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Issue: 47
June 2015
MRMPO and MRCOG Transportation News

Futures 2040 MTP and FY 2014-2019 TIP Receive Approved Conformity Determination
The Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration have approved the air quality conformity determination for the  Futures 2040 MTP  and FY 2016-2021 TIP, meaning the  Futures 2040 MTP  is federally-approved and is now the official long-range transportation plan for the region. The FHWA and FTA, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, reviewed the MTP and TIP and found that the implementation of proposed projects will not cause the region to exceed air quality standards.
Regional Population Inches Closer toward One Million

The region's population in 2014 was just shy of 915,000 according to population estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Each year the Census Bureau updates its population and housing estimates by county and place using birth, death, migration, and building permit data. The table below shows how places within the MRCOG region have changed since the 2010 Decennial Census.


 

With an overall increase of just two percent since 2010, population growth in the region has been remarkably slow when compared with the last several decades. By contrast, the region grew by 21.4 percent in the 2000s and 22.5 percent in the 1990s. The City of Rio Rancho continues to be the fastest community in the region, while the City of Albuquerque receives the largest numeric growth.
 

Bike Share Pilot Program Launched

Albuquerque's new pilot bike share program, BICI, officially launched on May 15 and is now up and running (or, rolling!). A membership is required to use BICI, which costs $25 for one year or $3 for one day and includes 90

minutes of free ride time each day. To sign up for a membership or learn more about the program please visit here

 

In addition to local media coverage (see here and here), BICI was also featured on the national NextCity website. Read the story here.  


 

Recap of Bike to Work Day 2015

Thank you to those who participated in Bike to Work Day 2015 on May 15! This year over 1,000 people stopped by the 11 event sites, and countless others participated in the event. For the third year in a row, MRCOG partnered with UNM to conduct a bicycle travel study to better understand how trails and bicycle lanes influence people's decision to ride. A little over 30 percent of people whose bicycle trip involves a trail would change modes if the trail did not exist, and approximately 25 percent of people whose bicycle trip involves a bicycle lane would change modes if the bicycle lane did not exist. Last year, the study found that "a significant share of cyclists have avoided driving due to facilities [and] suggests that these facilities can be part of an effective strategy to reduce vehicle traffic and congestion while improving air quality and public health."

 
MRCOG is also encouraging people to sign up for the National Bike Challenge. The Challenge runs from May to September. You can log your trips on Strava and help promote bicycling on the national level. By logging trips on Strava, you directly contribute to a rich, anonymous dataset that is helping plan better routes in the region...and it is free!

Location

Number of Participants

Downtown Albuquerque

163

UNM

154

Erna Fergusson

145

Uptown

111

Doc & Eddy's

103

Bosque Trail & I-40

93

El Pueblo/Rail Runner

86

Westside at Pueblo Bonito (Montano & Coors)

57

KAFB/VA Hospital

56

Rio Bravo & Bosque Trail

30

Bridge Blvd/Gateway Park

24

Grand Total

1,023


Other Transportation Related News

Review and Comment on the New Mexico Transportation Plan
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is hosting three public meetings throughout the state in June to provide the opportunity for the public to review and comment on its draft long range transportation plan, the New Mexico Transportation Plan (NMTP).  The NMTP establishes a 2040 vision for transportation in New Mexico.  The plan is a performance-based and strategic framework that will guide decision-making by the NMDOT and its metropolitan and regional transportation planning partners.   

On Thursday, June 4, a public meeting will be held at the Mid-Region Council of Governments from 5:30 to 7:30pm (the other meetings will be held in Las Cruces and Santa Fe). The plan's proposed goals and strategies will be presented and key implementation actions will be discussed at the meetings. 

