Los Alamos County Transportation Board Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Los Alamos County Transportation Board met on February 9, 2026. Note: the agenda and transcript for this meeting are dated February 5, 2026, while the provided timestamp lists February 9, 2026. All seven board members were present; Chair David Hampton presided, with Vice Chair Nancy Talley and Member Michael Altherr participating online. The board tabled its annual officer election until March, reviewed NM 502 safety improvements, approved a revised work-plan attachment, and recognized outgoing members. No public comment was offered.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously as amended to table the election of Chair and Vice Chair until the March 2026 meeting.
• Minutes from the December 4, 2025, Transportation Board meeting were approved unanimously as presented.

Presentations and Discussion Items

• NM 502 Safety Improvements (Jennifer Morrow, Senior Engineer): The presentation addressed multiple crashes along NM 502, including a September 2024 lane-departure fatality, and a 2025 road safety audit initiated by Los Alamos National Laboratory (draft completed August 2025). Crash data from 2015-2023 showed lane departures as the primary cause. The county completed restriping at the Camino Entrada intersection in November 2025 and is developing a centerline rumble strip project from Airport Road to just east of Eastgate Drive, which will remove the passing zone adjacent to the airport, install a double yellow centerline, and provide gaps in rumble strips at left turns. NMDOT provided a letter of support. Presenter Morrow cited FHWA data indicating rumble strips can reduce head-on collisions by up to 45%. Next steps are a contract for installation and a construction start date to be determined.
• Board discussion on NM 502: Member Altherr questioned the source of the 45% statistic, asked that data be provided, and expressed the position that enforcement of speed and cell-phone use could be more effective than rumble strips. Chair Hampton identified FHWA as the source. Keith Wilson stated snow removal should be unaffected and that LAPD conducts regular peak-hour enforcement. The board also heard that the fatal crash was a head-on lane-departure collision, and that the road safety audit focused on the Camino Entrada intersection. A roundabout at the intersection was discussed but raised concerns about traffic backing up the hill during inclement weather. Member Altherr expressed support for a roundabout. Member Edwards asked whether the projects were a direct response to the fatality; staff said yes and that they fit with LANL’s broader traffic-safety initiative.
• Revised Attachment A of the 2026 Work Plan: Chair Hampton presented the Council-revised Attachment A with checked priority categories matching the board’s previously approved work plan: Communication and Engagement; Intergovernmental, Tribal, Regional Relations, and Partnerships; Infrastructure Asset Management; Downtown Revitalization; Tourism and Special Events; Mobility; and Open Space, Parks, and Recreation. The board approved the revised Attachment A unanimously.
• Election of Chair and Vice Chair: The board voted unanimously to table the 2026 officer election until the March meeting, anticipating two new board members.

Board and Staff Reports

• Chair Hampton welcomed Council Liaison Suzie Havemann and recognized outgoing members Vice Chair Nancy Talley and Member Michael Altherr with certificates for their service; members were reminded to complete annual disclosure forms.
• Member Altherr raised concerns about signs on public rights-of-way, calling them a potential distracted-driving hazard, and suggested the board could support a motion to regulate them through the planning and zoning process.
• Vice Chair Talley thanked the board and staff, noted her husband’s retirement, and said she would not apply for another term.
• Public Works Director Eric Martinez reported that Los Alamos was redesignated as a Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists; Denver Steels Phase II construction is underway; County Council approved a HAWK pedestrian beacon for the NM 4 Crossing and Multi-Use Trail project between La Vista and Sherwood; wayfinding sign installation resumed, with more than 150 signs planned; and a consultant will study Saturday transit service expansion. The staff report also provided operational statistics, including 320 airport operations in December and 15,713 unlinked passenger trips on Atomic City Transit in the latest transit reporting period.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agenda, as amended, unanimously.
• Approved the December 4, 2025, meeting minutes unanimously.
• Approved revised Attachment A of the 2026 Work Plan unanimously.
• Tabled the 2026 Chair and Vice Chair election until the March 2026 meeting unanimously.
• Next meeting/future agenda items include the officer election, an update on Trinity Drive barrier/traffic safety options, and a request for EV fleet metrics comparing fuel use and electricity as the county’s electric vehicle fleet expands.