Title
Presentation and Possible Approval of a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Signal on NM4
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the installation of a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signal on NM4 approximately 550 feet east of La Vista Drive.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
On February 6, 2025, the Transportation Board approved a motion to recommend the NM4 Crossing and Multi-Use Trail Improvements Project as presented to the Los Alamos County Council and the County work with Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) on an auxiliary trail connection from Piñon Park to Grand Canyon Drive. It was further recommended that county staff continue to pursue the traffic signal at Sherwood and NM4.
Body
During the approvals of the Mirador Subdivision (2018), Mixed-use Development (2020) and development of the White Rock Town Center Master Plan (2021), providing safe pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between properties on the north side of NM4 to attractions on the southside including downtown White Rock was at the forefront. The installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of NM4 and Sherwood Boulevard was a requirement in the Mirador Mixed-use Development approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission, but its installation is not warranted until the Mixed-use Development is constructed pursuant to NMDOT requirements. Once installed, this signal will provide a controlled crossing of NM4 for pedestrians and bicyclists on the eastern edge of the Mirador development.
In 2021, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) issued a call for projects for federal alternative transportation funding. Engineering staff began scoping a project with a focus on connecting the Mirador Subdivision to Piñon Elementary School, the amenities within Piñon Park and downtown White Rock. Since a traffic signal at Sherwood was already planned, a direct pathway to Piñon School led to a focus for a crossing of NM4 further west of Sherwood Blvd. towards the La Vista Drive intersection as it would serve approximately 2/3 of the Mirador subdivision. Bridge and tunnel options for the crossing of NM4 were evaluated but deemed infeasible due to the terrain, basalt rock, utility conflicts, cost and view shed impacts to adjacent housing. An enhanced mid-block at-grade crossing of NM4 between La Vista Dr and Sherwood Blvd was deemed to be an appropriate solution for the crossing. This crossing is intended as complimentary to and not in place of the future signal at Sherwood Blvd. Also included in the project scope was the possibility to reduce the westbound travel lanes from the existing 2 lanes to 1 lane and utilize the freed-up roadway space for a trail along the northside of NM4, a new trail connection along the west side of Piñon Park from NM4 to Piñon Elementary School and reconstruction of existing trails within Piñon Park. Through Resolution 21-21 Councill approved staff applying for funding through NMDOT for the project scope. In April 2022, the County received notification that the project had been awarded $2,750,000 in funding for Design and Construction. The design funding did not become available to spend until 2024 and the construction funding until 2025.
In August 2024 the County hired Bohannan Huston, Inc. through its Engineering On-call Agreement for the design of the project. Updated traffic data was collected and a traffic study completed covering the lane reduction along westbound NM4 and the determination that the use of a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Signal, also known as a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) was warranted at a mid-block location approximately 550 feet east of La Vista Dr.
A public input meeting was held on the December 5, 2024, Transportation Board Meeting to present the proposed project. There was support for the project as presented, but the primary feedback from the Transportation Board and members of the public focused on the location of the mid-block crossing on NM4, the impacts of the proposed lane reduction and the need for the traffic signal at Sherwood Blvd. The Transportation Board asked staff to re-evaluate the location for the HAWK Signal, the potential need for and the impacts of the lane reduction and the location for the trail along the northside of NM4. Staff conducted additional data collection and analysis, and a second Public Input Meeting was held at the February 6, 2025, Transportation Board Meeting to present the results of the re-evaluation. The re-evaluation reviewed locating the HAWK Signal at the NM4/La Vista Intersection verses at the mid-block location, the impacts of the lane reduction from a traffic and public safety perspective and an evaluation of placing the trail in the buffer area outside the roadway on the northside of NM4. Staff consulted with the Police Department and the Fire Department through the appropriate responsible person, the Fire Marshall, and both confirmed no concerns with the proposed design. The recommendation from the re-evaluation was to place the HAWK Crossing at the mid-block location approximately 550 feet east of La Vista Drive, implement the westbound lane reduction and place the northside trail within the roadway space. Additionally, staff requested a recommendation from the Transportation Board to add the Piñon School Trail to the project.