The plan can be downloaded from the project website. More information about the plan, as well as information on ways to provide comments, can also be found on the project website. 
Website Highlights Ways to Navigate Coors/I-40 Paving Project

We all know that crossing the Rio Grande can be a challenge, especially when there is an accident. When there's construction, commuters must deal with those delays on a daily basis. The project to repave portions of I-40 and the Coors Blvd interchange has just begun, reducing the Interstate to two lanes in each direction and creating major challenges for commuters to and from the Westside. To help alleviate construction delays, the NMDOT has developed a feature on the project page that allows commuters to "find the fastest route." The feature is a unique combination of planning and operations management and is designed to help disperse traffic across the system and prevent severe delays in the project area. More information about the project can be found at coorsi40.nmroads.com and an ABQ Journal article on the project can be found here.

Want to Help Get Rid of Goat Heads? Participate in National Trails Day Clean Up
One of the most common complaints about bicycling in New Mexico is about goat heads. The City of Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department is trying out different environmentally conscious ways to address this issue. On National Trails Day, June 6 th , volunteers will help clear trailside areas and plant native seeds along the Bosque Trail.

 

City of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan Update Public Workshops taking Place in June

The City of Albuquerque is currently working on an update to the City and County's comprehensive plan. The two-year project,  ABC to Zwill also integrate and simplify the city's zoning and subdivision regulations to implement the updated plan . In June, four public workshops around the city are planned to allow residents to share their ideas on how the city and county should look, feel and grow as well as desired priorities for the future. Workshops will focus on respective quadrants of the metropolitan area. For more information on the workshops, see here

Meeting

Date

Time

Location

Address

SE Quadrant Meeting

Tues., June 23rd

5:30-7:30pm

Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center

501 Elizabeth St SE ABQ NM 87123

NW Quadrant Meeting

Wed., June 24th

11:30am-1:30pm

Central Unser Library

 

8081 Central Ave NW ABQ NM 87121

SW Quadrant Meeting

Wed., June 24th

5:30-7:30pm

Alamosa Community Center

 

6900 Gonzales Rd SW ABQ NM 87121

NE Quadrant Meeting

Thurs., June 25th

5:30-7:30pm

Holiday Park Community Center

11710 Comanche Rd NW ABQ 87111

Civic Plaza Family Fun (and Bike Share Sign Up) on June 20 from 10am-5pm

The DowntownABQ MainStreet Initiative, with support from the Project for Public Spaces, officially launches a full day of projects on June 20 to re-imagine Civic Plaza and our beautiful downtown. There will be food starting at 10am and a beer garden from 12-5pm with plenty of activities and games for children. At the event, people will have the opportunity to sign up for the BICI bike share! There will also be a bicycle rodeo to learn about safe bicycling practices. The event is made possible by a $100,000 Heart of the Community grant from Southwest Airlines and support from Project for Public Spaces.  

Calendar

June Calendar

Metropolitan Transportation Board Meeting
June meeting cancelled
MRCOG Board Room
Rio Metro Board Meeting
Fri., Jun 19, noon 

MRCOG Board Room
 

MRMPO Staff Contact Information

 

Aaron Sussman, Senior Planner                              

asussman@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Andrew Gingerich, GIS Analyst

agingerich@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Barbara Thomas, Office Manager   

bthomas@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Caeri Thomas, Transportation Planner/GIS Coordinator                                      

cthomas@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Chowdhury Siddiqui, Travel Demand Modeler/Land Use Modeler                                 

csiddiqui@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Dave Pennella , Transportation Program Manager    

dpennella@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

James Foty, Transportation Intern

jfoty@mrcog-nm.gov  

 

Julie Luna, Transportation Planner                                                 

jluna@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Kendra Watkins, Socioeconomic Program Manager            

kwatkins@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Maida Rubin, Planner

mrubin@mrcog-nm.gov

 

Nathan Masek, Senior Transportation Planner                                

nmasek@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Shohreh Day, GIS/Systems Analyst                                          

sday@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Steven Montiel, Transportation Planner/TIP Coordinator                               

smontiel@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Tara Cok, Transportation Planner                                          

tcok@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Thaddeus Lucero , Director of Planning                                  

tlucero@mrcog-nm.gov 

 

Valerie Hermanson , Regional Planner, RTPO                                  

vhermanson@mrcog-nm.gov