By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Efforts to improve amenities for recreational enthusiasts in Los Alamos, from the athlete all the way to the pedestrian, are progressing.

During the Los Alamos County Council regular meeting, Jan. 27, council unanimously approved the North Mesa Recreation Master Plan as well as the installation of the High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) Signal on N.M. 4.

In the discussion of the North Mesa Recreation Master Plan, County Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker highlighted the fact that while the plan was up for approval, there is no formal funding for it. She further noted that implementation of the plan will happen over time.

“…based on the priorities, we will see what available funding there is as we go through our budgetary process each year,” Parker said. “All of that will hinge on what we have available as we go through our process to see what we can do in those phased areas …”

Sites Southwest consultants Bob Oberdofer and Karina Rodgers provided an overview of the plan.

Rodgers said the North Mesa Recreation Area is an important recreation hub.
Leaning on that, Oberdofer said the goal for the plan was to incorporate as many elements that people wanted to see in this area as well as serve diverse uses and preserve as much open space as possible.

Therefore, he said the plan includes phases. The first phase is for a bike park, pump track and skills area. The second phase will improve the west side of the recreation area, which will involve improving habitat by creating water harvesting areas for pollinators and planting trees. Third phase is for sand volleyball courts and a dog park. The fourth phase will center on the community gardens. A multi-use pavilion and a food truck plaza are in the fifth phase. Finally, there is a phase for miscellaneous items such as playgrounds or overflow parking lots that could be fit in where appropriate.

Oberdofer broke down the cost estimates for each of the phases:

• $3.5 million for phase one;
• $2.1 million for phase two;
• $1.3 million for phase three;
• $800,000 for phase four;
• $4 million for phase 5; and
• $1.3 million for the final phase.

A large crowd lined up at the podium to show their support for the plan as well as make their case to council to fund a particular phase in the plan.

Los Alamos resident Greg Weiss said, “On behalf of the Los Alamos Tuff Riders Mountain Biking Club … we are very much in support of the plan for a bike park on North Mesa.”

Resident Grant Fox also expressed support for the bike park.

“One of the great things about this place is access – access to the outdoors, access to all the sports outdoors … it’s just been very encouraging to see the way the County is building access for things for young kids including mountain biking, the bike park and this development …,” he said.

A member of the local roller derby team shared her support for the pavilion.

“I’m really in support of this pavilion,” she said. “We struggle with practice space especially in the winter when we do not have the ice rink. We don’t have a space large enough through the schools to practice our sport so this pavilion would be a great space … it would be really great for us to have a place we could call our home …”

One speaker expressed concern about how the plan would impact local equestrians.

“…We don’t have many options for trails to ride in elsewhere in Los Alamos County,” she said. “The County says 70 percent of trails allow for equestrian use but in practice this requires us to load a horse into a trailer, drive to another trailhead where we would have to park on the side of the road or in a parking lot that isn’t meant for trucks and trailers. We would then have to unload our horse into the street or into a parking lot … which is a dangerous situation for us to be in and probably isn’t legal. If the County does decide to proceed with this plan … I would like to see the County take steps to increase awareness, education and therefore safety for all groups.”

She encouraged utilizing signage and implementing some education outreach to address these issues.

Lisa Reader said she is concerned about the plan’s phasing; she pointed out the County has other expensive recreational projects on the books such as the artificial turf. Reader asked how these projects would be prioritized and funded.

Parker noted that the master plan is flexible and can be subject to change.

Council also pivoted its attention to White Rock and pedestrians’ needs along N.M. 4.

Public Works Deputy Director Keith Wilson provided information on the County’s plans for the section of N.M. 4 from Sherwood Boulevard to La Vista Drive.

While council only approved the HAWK Signal during the Jan. 27 meeting, there are other items in the plan.

Wilson described the HAWK Signal as a pedestrian hybrid beacon. It has three lights – two red and one amber. The signal is dark when it is not in use, but when a pedestrian pushes the signal’s button, the amber light flashes and then stays solid and then the red lights turn on. The don’t walk sign will turn on and when it is safe for a pedestrian to cross, the walk signal light will light up. When the don’t walk sign flashes, the red lights will waggle, cautioning traffic to slow down and stop. If there are no pedestrians crossing, traffic can proceed.

Wilson said Mirador development is required to install a traffic signal at the Sherwood Boulevard intersection, but the signal can’t be installed until the mixed used development is constructed and provides the required traffic volumes.

“When we scoped out this project, we scoped it out assuming that this traffic signal would be installed so this project is complimentary to, not in case of or instead of (a traffic signal),” Wilson said.

He added that people asked if the crossing could be at La Vista Drive. However, the high number of conflict points makes that location unsafe, plus, a median can’t be installed at that location, and it would be difficult for traffic to see pedestrians.

Whereas, the mid-block crossing has no conflict points, does have a median and the HAWK Signal could be coordinated with the traffic signal when it is installed.
Besides the HAWK Signal, Wilson said the plan calls for the westbound lane on N.M. 4 to be removed between Sherwood and La Vista for a new trail.

Wilson said mostly only the right-most lane is used. He added putting the trail in the buffer area of the north side of N.M. 4 was considered but there are utilities there. Additionally, the trail couldn’t be placed next to the curb due to drainage and significant grading for ADA compliance would be needed. It is estimated that construction will start in June and take about a year. Wilson said the total project cost is $2.7 million but federal funds were awarded for the project.

Council Chair Randall Ryti applauded the progress made on the pedestrian plan, saying, “We have been talking about this for a really long time … so I think this is a good step forward.”