Thank you for visiting the BuildUnser.com website and signing our online petition. Over the last several months we have been busy promoting our cause and would like to provide an update on our progress and solicit your continued support.
• Our group was informally formed at the April 2, 2009 Mid Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) 2010-2105 Transportation Implementation Plan (TIP) open house meeting where our members independently provided public comment that the completion of Unser Boulevard was a necessary component of a balanced NW Albuquerque roadway network that had been blatantly omitted from the TIP. As a result of our public comment highlighting the City’s expenditure of Impact Fee funds for acquisition of Unser Boulevard Right of Way (ROW), the MRCOG add the southern portion of Unser (from Atrisco to Paseo del Norte) to the TIP.
• However, MRCOG did not include the northern portion of Unser Boulevard to the TIP as the City stated that they did not have plans for construction within the 2010-2015 TIP timeframe. The City made this statement despite having provided an updated 2009 Impact Fee schedule to the City Council earlier in the year that clearly showed expenditures planned for Unser Boulevard within the 2010-2015 timeframe.
• On 7/13/09 we made a request to the MRCOG Metropolitan Transportation Board (MTB) that Unser Boulevard be included as an agenda item at the 7/23/09 MTB meeting. The MTB cancelled the 7/23/09 meeting due to lack of agenda items, and on 8/5/09 we received a letter from the MTB stating "There is no action the MTB can take until a lead agency proposes changes to the TIP to revise funding and / or accelerate the project's development schedule." The MTB has since cancelled both the August and September meetings.
• The MRCOG has announced a kick-off public meeting for the 2035 MPT and 2012-2017 TIP to be held on 9/17 at the MRCOG offices, 809 Copper Ave., NW Albuquerque New Mexico 87102.
• On 8/3/09, having been made aware of a $52 million excess revenue for the ¼ cent transportation infrastructure tax, we made public comment to the City Council supporting the allocation of $20 million to the I-25 / Paseo del Norte interchange, but requested that $5 million of the excess revenue be allocated to the completion of Unser Boulevard.
• Councilor Cadigan supported our public comment and has since introduced resolution R-09-321 to allocate $5 million to the completion of Unser Boulevard.
• In the fall of 2009, the APS school year opened with increased enrollment at Volcano Vista High School and the new intermediate and elementary schools, and the immediate result was a traffic congestion nightmare that prompted the City to complete a “grade and pave” temporary Rainbow Boulevard extension to alleviate the traffic congestion. Councilor Cadigan commented that the real “solution is Unser, which will be a major arterial and take most of the commuter traffic off of Universe.”
• On 08/2709 we met with KOB Television reporter Jeff Maher to highlight the deficiencies NW Albuquerque roadway network and a report was aired on KOB TV at 6:00 PM.
• On 8/28/09 we met with Mayor Chavez and Michael Riordon of the Department of Municipal Development. The Mayor indicated he would like to complete Unser Boulevard in 18 months using Impact Fee and ¼ Cent Transportation Tax funds, and that ~70% of the ROW for Unser south of Paseo del Norte had already been acquired. Chavez openly stated that he is in favor of the immediate completion of Unser and that he supports the resolution for the $5 million (09-321, our bill sponsored by Cadigan). With that money plus additional monies (from impact fees and 1/4 cent) there is enough to complete a 2 lane Unser. A 2 lane project, A 2 lane project, according to Riordan would cost about $8 million; a 4 lane project would cost $14 million.
• We submitted a transportation question to the 9/9/09 West Side Coalition of Neighborhood Association’s Mayoral Forum to which Mayor Chavez reiterated his intent to finish Unser within 18 months.
• On 9/14/09 City Council resolution C/S R-09-321, sponsored by Councilor Cadigan passed the Finance and Government Operations Committee to send to Council with a recommendation of Do Pass, as substituted.
• We are grateful to Councilor Cadigan and the City Council for their support for the extension of Unser Boulevard, but realize that a two lane roadway does not provide a balanced roadway network and still represents a roadway deficiency. The much preferred alternative is the completion of Unser Boulevard as a four lane roadway.
WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT
10/6/09
• Please support the 1/4 Cent Transportation Infrastructure Tax to help fund quality public roadway infrastructure for the benefit of the entire Albuquerque metropolitan area.
10/07/09
• Resolution R-09-321 will be heard
for Final Action at the City Council meeting [insert address and
time]. We need your attendance and public comment in support of our
efforts to ensure that the completion of Unser Boulevard as a 4 lane
roadway is part of the City of Albuquerque transportation plans and
that the City pursues appropriate funding.