Title
Presentation and Possible Adoption of the 2025 Los Alamos County Pedestrian Master Plan
Suggested Motion
I move that Council adopt the 2025 Los Alamos County Pedestrian Master Plan.
County Manager’s Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
On August 7, 2025, the Transportation Board recommended the 2025 Los Alamos County Pedestrian Master Plan as presented for Council adoption.
Body
In 2023 staff applied for and was awarded $100,000 in grant funding through the New Mexico Department of Transportation Alternatives Grant program to perform a revision to the existing Los Alamos County 1998 Pedestrian Master Plan.
Staff tasked Wilson and Company through the engineering on-call agreement to conduct the plan update. The vision of the revised plan is “A walkable community where residents and visitors can walk with confidence, safety, and accessibility.” The goals of the revised plan focus on Safety, Connectivity, Equity, Health, and Vibrancy. Changes incorporate Vision Zero principles and the Federal Safe Systems Approach focusing on improving road network infrastructure within both Los Alamos townsite and White Rock.
The revised comprehensive pedestrian master plan evaluates the existing pedestrian system, identifies gaps and barriers in existing pedestrian infrastructure, analyzes connectivity of pedestrian infrastructure, and promotes increased safety within pedestrian facilities. The plan also analyzes crash data and provides a priority list of recommended pedestrian projects.
Essential tasks completed to date in this process include extensive community outreach efforts including a community survey conducted in 2024, engagement with the local walking group LA Walks, four public meetings held in conjunction with regularly scheduled Transportation Board meetings (9/2024, 2/2025, 3/2025, 8/2025), and two presentations to County Council in April and July 2025.
Staff have worked with Wilson and Company to review and incorporate feedback, and to finalize the plan. Highlights of the feedback received and implemented in the plan are as follows:
• Community feedback with mapping exercises to identify barriers
• Prioritized focus on injury locations
• Recommendations for vehicular speeding concerns
• Need for safe crossings
• Ensure the plan includes tools and recommendations to keep the plan up-to-date as a “Living Document”. (Recommendations for ongoing public engagement, dedicated webpage and questionnaire, periodic crash data analysis, regular priority adjustments, and development of a countermeasure selection guide)
• Maintain focus on Safe Routes to School
• Further develop how the plan connects with other County Documents such as the Mid-Block Crossing Policy, Open Space & Trails Management Plan, Public Works Design Standards, Traffic and Streets Division operations, Landscaping Code, and Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.
• Higher quality maps
Alternatives
Council could choose to not adopt the plan and direct the Transportation Board and staff to work on additional changes and bring it back to Council at a later date.
Attachments
A - Pedestrian Master Plan Presentation
B - Pedestrian Master Plan
C - Pedestrian Master Plan Appendices
D - August 7, 2025 Transportation Board Presentation