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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Los Alamos Transportation Board Meeting - September 3, 2026

County Council & Boards — Thursday, September 3, 2026

BodyLos Alamos County, New Mexico

SessionCounty Council & Boards

DateThursday, September 3, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:02:13

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

It's uh past 5 30, so I'm calling the meeting to order.

0:04

First item is roll call.

0:06

Um Member Connolly, Member Chappelle, Member uh Gefford Kleinrath, Member Lysovsky, and Member Hampton are in council chambers, and Member Muck is online.

0:20

Member Edwards is absent.

0:25

Is there anyone who has any proposed changes to the agenda?

0:34

Both to the agenda and to the um minutes of last meetings.

0:38

My name is spelled incorrectly.

0:40

So the there's a H there is one H too much in my last name.

0:50

Mr.

0:51

Chair member, we'll go ahead and get that corrected.

0:54

Thank you.

0:55

Thank you.

0:56

Um so um with that, uh really have to change the agenda, it's just wrong.

1:08

So um with no changes to the gym agenda, that's approved unanimously.

1:12

Is there any other changes to the minutes other than the spelling of member um all right?

1:21

Um so with the with the exception of that uh change to the name.

1:33

Um I'd say the agenda is uh the minutes are approved unanimously.

1:38

Is there any public comment for items not on the agenda?

1:46

Any online, Mr.

1:57

Chair.

1:59

Thank you.

2:00

And with that, we lead to our first presentation, the Fairway Drive Improvements Project.

2:10

Good evening, Chair, members of the board.

2:12

I thank you for having us this evening.

2:14

Um we're excited to share with you this next project that we have coming up in the coming year.

2:20

And um tonight I'm joined by uh my project manager Henry Royball as well as DPU uh staff, um Jennifer Morrow and Sam Herzag for any sort of uh utilities questions, and Brian O'Mara, our senior engineer for public works is also here too.

2:36

So we'll all be ready for questions if anything comes up afterwards.

2:39

But um with that, I'm gonna hand it over to Henry for his presentation.

2:44

Thank you.

2:50

Okay, thank you, uh Eric and uh Mr.

2:53

Chair, good to see you tonight, members of the board.

2:56

Um I do want to just um go over our fairway uh drive improvement project.

3:01

Uh this is uh for the transportation board.

3:04

Um if we could go to the next slide.

3:07

I do want to just say, you know, as far as supporting uh council goals, um these are all in line with the council goals.

3:16

This project is to maintain and improve transportation and mobility, uh maintain quality, essential services, and supporting access and infrastructure and quality of life.

3:27

Next slide.

3:30

Um this project um includes the full reconstruction of payment, storm drains, improvement, targeted reconstruction of curb and gutter sidewalks and ADA ramps.

3:44

Um so we we went out on the field to inspect um the cut the curb and gutters and also the roads, and we have found during our inspection that you know we determined we could target um some of them that did need um to be replaced, and some of them did not need to be replaced.

4:01

So we are um uh moving forward and with that, and and I think right now the project uh we're working on that at the projects in coordination with the Department of Public Utilities, which will replace aging utility infrastructure.

4:16

Um water replacement of aging uh they're gonna the water on the water part of this project, the replacement of aging cast iron water lines with new PVC, and also on the sanitary sewer side, um there's segments of vetrified clay sewer line um with reoccurring problems, which will be replaced as well.

4:38

Um next slide.

4:42

And so the the project background um basically the county hires a contractor to come out and uh identify um priority projects.

4:52

Um the project selection is based on pavement conditions, uh the pavement condition index, which is PS uh PCI.

5:00

The project area in question is at 42.5, which is a poor rating.

5:07

Basically a scale from one to one to 100, one being the worst, or as I like to refer to it as reclaimed by nature.

5:16

You know, and we don't have any, you know, at that point, but you know, and basically 100 being the best.

5:23

Um the CIP budget for this project has been programmed for uh 3,987,000.

5:34

Um staff has applied for and been granted NMDOT local road funds in the amount of 637,598 dollars.

5:46

And this that price of that amount is of course included in the $3 million amount.

5:51

So that's a reflection of 16% of the total project.

5:54

Um the department of uh public utilities budget um for the water portion is 900,000.

6:00

Um for the uh wastewater collection, it's 800,000 uh for the collection, the funding.

