Title
Update on the Citizen Petition for the North Road and Urban Street Intersection
Body
Following a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on March 15, 2026 at the intersection of North Road and Urban Street, the Girl Scouts Pajarito Service Unit submitted a petition on March 25, 2026 on behalf of five (5) registered voters of Los Alamos County. The petition (shown in Attachment A) requested Los Alamos County to make the North Road and Urban Street intersection a Four-Way Stop.
On April 7, 2026, Council approved the following motion: “That Council acknowledge the petition, thank the petitioners for the recommendations and requests, and request staff and or an advisory board investigate and research the matter and return to Council with information, options, and a recommendation for action with 90 days.”
On June 3, 2026, staff finalized a recommendation and implemented a four-way, or all-way, stop at the North Road and Urban Street intersection pursuant to County Code Section 38-192 and was promptly deployed by county crews using materials on hand.
The decision was made only after an engineering analysis was performed in accordance with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) that included examining traffic data, reviewing eight years of crash history, and analyzing site conditions and traffic patterns. While it was found that this intersection has an average of one crash per year, there were a combination of factors that tipped the decision to make the change. Amongst the engineering considerations, other factors include the area being within a Safe Route to School for nearby Mountain Elementary in addition to accommodating other pedestrian activity to and from the adjacent Urban Park and Atomic City Transit and school bus stops.
On June 4, 2026, staff presented the analysis and changes to the Transportation Board. The Transportation Board provided a variety of feedback and questions summarized as follows:
• How are sight distances determined?
• What data or metrics can be used to determine if successful?
• Will signs and cones within the newly painted center median will be removed?
• Can a vertical traffic device be placed within the median?
• Clarification on understanding the timeline of events.
• Will a crosswalk be placed on the west leg of the intersection?
• Installation of bulb-outs could make pedestrians more visible at the intersection and shorten crossing distances.
• Would other intersections fit into the same scope as a proactive measure?
• How is the type or design of the crosswalk determined?
• Consider placement of flashing lights/signs to help reinforce the new stop condition with motorists.
• Does school have someone help kids cross in the area (school crossing guard); is that something the school can do?
• What additional data can be collected with Lidar?
Staff will present the findings, analysis and the recommendation implemented for an All-Way (or Four-Way) Stop at this intersection.
Attachments
A - Citizen Petition regarding Four-Way Stop on North Road and Urban Street intersection
B - Presentation