Title
Incorporated County of Los Alamos Resolution No. 24-29, A Resolution of Support to Implement a Highway Improvement Project Identified as Hybrid Road Diet Two, along Trinity Drive from Oppenheimer Drive to Knecht Street
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve Incorporated County of Los Alamos Resolution No. 24-29, A Resolution of Support for the New Mexico Department of Transportation to Implement a Highway Improvement Project Identified as Hybrid Road Diet Two, Along Trinity Drive Between Cross-Streets Oppenheimer Drive and Knecht Street.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Body
Following completion of a Road Safety Audit in 2016, Los Alamos County was awarded $4.25 million in Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding through the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of safety improvements along the section of Trinity Drive (NM502) from Oppenheimer Drive to Knecht Street. Trinity Drive, also known as NM 502, is a state-owned highway.
Los Alamos County contracted with Wilson & Company Inc. for preliminary engineering to develop roadway alternatives for the project area based on review of the 2016 Safety Audit recommendations. A survey of existing conditions, traffic data collection and an engineering analysis was completed to develop possible alternative improvements to this section of the Trinity Drive corridor.
A public meeting was held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled Transportation Board Meeting on June 6, 2024. Transportation Board and public comments were received during this time and have helped form the alternatives presented.
On August 6, County staff and Wilson and Company Inc. presented findings of the engineering analysis, the log of public input received, and proposed roadway alternative improvements to the Los Alamos County Council. Alternative Three, identified as Hybrid Road Diet Two was selected by Council for further consideration along with a request to further consider reducing the number of curb-cuts (driveways) on the North and South Sides of Trinity Drive (Attachment A).
In the past on NM 502, NMDOT required a resolution of support from the local governing body to illustrate the community’s support of the project and allows the project to proceed to final design and subsequent bidding and construction. The Attorney's Office has reviewed the attached resolution (Attachment B) and it was published as required by County Code (Attachment C)
Alternatives
Failure to approve the resolution will result in a delay of the project and will jeopardize the awarded HSIP Federal design and construction grant funding due to an inability to meet required grant milestones.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The project is funded through a $4.25 million Federal HSIP grant through the NMDOT for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction.
Attachments
A - August 6, 2024 Council Staff Report and Presentation
B - Incorporated County of Los Alamos Resolution 24-29
C - Legal Notice of Publication
D - September 10, 2024 NM 502 Trinity Drive Study Council Presentation