DESIGN FLAWS IN PROPOSED ART PLAN: A SOLUTION AS DESIGNED, THE ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT WILL INFLICT DAMAGE TO HISTORICALLY SENSITIVE DISTRICTS ALONG THE CENTRAL CORRIDOR; NOB HILL, UNIVERSITY, EDO AND DOWNTOWN. MAKE ART SMART SUPPORTS ART EXCEPT WHERE DESIGN CHANGES TO PRESERVE THESE DISTRICTS’ CHARACTER, CHARM AND FUNCTIONALITY ARE REQUIRED. March 16, 2016 This information is based on CABQ plans dated January 2016. Subsequent plans, if existing, have not been made available to Make ART Smart despite repeated requests. WWW.MAKEARTSMART.ORG
Variation in Width of Right of Way
194 Parking Spaces Eliminated
1.6 Miles of Bi-Directional Single-Lanes
The Clear-Cutting of Central Avenue
Traffic Congestion from Additional Traffic Signals EXAMPLE: THERE ARE 12 EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNALS FROM BROADWAY TO CARLISLE. THE ADDITION OF 6 NEW ONES AS SHOWN IN THE SAME AREA WILL BRING THE TOTAL TO 18 IN AN APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILE LENGTH
Traffic Congestion Compounded by Elimination of 241 Left Turns
City Inaccurately Denied Public Controversy Generated by ART Page 7 of Categorical Exclusion Application of City Of Albuquerque
City Misrepresented Physical Changes As A Result of ART Page 6 of Categorical Exclusion Application of City Of Albuquerque
Only Six Public Meetings PUBLIC INPUT MEETINGS HELD BY CABQ IN 2014 (AS SHOWN ABOVE) WERE BASED ON CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS/CHARETTES ONLY. THE ART PLANS WERE COMPLETE TO 60% AS OF AUGUST, 2015 AND TO ABOUT 85% AS OF NOVEMBER 2015. THE CITY WENT FROM CONCEPT DRAWINGS TO APPROXIMATELY 75% COMPLETED PLAN WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT.
Albuquerque’s FTA Funding Process Is Far From Completed DESCRIPTION OF POST-FUNDING RECOMMENDATION PROCESS FOR RECEIPT OF SMALL STARTS CONSTRUCTION FUNDING President Obama’s recommendation of the City of Albuquerque as a recipient of Small Starts funding is just the first step in an evaluative process necessary for the City to actually receive the federal funds necessary to construct ART. The City’s ART proposal is still subject to another phase of evaluation and rating by the FTA before the FTA will sign a construction grant agreement with the City. Specifically, the FTA will re-evaluate and rate ART on project justification and local financial commitment criteria, which includes a review of the project definition, scope, cost, and schedule. ART must receive an overall rating of at least “Medium” to qualify for the federal funds. FTA also reviews the City’s Project Management Plan and sub plans to ensure that ART, as proposed, has the capacity and capability to carry out the project. The FTA also reserves the right to “undertake[] other appropriate oversight.” Even if the City successfully completes this reevaluation phase, the entire ART package of information is still subject to the review and approval of FTA executive leadership, USDOT leadership, and others within the Administration. If ART passes these two phases of evaluation, federal law then requires that the unsigned construction grant agreement be sent for a 10-day congressional notification period. Only after this third and final phase is completed may the construction grant agreement be executed. The factors for which the FTA must reevaluate ART include Project Justification, which includes consideration of land use, cost effectiveness, mobility, congestion relief, environmental benefits, economic development, and Financial Commitment, which includes consideration of current financial condition, commitment of funds, and reliability/capacity. These factors are set forth in more detail in Appendix A.
Our Request We believe that the flawed ART plans must be redesigned by the City. Make Art Smart is prepared to present our concerns and analysis about the impact of the ART design on the historic areas of Central, and to present a suitable, alternative proposal if the City of Albuquerque is willing to listen. We have reliable knowledge that the $69 million in FTA funds will not jeopardized by any modification to the design. What is keeping the City from acknowledging public concern and working with us and other concerned citizens?
Central Avenue: Compared Sections EDO ART Station East of Broadway, near Edith UNM Between Columbia and Princeton Dr. Nob Hill Between Bryn Mawr , Wellesley Dr. Tramway At Central S. E. MAKE ART SMART’S ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS COMPARE FOUR CURRENT SAMPLE SECTIONS OF EDO, UNM, NOB HILL AND TRAMWAY TO THE ART PLANS AS DRAWN OF THE SAME SECTIONS. WE ALSO SHOW OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE ART DESIGN.