In March 2025, NMDOT issued a new call for projects for federal alternative transportation funding. Through Resolution 25-05 Council approved staff applying for construction funding for the Piñon School Trail. In July 2025, the County received notification that the Piñon School Trail project had been awarded $700,000 in Construction funding. In May 2025 the County obtained an easement from the LAPS for the Piñon School Trail.
In November 2025, an additional public input meeting was held at the Transportation Board Meeting. The primary purpose of this meeting was to present the proposed design for the Piñon School Trail. Staff also provided an update on the final design for the NM4 Crossing project. No concerns were raised about the Piñon School Trail. However, some public comments received regarding the NM4 Crossing location were raised once again. Since this meeting staff reached out again to the Fire Marshal who repeated they had no concerns regarding the project design. Additionally, staff conducted new traffic counts at the La Vista Drive and Sherwood Blvd intersection on November 18 & 19, 2025, following concerns raised about the timing of the count conducted in December 2024. A Traffic Study for NM4/Sherwood Blvd signal was completed in 2023 by the Mirador developer and reaffirmed that the existing traffic volumes were not sufficient to meet warrants to install the traffic signal, but that with the expected traffic generated by the Mixed-use Development a traffic signal would be warranted. Staff analyzed the counts collected on November 18 and 19, 2025 through the traffic signal warrants and confirmed that current traffic and pedestrian volumes are not sufficient to warrant installation of a traffic signal at the NM4/Sherwood Blvd or NM4/La Vista Dr Intersections. Additionally, staff confirmed that LAPS is providing school busing for Elementary, Middle and High School students from a stop on La Vista Dr within Mirador. Staff also reviewed the ridership and schedules for the 2M and 2T Atomic City Transit services, and the pedestrian counts collected on November 18 and 19 and found that there was no evidence that students were crossing NM4 at Sherwood Blvd to access the ACT Transit services to get to school.
The LAPS supports the NM4 Crossing project with the HAWK Signal along with Piñon School Trail Project. Despite Mirador being within 1 mile of the school, LAPS currently provides school busing for the Piñon School Elementary Students living in the Mirador neighborhood due to the lack of a safe walking route to the school. With the completion of these projects, a safe walking and biking route will be established from Mirador to Piñon Elementary School and LAPS will evaluate if busing will no longer be necessary.
County Code Section 38-191 outlines the authority to install traffic-control devices, which requires the Council to review and approve the installation of traffic-control signals prior to the traffic engineer installing the signaling devices. Staff is requesting Council approval of the installation of the HAWK Signal on NM4 approximately 550 feet east of La Vista Drive.
For the HAWK signal and trail infrastructure within NM4 Right of Way (ROW), NMDOT requires the County to enter into a Maintenance Agreement with NMDOT. This agreement will outline maintenance responsibilities between the County and NMDOT for the improvements being made. NMDOT is still drafting this agreement. Once received and reviewed by the County, the Maintenance Agreement will be brought before Council for approval at a future meeting.
The designs for both the NM4 Crossing and Piñon School Trail have been completed. A final design review meeting will be conducted with NMDOT to allow for the subsequent release of the construction funding. This meeting is expected to occur within the next month. Once the funding has been obligated and the funding agreements have been executed, staff will advertise for construction bids a single combined project for both trails in March. Staff then anticipate coming before Council in May 2026 to request bid award and approval of a construction contract. Construction would then likely start in June 2026 and be completed by Spring/Summer of 2027.
Alternatives
Council could choose not to approve the installation of the HAWK Signal on NM4. Other options or alternative treatments could be evaluated but would require redesign and may jeopardize federal grant funding.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
Grant funds, County match and additional CIP funds have been budgeted. Cost estimates are within these budgeted amounts. See Attachment B, Funding Spreadsheet, for details. The project will be overseen by the Engineering Division with support from Bohannan Huston, Inc through a Task Order.
Attachments
A - Presentation
B - Funding Spreadsheet
C - December 5, 2024, Transportation Board Minutes
D - February 6, 2025, Transportation Board Minutes
E - November 6, 2025, Transportation Board Minutes
F - Piñon School Trail Easement Document