ABQ Times

The City of Albuquerque’s Vision Zero program is commencing its first major project funded by the Automated Speed Enforcement program. The initiative involves restriping and rethinking Louisiana Blvd from Gibson to Central, with the goal of reducing pedestrian deaths and enhancing street safety.

Valerie Hermanson, Public Works Strategic Program Manager and Vision Zero Coordinator, stated, “This is a meaningful, community-driven project. The community told us what they wanted: safer streets, slower traffic, and better pedestrian and transit options. This project can be a model for how we look at roads and design our streets to help people move in safer and more efficient ways throughout our city.”

Louisiana Blvd has been identified as one of the most hazardous corridors for pedestrians and cyclists in Albuquerque. It serves as a critical route for children attending Van Buren Middle School and Emerson Elementary School.

Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the broader impact of such projects on community safety. “We’re updating roads all over our city to make sure everyone can get to where they need to go safely,” he said. “For our communities to be sustainable and safe, our streets need to work for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.”

Jennifer Turner, Director of the Municipal Development Department (DMD), highlighted the importance of these improvements. “We’re investing in critical design improvements to keep everyone safe, no matter how you use the road,” she noted. “Road diets, bike lanes, and other safety infrastructure we’re putting in are proven safety measures to slow traffic down and protect our neighborhoods.”

The Vision Zero team conducted several meetings with community members and health experts to determine the project's scope. Interactive suggestion boards were also used at bus stops in the area.

Enrique Cardiel, Executive Director of the Health Equity Council in Bernalillo County, commented on the anticipated benefits: “This project will help reduce the number of accidents in the area and really help pedestrians. The slower speeds and bike lanes should help keep the neighborhood safer.”

The $1 million project is expected to last 45 days while maintaining at least one lane open in each direction on Louisiana Blvd.