6:08

Um next slide.

6:14

Okay, so next we have the project location.

6:17

So if you look at the location, basically where Trinity Drive meets 47th Street, um, it's gonna start at that point, and it's gonna go from 47th Street to Fairway Drive.

6:31

Um, I don't know, not everybody probably knows this, but 47th Street actually in the road transitions into Fairway Drive.

6:38

So then it's gonna go from that point, which is where it transitions into Fairway Drive, it'll go to West Road.

6:44

And then from West Road, um, we're actually gonna go from Diamond Drive all the way down West Road to um the property gate for Los Alamos National Laboratory, and it's approximately 600 feet.

6:57

So that's what what we reflect here in orange.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Works███████████████████████████27%

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████11%

Parks and Recreation███████████11%

Public Engagement█████████9%

Transportation Safety█████████9%

Procedural███████7%

Utilities Management██████6%

Public Safety██████6%

Public Transportation█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Los Alamos Transportation Board Meeting - September 3, 2026

The Transportation Board met on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. Chair David Hampton presided, with members Connolly, Chappelle, Gepphert-Kleinrath, Lisowski, and Hampton present; Vice Chair Muck online; member Edwards absent. The meeting featured public input and presentations on three major projects, along with staff and council liaison reports.

Consent Calendar

Agenda approved unanimously with a correction to a member's name spelling.
Minutes from the August 6, 2026 meeting approved unanimously with the same spelling correction.

Public Comments & Testimony

No public comments were made on items not on the agenda.

Discussion Items

Fairway Drive Improvements Project

Presenters Eric Ulibarri and Henry Roybal outlined the full reconstruction of Fairway Drive from 47th Street to West Road and a 600-foot segment on West Road. The project includes pavement, storm drains, targeted curb/gutter/sidewalk/ADA ramp reconstruction, and coordination with DPU to replace aging water and sewer lines. Total CIP budget: $3,987,000, including $637,598 in NMDOT local road funds (16%). DPU budgets: $900,000 for water and $800,000 for wastewater. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027 and complete by August 2027. Public comment is requested by September 17, 2026.
Several residents expressed concerns about sewer line relocation from backyards to the street, driveway replacement, landscaping impacts, tree removal, and property access. Staff committed to individual meetings for affected residents, 48-hour notices for disruptions, and landscaping allowances. One resident requested speed mitigation; staff agreed to monitor post-construction. Chair thanked the public for their input.

Canyon Road Median Design Standards

Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker presented two design options (Plateau and Bandolier) for landscaping along Canyon Road (and eventually NM 4 in White Rock). Survey results (78 responses as of September 3) favor the Plateau design (47 votes). No irrigation expansion is planned; existing median footprint will remain. Approximately $38,000 has been spent on consulting. Next steps: continue survey, present to County Council, finalize drawings, and issue a task order for construction.
Board members discussed safety concerns for cyclists (drivers encroaching on bike lanes), maintenance metrics, plant selection (xeriscape vs. low-vegetation), and the raised curb design. Public comment: a resident noted danger to cyclists from medians on narrow roads.

Diamond Drive/Sycamore Street Pedestrian Crossing Evaluation

Deputy Public Works Director Keith Wilson presented data collected in April 2026: average 7–8 pedestrians/day (peak 12/day), 15,000 vehicles/day. Applying the mid-block crossing policy, the crossing does not meet thresholds for a pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB, ~$250,000). Staff recommends installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB, significantly lower cost), similar to the Golf Course crossing. Evaluation showed pedestrians could find gaps due to signalized intersections.
Board members discussed beacon visibility, cost, and activation for cyclists. Public comments supported the improved crossing, with one resident noting limited current use because of safety concerns. Staff will proceed with RRFB design and seek funding.

Key Outcomes

The Board provided feedback on all three projects; no formal votes were taken.
Staff will incorporate public and board comments into project designs.
The next regular meeting is rescheduled to Monday, October 5, 2026, at 5:30 PM to avoid conflict with a League of Women Voters candidate forum.
Future agenda items: Snow and Ice Control Plan, My Commute app, Transit Study Update (October), LiDAR presentation (November). The Board will also begin its annual work plan.

