Panel Says Build Crossing
At Issue: Bridge Or Underpass
An underpass, preferably. But, mostly, just do something.
That was the plea Wednesday from Santa Fe’s Bicycle and Trail Advisory Committee on how the city should move forward with a pedestrian and bicycle crossing linking St. Francis Drive to the Santa Fe Railyard.
“It is time now to say the public process, at least in terms of options, has been exhaustively completed. It is time now to make a decision on the options and move forward to the next step,” member Frank Herdman said.
The crossing would connect the Acequia Trail on the west side of St. Francis with the Railyard. Both underpass/ tunnel and overpass/bridge options have been considered, as well as simply doing some at-grade improvements at the site.
The mostly citizen BTAC — which is chaired by City Councilor Patti Bushee — has previously endorsed an underpass or tunnel design. However, Santa Fe’s elected officials, who get the final say in the matter, have had more trouble reaching consensus. The city council reviewed the proposals earlier this summer but decided to refer the matter back to the BTAC.
Most BTAC members said
Wednesday they’d like to see an underpass, but one with an open, light-filled design that could hopefully alleviate some of the safety and other concerns voiced about a tunnel.
“I think the underpass idea really gets to some of the concerns that people have with a full-blown tunnel, which is the dark and dank quality of it, the safety issues,” BTAC member Gretchen Grogan said.
She added, “I just think this is a real gateway project for Santa Fe. We should make it as beautiful as possible. Having something that’s open and has landscaping to it will make it much more inviting.”
Bushee said she’s “come to the conclusion” that an underpass is the best option.
Officials with the New Mexico School for the Deaf, which is located next to the proposed crossing, have expressed a strong preference for an overpass, mainly for safety reasons. Nobody from the school attended Wednesday’s meeting.
A majority of the dozen or so people who spoke during a public hearing also favored an underpass design, with one
“I think there are greater problems at other intersections. I have never had a problem crossing the St. Francis intersection.”
TIM MAXWELL
person advocating for a bridge. Many speakers said they hoped the city council would just make a decision.
However, a couple of people suggested the city would be better served by focusing its attention on other projects.
“I think there are greater problems at other intersections ... I have never had a problem crossing the St. Francis intersection, whereas I’ve almost been killed more than once at Zia Road and St. Francis Drive,” said Tim Maxwell of the Old Santa Fe Association.
City staffers noted that, of the 42 comments collected during an environmental assessment done on the project, 36 percent of respondents expressed preference for an overpass/bridge, 29 percent wanted an underpass/tunnel, 19 percent said to do nothing, and 17 percent said additional planning is needed.
The city has done preliminary work on the project for almost a decade and previously gathered public input in 2009.
The environmental assessment signed off on by both the state Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration has found no significant problem with either a bridge or an underpass.
The city must choose either option to formally complete the environmental assessment, but project consultants have said city officials have about three years before that decision must be made.
Around $438,000 has been spent so far on the project, and another $150,000 to $250,000 is needed to complete design work, according to city officials. The city has enough money to finish the design, but needs funds to begin construction. Estimated total costs are about $3 million to $3.5 million.