County Seeks Additional Public Feedback Before Dec. 4 Transportation Board Meeting

Atomic City Transit. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

The last time a Transit Study was conducted was just prior to Atomic City Transit starting operations, approximately seven years ago.

The County contracted with LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. (LSC), to develop a Comprehensive Transit Study / Updated Five-Year Transit Plan (Transit Plan). This contract was executed in February of 2014. Atomic City Transit is funded primarily with Federal Grant funds. A Federal grant also funds this Transit Study with the goal of providing the most efficient and economical transit system to assure responsible expenditure of federal transit grant funds.

Since February, LSC has reviewed the initial Atomic City Transit Service Plan, identified transit demand through existing data and solicitation of community input including public meeting in Los Alamos and White Rock, conducted on-board rider surveys, interviewed County Transit and Fleet staff, analyzed and evaluated the existing service and routes in terms of improving efficiencies and meeting community demand; reviewed routes, connections, and schedules; researched coordination with existing regional connectors provided by NCRTD, Park and Ride, and the Rail Runner; and, performed other detailed analysis with the result being the draft Transit Study.

There were two advertised public meetings, one May 1, 2014 at the Municipal Building Council Chambers and a second public meeting July 15, 2014 at the White Rock Town Hall. The purpose of these meetings was to solicit early input from residents. Most recently, the draft Transit Plan was presented to the Transportation Board at the November Transportation Board meeting that included a presentation by LSC, Board discussion, and public comment. In general, public comment was primarily focused on longer ride times for some routes and proposed changes to White Rock service. The Transportation Board meeting may be viewed on the County’s website at http://losalamos.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

After the discussion, the Transportation Board moved to recommend further study of the travel times, safety, route efficiency, on-demand service, and route efficiency as these pertain to accessibility and longer travel times that will impact key users, including those in White Rock, before approving the Los Alamos Comprehensive Transit Study / Updated Five Year Transit Plan.

Based on the Transportation Board’s motion, LSC has provided additional analysis and information, and the County is requesting additional public feedback before the next Transportation Board meeting, which is scheduled at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 4 in the Municipal Building Council Chambers. Comments may be sent through the County’s Open Forum or emailed to the T-Board at lacpw@lacnm.us, or, plan to attend the Dec. 4 meeting.

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