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Forum On Restriping Planned; Public Comments Sought at Open House on Wednesday

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By ANDREA SCHOELLKOPF Journal Staff Writer

The Mid-Region Council of Governments will take public comment on the restriping of Montao during a Wednesday open house.

The council says the city violated the 2025 Metropolitan Transportation Plan when it restriped the non-bridge portion of Montao between Fourth and Coors.

The non-bridge area was restriped about 12 hours after a district court judge lifted an injunction that prevented the restriping of Montao outside the bridge and historic area between Coors and Fourth.

The injunction was part of a lawsuit filed by John and Cynthia Sparks, who live just north of Montao on the west side of Rio Grande Boulevard.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says the city circumvented the metropolitan region planning process that is required to receive federal road dollars.

Sanctions could include a loss of federal transportation dollars for the region and possible civil, administrative and criminal penalties.

The city made the lane changes outside of the bridge area because officials didn't believe that part of the road was significant to the transportation plan, said Ed Adams, the city's chief operating officer.

"The city believes that we acted in good faith, and that we were being consistent with the criteria," he said. "If someone believes otherwise, we're trying to work through all those issues."

The city isn't yet sure how the Montao time- line -- which would have a four-lane Montao sometime in January -- is impacted by the transportation plan requirements, Adams said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to make a decision by the end of this month on the city's permit request to expand the bridge lanes from two to four.

"At this point, we don't want to speculate," Adams said.

He said the city is working with the Council of Governments to address issues relating to the road.

The 2025 Metropolitan Transportation Plan -- which includes road plans for the next 20 years in the Albuquerque area and parts of surrounding counties -- does not include a four-lane Montao, although it does include other controversial roads such as the Paseo del Norte extension from Golf Course west through the escarpment to Kimmick.

That's because when Montao was built, it was agreed upon by Albuquerque city officials that it would be two lanes, and the plan had not been changed, council executive director Lawrence Rael said recently. He said the city did indicate early in the year it planned to ask for a change in the transportation plan but was waiting for a City Council study to be released in the fall.

The plan can be amended to include a four-lane Montao and requires a vote by the Council of Governments -- which includes delegates from both the city and Bernalillo County, as well as other municipalities like Rio Rancho, Los Ranchos, Los Lunas and Albuquerque Public Schools.

The council's transportation board will decide at its Dec. 15 meeting whether it will amend the plan to include a four-lane Montao. Should the board decide to amend the plan, it must be forwarded to three federal agencies for approval, among them, the Federal Transportation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, said Chris Blewett, director of the council's transportation and planning services.

The federal response, Blewett said, may not happen until late February.

The open house is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the council's offices at 809 Copper NW.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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