Synopsis of Tramway Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail renovations-March 2010

John Thomas asked me to post this on the board.
Brian McKeever
President GHSCGNA


Synopsis of Tramway
Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail renovations-March 2010


The NMDOT was awarded $1 million for improvements to the
Tramway B/P Trail on July 1, 2009.
The money would come from federal “stimulus” funds. In August of 2009, NMDOT,
District 3 held a public hearing to solicit public ideas.


In November of 2009, the Project Engineer, Priscilla
Benavides, gave a briefing on the “improvement“plans to the NMDOT
bicycle/Pedestrian/Equestrian Advisory Committee.


Basically, the existing Trail would be overlayed with
asphalt -but the asphalt pavement would not be widened-over its entire length
with the exception of the section north of Montgomery that was recently resurfaced. NMDOT would remove some vehicle
barriers and relocate pedestrian signal posts that are currently
hazardous. They would also add a 4’
wide compacted gravel skirt to the Trail between Rover and Encantado, with the
exception of the 400’ of Trail by ABQ Health Partners. NMDOT would install new decks on all
four timber pedestrian bridges. In addition, the Project Engineer has told me
that NMDOT will add compacted gravel skirts to sections of the Trail where
there are drop-off problems on the edge of the pavement.


The section of the Trail south of Montgomery was designed
and constructed in the mid-1970’s.
It is 10’ wide in most places.
It was not designed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990.


At the August, 2009 public meeting, a NMDOT spokesperson
said that the Trail pavement should be widened to 12-14’ to comply with the
AASHTO national standards for combined use pedestrian/ bicyclist trails. This will not happen nor will any
changes be made to bring the Trail into full compliance with the ADA
regulations. However, the Trail
will be ADA compliant at intersections.






You may find more information about the renovations and
schedule by going to the NMDOT Website.
The Project Engineer is Priscilla Benavides, tel 222-6787.


This synopsis was submitted by John Thomas, Chairman of the
Tramway Corridor Advisory, 298-5234.











NMDOT Web site