1. Do you bike in New Mexico? Describe your experience biking for transportation and/or recreation.
Currently do stationary bike, I had a knee replacement a year ago. I am a former by cyclist, and I know the dangers of bicycling in our state, and cities. As a former City Planner and Councilor, I have both planned trail connections and funded them. I support multimodal transportation in all forms.
My experience bicycling was both positive and negative. I enjoyed the experience of riding both alone and with friends, however I am also keenly aware of the dangers of automobile drivers, as I was hit on my bicycle by one.
2. Describe your vision of a healthy, safe, equitable transportation system for the Greater Albuquerque Region and the roles walking, biking, and public transportation play in that vision.
My vision is that a variety of transportation systems are fully funded and connected. Having served as a City Planner and City Councilor, and as the former Vice-Chair of The MRCOG Transportation Board I worked to encourage and fund Safe Streets, pedestrian and multi-modal systems whenever possible Citywide. I also sponsored and adopted a Westside Trails Plan, while serving as the President of the City Council. This plan identifies and encourages pedestrian and bicycle linkages, as well as hiking trails, throughout Albuquerque’s Westside.
3. What are the biggest barriers to getting people to choose walking, biking, and public transit instead of personal vehicles for daily trips, and what would you do to address these impediments?
I believe that our biggest impediments to people choosing walking, biking and public transit is education, disconnected systems and funding. I was proud to build roads that were sensitive to a true multimodal system, and work to create transportation infrastructure that works to connect all of these multimodal systems. I will work to create policy which encourages that our systems work together. I am also proud to say I worked on the Railrunner as a City Planner, and supported ‘No Bus Fare Legislation’ as a City Councilor.
4. New Mexico consistently has the deadliest streets of any state in the US, with approximately 400 people killed by vehicles each year while walking, biking, or driving, and another 12,000 people injured. What should New Mexico, and in particular the New Mexico Department of Transportation, do to improve traffic safety?
NMDOT needs to work more closely with Municipal, County and MRCOG to encourage safe street development. I am fully aware of https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/813458 stats for New Mexico and Albuquerque. And, that Albuquerque is listed at the top of our national rankings. It is unfortunate, and we need to take action to keep our pedestrians and bicyclists safe, and lower our ranking. In some cases, DOT may need place some roads on a ‘car diet’, add more roundabouts, reduce speeds, and add bicycle lanes. I also believe a public education program is imperative to change public perception of multimodal transportation efforts.
5. The New Mexico DOT is currently pursuing a pair of projects related to Interstate 25, following the South I-25 Corridor Study that calls for the widening of Interstate 25 in Albuquerque from Sunport to the Big I, to 8 lanes from the current 6. Do you support urban freeway widenings, or how would you prefer NMDOT enhance transportation options in this corridor?
I think it may be necessary, as our City grows to encourage more public transportation ridership. This could be done via the use of the Rail Runner and the bus system. Better connectivity regarding trails, including pedestrian, bicycle and the rail system are key, toward reducing the need to widen our freeway system, is necessary. I also must mention the need for safety when utilizing these systems is a necessary element. If the public doesn’t feel safe using any of these transportation alternatives, they will just not engage. This is where public education is useful, and necessary.