Reports and Updates

Councilor Havman reported on County Council actions: streetlight maintenance program (1,673 lights, ~1,000 LED replacements for dark-sky compliance), community health action center (three sites under consideration), White Rock "The Rock" project (LEDA loan of $868,000), new landfill MOU with Rio Arriba and Española (estimated savings of $50 million), and other items.
Deputy Director Wilson provided staff updates: airport open house September 12, hangar construction (steel framing complete, panels and electrical pending), Mesa Library EV chargers (commissioning by early October), Central Avenue crosswalk markings (completed except at 9th Street due to manhole repair), Grand Canyon/Sherwood curb extensions (installed; feedback welcomed), street light repairs (21 completed of 60+ backlog), and transit study progress.
Board member Connolly noted positive feedback on White Rock curb extensions but observed a cyclist navigation issue; Wilson responded they will monitor.
Connolly also reminded the Board to submit comments on the Comprehensive Plan (deadline September 9) and highlighted three parcels identified for potential housing development that may impact traffic planning.

Next Meeting

Monday, October 5, 2026, 5:30 PM. Agenda items: Snow and Ice Control Plan, Transit Study Update, My Commute presentation, and initiation of 2027 work plan.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned after staff updates.

Meeting Transcript

It's uh past 5 30, so I'm calling the meeting to order. First item is roll call. Um Member Connolly, Member Chappelle, Member uh Gefford Kleinrath, Member Lysovsky, and Member Hampton are in council chambers, and Member Muck is online. Member Edwards is absent. Is there anyone who has any proposed changes to the agenda? Both to the agenda and to the um minutes of last meetings. My name is spelled incorrectly. So the there's a H there is one H too much in my last name. Mr. Chair member, we'll go ahead and get that corrected. Thank you. Thank you. Um so um with that, uh really have to change the agenda, it's just wrong. So um with no changes to the gym agenda, that's approved unanimously. Is there any other changes to the minutes other than the spelling of member um all right? Um so with the with the exception of that uh change to the name. Um I'd say the agenda is uh the minutes are approved unanimously. Is there any public comment for items not on the agenda? Any online, Mr. Chair. Thank you. And with that, we lead to our first presentation, the Fairway Drive Improvements Project. Good evening, Chair, members of the board. I thank you for having us this evening. Um we're excited to share with you this next project that we have coming up in the coming year. And um tonight I'm joined by uh my project manager Henry Royball as well as DPU uh staff, um Jennifer Morrow and Sam Herzag for any sort of uh utilities questions, and Brian O'Mara, our senior engineer for public works is also here too. So we'll all be ready for questions if anything comes up afterwards. But um with that, I'm gonna hand it over to Henry for his presentation. Thank you. Okay, thank you, uh Eric and uh Mr. Chair, good to see you tonight, members of the board. Um I do want to just um go over our fairway uh drive improvement project. Uh this is uh for the transportation board. Um if we could go to the next slide. I do want to just say, you know, as far as supporting uh council goals, um these are all in line with the council goals. This project is to maintain and improve transportation and mobility, uh maintain quality, essential services, and supporting access and infrastructure and quality of life. Next slide. Um this project um includes the full reconstruction of payment, storm drains, improvement, targeted reconstruction of curb and gutter sidewalks and ADA ramps. Um so we we went out on the field to inspect um the cut the curb and gutters and also the roads, and we have found during our inspection that you know we determined we could target um some of them that did need um to be replaced, and some of them did not need to be replaced. So we are um uh moving forward and with that, and and I think right now the project uh we're working on that at the projects in coordination with the Department of Public Utilities, which will replace aging utility infrastructure. Um water replacement of aging uh they're gonna the water on the water part of this project, the replacement of aging cast iron water lines with new PVC, and also on the sanitary sewer side, um there's segments of vetrified clay sewer line um with reoccurring problems, which will be replaced as well. Um next slide. And so the the project background um basically the county hires a contractor to come out and uh identify um priority projects. Um the project selection is based on pavement conditions, uh the pavement condition index, which is PS uh PCI. The project area in question is at 42.5, which is a poor rating. Basically a scale from one to one to 100, one being the worst, or as I like to refer to it as reclaimed by nature. You know, and we don't have any, you know, at that point, but you know, and basically 100 being the best. Um the CIP budget for this project has been programmed for uh 3,987,000. Um staff has applied for and been granted NMDOT local road funds in the amount of 637,598 dollars. And this that price of that amount is of course included in the $3 million amount.

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