Title
Presentation on the Performance of the Trinity Drive Road Diet Between Diamond Drive and Oppenheimer Drive
Body
The road diet design option was specifically evaluated at the request of the Transportation Board on January 3, 2019 during evaluation of the Trinity Drive and 35th/36th Streets design alternatives for “The Hills” development. An engineering consultant was hired to evaluate the feasibility of a road diet on Trinity from Diamond to Oppenheimer. On May 2, 2019, the design consultant presented its findings to the Transportation Board showing that the road diet configuration provides for improved multi-modal use of roadway, and supports growth through a 10-year horizon in 2032. The Transportation Board recommended the road diet alternative for consideration.
The NMDOT reviewed and supported the traffic analysis data supporting a road diet as a viable design option. However, the NMDOT requested a Council resolution to document and ensure there is community involvement and support for the road diet per their 2020 NMDOT Design Manual Road Diet Guide.
In June of 2020, the NMDOT performed a pavement preservation project and would re-stripe this segment of Trinity Drive as a road diet, if Los Alamos County provided the Council resolution.
On June 9, 2020 Council approved Resolution 20-05, a Resolution of Support for the New Mexico Department of Transportation to Implement a Road Diet on Trinity Drive from Diamond Drive to Oppenheimer Drive. As part of that approval, Council requested staff provide a report to Council after periods of one and two years. The Road Diet was implemented on June 11, 2020. Due to impacts related to the COVID pandemic followed by construction impacts during Canyon Road reconstruction, earlier presentations were delayed allowing staff time to gather appropriate data. This presentation will illustrate the full impact of the 2022 closure of Canyon Road, when the road diet was tested to its max traffic volumes.
Attachments
A - Road Diet Presentation
B - Resolution No. 20-05