Big I Landscaping at Dusk

This superb photo of the recently completed Big I landscaping comes from Robert Reck, a student at UNM. This image won the merit award in a Photographing the Built Environment course. It along with other tremendous photos are currently on display at George Pearl Hall (the Antoine Predock designed School of Architecture and Design building located across from the Frontier Restaurant). Imagine if such an attractive, billboard-free landscape stretched from the Sunport to Bernalillo.

Rio Rancho Roundabout Revolution

Rio Rancho is beginning to live up to its "City of Vision" slogan with the introduction of multiple roundabouts. Aesthetically pleasing, accident-reducing roundabouts are being constructed in numerous locations: Loma Larga near the high school/pool/library, Cabezon Boulevard/Western Hills Drive, Wilpett Road/King Boulevard and Cherry Road/17th Avenue. City has even posted information on how to navigate a roundabout. Image at right shows potential crash points at traditional light controlled intersection. Image at left shows how roundabouts greatly reduce potential accidents and totally eliminate head on collisions.

What Could Be

Great Streets Plan aims to make ABQ more livable. Picture is planned improvement of Atrisco Dr./Central Avenue NW. (1) colors, texture and patterns clearly mark pedestrian space (2) trees, lights and transit shelter provide buffer from traffic (3) small reduction in speed and vehicle lane width supports safer walking and cycling (4) bike lane provides designated space for cycling (5) bike box allows cyclist to ride into the intersection and make turn first, while remaining highly visible (6) median offers pedestrian refuge (7) buildings located close to sidewalk encourage pedestrian patronage.

Council takes up this proposal on April 14, 5 p.m., Council Committee Room, 9th floor, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center. If this idea appeals to you please attend this event and please contact your Council member.

2010 Median Landscaping Projects

Did a little digging on the city of Albuquerque site and learned the following medians will be landscaped in 2010. I am especially glad to see that University Blvd. in front of the Pit and University Stadium is set to get landscaped medians. The stadiums (including Isotopes Park) are so nice, yet the streetscape is so unpleasant.

• Medians - 12th Street, I-40 to RR Tracks
• Medians - Academy, McKinney to Truchas
• Medians - Academy, Truchas to Ventura
  
• Central (Tramway to Eubank) Median Improvements
  
• Medians - Eubank, Constitution to Montgomery
• Medians - Martin Luther King, Streetscape including median
• Medians - Montgomery, Carlisle to San Mateo
• Medians - San Mateo, Comanche to Ponderosa Arroyo
• Medians - University Blvd, Cesar Chavez to Gibson
• Medians - Unser South Phase I, Central to San Ygnacio
• Medians - Wyoming, Academy to San Antonio-Harper

Mayor Soliciting Opinion on Events Center Project

I am feeling more and more confident in my prediction that Mayor Berry is going to get the Events Center done. As I've written before, I firmly believe this is an economic development project that wisely capitalizes on revitalization and transportation investments. He's soliciting public feedback on this project.

Imagine: T-Birds Join Scorpions at Downtown ABQ Arena

News that the NBA D-level Thunderbirds are moving to Rio Rancho highlights again the negative economic impact of not having a downtown arena. Hockey fans lost the Scorpions who couldn't make it work at Tingley or Rio Rancho. Imagine crowded downtown Albuquerque restaurants and bars on T-Bird and Scorpion game nights. Imagine many fans taking Rail Runner from as far as Belen and Santa Fe. Image if this image of a proposed downtown Albuquerque arena became reality.

New French Bistro on Gold and 3rd

Cool looking new restaurant coming to Gold and 3rd.