By RICHARD GADDIS
White Rock

I read with interest the article from Dec. 19, 2024, regarding “Public Weighs in on N.M. 4 Crossing…”  As a resident of the Mirador community, I took keen interest in the proposal and attended the meeting to express my opinions and provide a few suggestions.

The article correctly points out that there were various objections to the proposed project, not the least of which was a matter of priorities. (“The public’s response to the project revealed that many supported making improvements for pedestrians but favored a traffic signal over the HAWK signal.”) 

In an effort to encourage alternative transportation options, the Mirador community is well suited for pedestrian access to White Rock Town Center, and in fact a portion of the subdivision is zoned as such.  Mr. Wilson, the Project Manager for the proposed project even stated, “The original concept of the project … one of the major focuses was trying to integrate the new Mirador subdivision into the larger White Rock community…”  

The only obstacle to achieving this goal is the lack of a safe crossing at the Sherwood/Mirador intersection at N.M. 4. THIS needs to be the priority! 

The facilities included in the White Rock Town Center include our one grocery store, Smith’s, as well as the US Post Office, the Library, and the Bus Stop adjacent to the Library, which is utilized by Middle School and High School students to get to Los Alamos.

Mr. Wilson outlined at the meeting the obstacles to providing a safe pedestrian crossing at the Sherwood/Mirador intersection. As correctly pointed out in the article, “…to put in a traffic signal there are nine warrant – they’re  basically thresholds – and you have to meet at least one of those…” Those warrants include Eight-Hour Traffic Volume, Four Hour Traffic Volume, Peak Hour, Pedestrian Volume, School Crossing, Crash Experience, etc. 

The accompanying traffic study seemed to concentrate on the Eight-Hour Vehicular Volume warrant, without regard to the other warrants. Taken holistically, many of these warrants will likely be met. It is also interesting that pedestrian injuries or deaths is lumped into the Crash Experience warrant – are the lives of our children something we should be burying in a set of statistics?

Mr. Wilson also explained that, “To meet those thresholds, Mirador’s mixed-use development needs to be constructed.” A hearing for the Mixed-Use Development was held on Dec. 9, 2021, where conditional approval was granted by the County. Contrary to Mr. Wilson’s contention, “That is still on track and moving forward”, there appears to have been no movement in the three years that has elapsed since that conditional approval was granted. 

So we, the residents of Mirador, are being held hostage by the agreement between the developer and the County, and the goal of, “…trying to integrate the new Mirador subdivision into the larger White Rock community…” appears to only be a pipe-dream.