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TRI-CITYTRIBUNE Friday, August 9, 2013
Roads and signals
City talks traffic congestion; Foothills Phase 2 on agenda DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune Congested roads and needed traffic signals were recently discussed by city staff and the Farmington City Council as the city has budgeted for a new signal this fiscal year. Councilor Jason Sandel brought up the possibility of using those funds for signalization at the intersection of Dustin Avenue and Pinon Hills Boulevard after noticing the congestion in the area and the difficulty for drivers to access Piñon Hills Boulevard from Dustin Avenue. “Is there any desire to look at pursuing some type of traffic control at that intersection?” Sandel asked. Mayor Tommy Roberts informed Sandel that city staff has developed a formal policy for the Council to follow for signalization issues. “It is my reaction that there is room within that process for signalization throughout the city. That will be a process that lends itself to that intersection,” Roberts said. The new signalization policy will be presented by the city’s contracted traffic engineer to the council during a Sept. 17 educational workshop on traffic signalization, according to City Manager Rob Mayes. During an earlier discussion on
The Farmington City Council will hear a plan for traffic signalization during a Sept. 17 educational workshop that will cover the basic needs for road signalization. This after councilors said the intersection of Dustin Avenue and Pinon Hill Boulevard would be a good location for a new traffic signal.
signalization, Councilor Dan Darnell agreed with Sandel saying that while he supports the efforts of city staff, he believes this intersection should be treated differently. “You’ve got an area that is heavily impacted at certain times of the week and certain times of the day. It is incredibly difficult to get out of the churches,” Darnell said. “I think being a new fiscal year it is time we pull the trigger on this particular project. While there has to be some guidelines, there also has to be the ability of the Council to move those projects
forward.” Darnell pointed out that Sunday mornings and evenings at the intersection are a “disaster waiting to happen,” because of the church traffic. He added that Pinon Hills Community Church pays Farmington Police Officers to provide traffic control at the intersection on weekends. “My preference is we pull the trigger on the project. I need to lend my support to the signlization of that intersection, or whatever traffic control is needed at that intersection,” Darnell said. Roberts stated there is a matter of process that needs to be followed, but Darnell and Sandel both agreed that staff should enter into talks with the churches and residents in the area about possible signalization. “I am wanting, regardless of the study, to move forward with signalization of that intersection,” Sandel said. Mayes added that a draft signalization policy should be complete, and that study could show that the intersection on Butler Avenue and Pinon Hills Boulevard might have a higher priority. “There could even be liability for the city, if we do not look at those comprehensively,” Mayes said. He stated that Piñon Hills Community Church has no obligation to assist with the costs of a traffic light until the church moves for-
ward with its second phase of development, which includes a residential subdivision on church property. Mayes did point out that the church offered to help pay for a light. The Council agreed to move the issue forward. The municipal body also agreed to have staff look at traffic flow in the Mickey Drive neighborhood. This came up when the Council was asked to approve a zone change that would allow a new residential development in the area. “We have speed problems in the area, difficult corners that cars are zooming around. I don’t feel that we have a very good plan for what we are going to do for the traffic (in that area),” Sandel said. “I’m wondering if this has had a good vetting from the traffic department that this is the best way to handle a complicated intersection. I don’t know that we will solve this problem tonight. I would like someone to recognize that we need to have some attention paid to this neighborhood.” Staff said that Traffic Engineer Steve Krest had looked at the neighborhood and there were plans to extend Lakewood Drive down to the Old Aztec Highway as part of the city’s major thoroughfare plan. Sandel said he would like to see more, with perhaps an inhouse study for traffic flow in the
area. Councilor Dan Darnell said he had concerns about staff being overburdened if tasked with this project, and if it would be done by traffic engineer, then he wondered if there was money in the budget to fund it. “I think we would go outside to get a review,” said Public Works Director Jeff Smaka. “It was my intent to have staff look at it and provide a proposal,” Sandel said. Darnell wanted to know how “time consuming” this project would be, and Smaka said it would take a while. “My suggestion would be to look at the time it would take to do this,” Darnell said. Mayor Tommy Roberts agreed. “This neighborhood has waited for awhile. I am looking for solutions as to how we can get that accomplished,” Sandel said. The Council decided to have Mayes and Smaka determine the time frame and come back to the Council with a recommendation of how to handle a traffic study in the Mickey Drive neighborhood. A proposal to move forward with the second phase of widening Foothills Drive also was set to be discussed Tuesday, Aug. 6, but the plan was put on hold and tabled until the Aug. 20 council meeting.
Aug. 25 celebration
Community can visit National Parks for free DEBRA MAYEUX Tri-City Tribune There are several National Parks in and around San Juan County and area residents will have an opportunity to visit them for free on Aug. 25, in celebration of the National Park Service’s 97th birthday. Historically, the park service has waived the entry fee on this day to give people an opportunity to visit
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their national park. The National Park Service began in 1916 with the passage of the Organic Act, signed by then-President Woodrow Wilson. Its purpose was to unite various parks, monuments, and battlefields under one National Park Service. “The United States was the first country in the world to set aside such expanses of land specifically for public enjoyment, and the National
Park Service has become a model for many nations trying to preserve their own cultural and natural heritage,” according to a press release from the Park Service. In addition to the Aug. 25 free day, Aztec Ruins, our local national park will waive the $5 adult entry fee on Sept. 28, which is Public Lands Day, and during Veteran’s Day weekend, which is Nov. 9-11.
The National Park Service also is gearing up for a huge centennial celebration in 2016. The centennial involves new initiatives and partnerships to bring the National Park Service into its second century. Aztec Ruins has been working to meet some of the “second century goals,” by adopting a class of 2016 from Bloomfield High School. This special group of students will take field
trips to the monument and receive classroom ranger visits throughout their high school careers. They will graduate from high school the same year that the National Park Service turns 100 and will represent the next generation of National Park Service stewards, the press release stated. The park service also offers annual passes for people that want to visit multiple national parks in a year.
The $80 pass provides entrance to all national parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and many other Federal lands. A $10 pass is available for people 62 years and older. There is a free pass to all active duty military members and their dependents. Aztec Ruins also offers an annual pass for $20. For more information call Aztec Ruins 505.334.6174.
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