Bike Lane Addition on Old Santa Fe Trail - Need for Public Comment

How about a little good old fashioned trail advocacy..

In a meeting of the Santa Fe Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee (BTAC) this last week, one of the main points of discussion on the agenda was that the County intends to begin contract design work for the long planned bike lane(s) on Old Santa Fe Trail. The City maintains the stretch of road from East Zia Rd. to Camino Monte Sol, and does not plan on beginning the design work or construction on this section for several years. To encourage the city to accelerate the work and complete the project in tandem with the county, the east side District 4 County Commissioner went so far as to offer to pay for the city’s portion of the design work out of the District 4 budget allocation (as much as $250K). The Advisory Committee turned away this and other similar proposals offered during the meeting, and does not plan on recommending the work for City Council approval. City staff present at the meeting also spoke out against the timing of the project. There was no one at the meeting to lobby support for this bike lane project.

This is a good deal, bringing an important piece of local transportation infrastructure online years before planned and at a substantially discounted cost. If folks feel strongly about this lane addition or other bike projects in town they’re being asked to call or email their City Councilors over the next 7-14 days (Don't wait, do it today!). The Council has ultimate say in what projects get green lighted or not and if they were to hear from the bike community that this is an important addition to the city’s transportation system they may push the issue back to committee for more debate or act to bring the project online without a recommendation. The opportunity to keep this project open is short. The open contract process will close without sufficient public comment. If you don't know your District Councilors, find your district on the map here: http://www.santafenm.gov/DocumentCenter/View/41310

Then send a short email (or forward this one) noting the project and your encouragement for your District's Councilors to support for it. For additional information on the County side, a good contact is Public Works Director Adam Leigland, aleigland@santafecountynm.gov . Keep in mind that if the cycling community doesn't voice their opinion on these issues, nobody will.

Patti Bushee  District 1  505-955-2345  pjbushee@santafenm.gov  Webpage:  Councilor Bushee	Chris Calvert District 1  505-955-6812  ccalvert@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Calvert
Rebecca Wurzburger District 2 & Mayor Pro Tem  505-955-6815  rdwurzburger@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Wurzburger	Peter N. Ives District 2  505-955-6816  pnives@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Ives
Carmichael Dominguez District 3  (505) 955-6814  cadominguez@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Dominguez	Christopher Rivera District 3  (505) 955-6818  cmrivera@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Rivera
Ronald S. Trujillo District 4  505-955-6811  rstrujillo@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Trujillo	Bill Dimas District 4  505-955-6817  bdimas@santafenm.gov  Webpage: Councilor Dimas

**Interested parties should also note that the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee has an open seat in District 3. If you live north or west of Cerrillos Rd and want to been involved with the Committee contact your Councilor (Rivera or Dominguez).