August 2016 - Issue 61
Monthly Transportation News from and for the Region 
Central Ave-San Mateo Road Safety Assessment

The Central Ave & San Mateo Road Safety Assessment (RSA) takes an in-depth look at pedestrian safety at this intersection. The development of the assessment report involved a multidisciplinary team working with local community groups and a variety of agencies to help understand the safety concerns at this intersection and collaborate on appropriate safety countermeasures. The results of this 18 month process are detailed in the Central Ave-San Mateo Road Safety Assessment Report.
  
New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque have been identified by the Federal Highway Administration as being in need of pedestrian safety improvements due to pedestrian-auto crash rates. This is further emphasized by New Mexico ranking first in the nation for pedestrian crash fatalities per 100,000 population in the year 2014. The intersection of Central Ave and San Mateo historically has had the highest number of pedestrian crashes in the region.
  
Central Ave and San Mateo Blvd stand out in many other ways as well: This intersection is a transfer point for four very high ridership transit lines; there are many pedestrians and pedestrians with disabilities crossing this intersection; and it is located in an ''Activity Center." Activity Centers are identified in City of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan as areas for urban land uses and transportation improvements to support pedestrian travel.
  
The City of Albuquerque is implementing their first bus rapid transit service, Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART), along Central Ave. This project presents a unique opportunity to improve pedestrian safety. Many of the RSA-recommended improvements are planned to be implemented as part of the ART project, and the feasibility of including other recommendations with the ART project or as future projects are being investigated.
Mobile Ticketing App Now Available for Rail Runner
The New Mexico Rail Runner Express now has an official mobile ticketing app. The app, which is available for both iPhone and Android, will allow passengers to purchase tickets, check the status of the train, view the schedule, and more. In addition to the app, the Rail Runner has also introduced a new, easy to use, online ticketing system.
 
Free Webinars Shown at MRCOG

Pl ease join us for the remaining APBP Webinars every third Wednesday of the month from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  at the MRCOG Offices, 809 Copper Ave NW 87102.
 
The APBP webinars help to raise awareness of non-motorized issues with our transportation partners and facilitate interaction between the staffs of different local governments within our region.
 
These webinars are free and eligible for AICP certificate maintenance credits or other professional development hours.

Funding for these webinars was made possible, in part, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as part of the Healthy Here: Communities Leading Healthy Change effort.
 
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) remaining 2016 Webinars:
 
Street Design and Planning in Suburban Contexts
Date: Wednesday August 17, 2016 1:00pm-2:00pm
 
Pedestrians and Cyclists in a Suburban Context
Date: Wednesday September 21, 2016   1:00pm-2:00pm
               
Intersections that Work for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Date: Wednesday October 19, 2016   1:00pm-2:00pm
 
Transitions between Bikeway Facilities
Date: Wednesday November  16, 2016   1:00pm-2:00pm
 
Tips to Demystify Traffic Analysis
Date: Wednesday December 14, 2016   1:00pm-2:00pm
American Planning Association-NM Annual Conference Call for Proposals Due August 5th

The APA-NM annual conference is being held in Downtown Albuquerque this fall on September 29th and 30th. This year the APA-NM Board has elected to develop a short but impactful two day conference for members, partners, and other interested parties.
Have something important to share with your peers and can do it in short order? Interested in tapping your creative community development talents through your media of choice? This year's invitation for 10-15 minute short sessions are intended to provide participants with a snapshot of planning efforts around New Mexico that will leave a lasting impression.

The deadline for submissions is August 5th at 5pm. Email submissions to [email protected].

For questions contact Erick Aune at 505-955-6664. More details on proposals and the conference can be found here . To further entice those who may be interested, the Board will award the top three presentations reimbursement costs for attending the national APA conference in New York City next May.

In addition, there is a specific call for short and sweet 'Complete Streets and Beyond' presentations for a special session at the conference. Presentations can be about Complete Streets projects around the state and also any Complete Streets "big dreams and ideas." The deadline to submit those presentations is also August 5th, 5pm. Send any questions and submissions to [email protected].
August Calendar

WHAT
 WHEN
 WHERE
Transportation Coordinating Committee Friday, August 5 (1:30-3pm) MRCOG Board Room
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals Webinar: Street Design and Planning in Suburban Contexts Wednesday, August 17
(1-2pm)		 MRCOG First Floor Conference Room
Metropolitan Transportation Board Meeting
 Friday, August 19 (10-11:30am)
 MRCOG Board Room
Rio Metro Board Meeting
 Friday, August 19 (12pm)
MRCOG Board Room
GRAPHIC OF THE MONTH
 
This map illustrates the indirect impacts of creating 100 professional, scientific, and technical services jobs in each of the seven MRCOG sub-regions and the rest of New Mexico. Each sub-region was run individually, and estimates were produced using outputs from the Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) PI+ model. East Albuquerque serves as the largest employment center in the region and the state. Thus, the largest impact occurs in East Albuquerque, where 93 indirect jobs across all industries are created in addition to the 100 direct jobs. This also results in indirect job creation in other sub-regions (47 jobs), primarily in West Albuquerque (13 jobs) and the rest of Bernalillo County (19 jobs). Significant indirect job creation occurs in East Albuquerque when new jobs are created in other sub-regions, particularly West Albuquerque (87 jobs), the rest of Bernalillo County (83 jobs), or Rio Rancho (34 jobs). This is because many of the builders and suppliers that support the new jobs are located in East Albuquerque.  Note that indirect job creation of less than 10 jobs is not shown in the graphic.


Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization | 505.247.1750 |  www.mrcog-nm.gov
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