On Jan. 30, the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) will host a public forum on campus to solicit feedback on near – and long-term transit, land use, and parking strategies in the UNM/CNM/Sunport area. Scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. in Lobo A&B; in the Student Union Building, the public meeting is part of a series of meetings and workshops that began last fall.
"We've learned a lot so far about how transportation affects people living, working, and attending school in the corridor," said Dewey Cave, executive director of the MRCOG. "Now it's time to put pen to paper and start mapping out some of the strategies that will ultimately make it easier for people to get around the area."
The UNM/CNM/Sunport corridor is considered the region's largest activity center - attracting more than 74,000 people every day. While the area has excellent east/west transit service on Lomas and Central, it lacks adequate north/south transit connections. The campus community and members of the public are invited to review and respond to several possible strategies – including new transit routes.
"The last round of public meetings found that the residents, businesses, and institutions in the area have a strong appreciation for the area's walkable setting, the variety of destinations, and the importance of the institutions. This study will help identify ways to strengthen these characteristics while addressing the day to day impacts of travel on the surrounding neighborhoods," said Bernalillo County Commission Chair Maggie Hart Stebbins, who sits on the Transit Study's Task Force. "By identifying options, this study will take a big step toward reducing persistent congestion and parking issues."
Final recommendations are scheduled for completion this fall, which will include a recommendation for north-south transit service in the area. The goal is to identify a specific route which would then be eligible for federal funding and ready for implementation.
Additional off-campus public meetings:
Tuesday, Jan. 29
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: Central United Methodist Church
201 University Boulevard NE
Tuesday, Feb. 5
Time: noon – 1 p.m.
Location: CNM Student Resource Center, Room 204
For more information contact Augusta Meyers, Mid-Region Council of Governments, at (505) 239-8612 or via email: ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov.
Public Forum on UNM Area Transportation Improvements Set for Jan. 30
January 22, 2013
Categories:
Government Relations