Existing Condition EDO @ Edith/Arno Rapid Ride Station RAPID RIDE AND RT 66 BUSES PRESENTLY STOP IN FRONT OF THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARY
ART Project (as designed) EDO @ Edith/Arno location ACCORDING TO CABQ PLAN DRAWINGS - ALL EXISTING TREES WILL BE REMOVED. THERE IS LITTLE SPACE FOR WIDER SIDEWALKS OR STREETSCAPE ELEMENTS. SINGLE EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES WILL ACCOMMODATE RT 66 BUSES AND ALL OTHER VEHICLES. DIESEL BUSES ARE INDICATED.
Proposed by CCG EDO @ Edith Station CONCERNED CITIZEN’S PROPOSAL SHOWS THE SAME INTERSECTION WITH LANDSCAPE AND TREES DEFINING THE CHARACTER AND PEDESTRIAN NATURE OF THE DISTRICT. EXISTING STORM INLETS MAY NOT HANDLE INCREASED RUN OFF OF ART DESIGN. ELECTRIC BUSES ARE INDICATED.
Existing Condition UNM between Columbia & Princeton
ART Project (as designed) UNM between Columbia & Princeton Dr. ACCORDING TO CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE PLAN DRAWINGS
Proposed by CCG UNM New Tree Row edge to S. Side Main Campus NEW ROW OF TREES TO PROTECT AND SHADE SIDEWALKS WILL FORM A CONTINOUS LANDSCAPED EDGE OF UNM’S CENTRAL CAMPUS FROM UNIVERSITY TO GIRARD BLVD. NO PROPERTY WILL BE TAKEN FROM HISTORIC AND BEAUTIFUL “TIGHT GROVE” AREA LOCATED AT SW CORNER OF THE CAMPUS.
Existing Condition Nob Hill @ Bryn Mawr/Wellesley Location
ART Project (as designed) Nob Hill @ Bryn Mawr/Wellesley Section ACCORDING TO CABQ PLAN DRAWINGS - ALL MEDIAN TREES ARE REMOVED IN THIS LOCATION WITH NO LANDSCAPE SUBSTITIONS SHOWN. (THIS IS PREDOMINANT THROUGHOUT MOST OF NOB HILL). NO BIKE LANES ARE SHOWN. SIDEWALKS ARE NOT WIDENED EXCEPT FOR A FEW BLOCKS WEST OF SAN MATEO. NO SPACE FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS IS PROVIDED. INCREASED CAPACITY FOR WATER DRAINAGE/RUN OFF IS NOT SHOWN. DIESEL BUSES ARE INDICATED.
Proposed by CCG Nob Hill Electric Buses/Wider Sidewalk Access CONCERNED CITIZEN’S PROPOSED DESIGN FOR NOB HILL SHOWS WATER RUN OFF VOLUME AND VELOCITY REDUCED. BIKE LANES CAN BE USED BY VEHICLES IN SINGE LANE TO ALLOW EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO PASS. LANDSCAPE DEFINES THE SHOPPING AND PEDESTRIAN CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT. ELECTRIC BUSES ARE INDICATED.
Existing Condition Tramway @ Central/Tramway Intersection
Proposed by CCG Tramway @ Gateway Station (Tramway or Unser)
Proposed by CCG Tramway Gateway Transit Station / & Welcome CONCERNED CITIZEN’S GROUP RECOMMENDS EXTENDING THE TWO - DEDICATED CENTER LANE DESIGN FROM LOUISIANA BLVD. TO TRAMWAY BLVD. AND FROM COORS TO UNSER BLVD. EACH STATION COULD DOUBLE AS A WELCOMING GATEWAY TO ALBUQUERQUE.
RECOMMENDED DESIGN CONFIGURATION MAKE ART SMART’S PROPOSAL TO PRESERVE HISTORICALLY SENSITVE DISTRICTS WHILE IMPROVING MASS TRANSIT. ART IS BUILT AS DESIGNED IN ALL OTHER SEGMENTS OF CENTRAL AVE.
Make ART Smart – who we are: Anthony Anella Jean Bernstein Yolanda Gallegos Paul Lusk Julie Stephens David Vogel And many other concerned citizens
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