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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: Taylor, J.G. DATE TYPED: 01/09/00 HB HJM 42
SHORT TITLE: Study Coors Road Safety Issues SB
ANALYST: Valdes


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY00 FY01 FY00 FY01
See Fiscal Implications Section

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to NA



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



State Highway and Transportation Department (SHTD)



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



This joint memorial requests the State Highway and Transportation Department to study and address the need for traffic signals, lighting, speed limits and all other road safety concerns on Coors Road (NM45), between I-25 and Arenal Road, in Bernalillo County.



Significant Issues



According to SHTD, all available funding sources for highway improvements have already been committed.



FISCAL IMPLICATIONS



The estimated cost of the location study is $400.0 and $10-20 million for the needed improvements along this 7.7 mile stretch of highway. All department funding has already been committed to other projects. To allocate funds for this project, other projects identified in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) would have to be delayed. Funding in the 6 year STIP for preservation and improvements of State Highway System and the Major Investment Program cover only 38% of the work needed.





OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES



Department staff are in agreement that it would be appropriate to conduct this study on Coors Road from I-25 north to Arenal Road. Because capacity issues could also affect safety on this highway, a location study would be needed to determine the scope and scale of problems, propose solutions and prioritize them. This study would provide cost estimates for suggested improvements.



Because this section of road is located within the Albuquerque Urban area, projects must be prioritized by the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and included in its Transportation Improvement Program before they can be included in the STIP. The MPO has also allocated all currently available funding.



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