at least to University at some point. I'll try to find out when.

Comment by Raine K. on February 22, 2010 at 12:46pm: I think we desperately need a light at Morningside and Central. - my kids and I nearly got hit there last weekend - after looking left and looking right and looking left again (my son is 6 and really into traffic safety!). And a lovely SUV was speeding and came within a few feet of hitting us - complete with screeching of tires and skids marks. With no lights between Washington and Carlisle people decide to speed in that corridor. It is my least favorite intersection as a Nob Hill pedestrian.

Comment by Richard V on February 22, 2010 at 2:48pm: if you slow the traffic down on central, then more drivers take to the parallel streets. such is the case with lead, with it's 18 mph speed limit. primarily done as a move to get bicyclists off central, only to be adopted by motorists who use it for their personal little highway traveling at high rates of speed. it's a joke, just like the law against using cell phones while behind the wheel. if you're not going to enforce it, don't bother implementing all the cosmetic signs on the street. just wait for a bicyclist, skate boarder, or pedestrian to bite the big one before getting serious about taking any action. and if any place needs a traffic light, it's the intersection at lead and girard, another spot with speeding motorists. either that or ban parking on girard for a block in either direction, so that visibility isn't an issue.

Comment by Hermes_505 on February 22, 2010 at 3:57pm: Richard, I'm pretty sure Lead & Girard has a light- perhaps Lead & Silver? That one is certainly tricky with the residential/student parking issues.

Otherwise I haven't noticed a big inconvenience for motorists on Central due to the new crosswalk, Mango. To Richard's point though, I have noticed an uptick in traffic on the residential streets around it- perhaps due to some commercial developments along Silver in that area or the slimming of Lead/Coal. Not sure. But Richmond is fast becoming a new significant cross street with a huge jump in traffic whereas previously, it was just a light/crosswalk by the Wells Fargo.

Comment by Richard V on February 22, 2010 at 5:14pm: thanks for correcting me. sorry, i did mean silver all along. gee, i've only lived in this neighborhood a year, you'd think i'd know the street's names....

Comment by andrew on February 22, 2010 at 6:06pm: I like it. Keeps traffic from getting up to insane speeds in that stretch, which makes for more enjoyable bicycling or walking. The slower automobile traffic goes through Nob Hill the better.

Comment by Brendan on February 22, 2010 at 6:26pm: Appreciate the new light- still wishing for the Morningside light, though. Suspect there's just as much neighborhood demand, but probably not as vocal of business interests. Hopefully the continuing migration of local businesses from "west" Nob Hill to East Nob Hill will bring with it the voice to get that second light built.

Comment by hettie on February 22, 2010 at 7:05pm: I think it's a good addition to the neighborhood, but, it should be a pedestrian activated light. there's little reason to stop traffic on central unless pedestrians need to cross. tucson has this kind of system and it works great. the light currently gives peds roughly 13-15 seconds to cross central, which is quite short, especially for people who move more slowly. I assume the short interval is to appease people who had reservations about stopping central traffic on a regular cycle, a problem that would also be solved by making the light pedestrian activated.

having said all that, it's great to see this kind of change happening and I, like others above, hope changes continue to be implemented further east on central.

Comment by urbanABQ on February 22, 2010 at 9:28pm: I say to heck with motorists waiting for pedestrians to cross and busses to load. It's time Central became a pedestrian priority arterial. Squeeze down the traffic lanes and extend the sidewalks. If they don't like it, they can head to Lomas. It's also time they finished what they started on Silver and made it a bonafide bicycle street by limiting automobile access.