City seeks input and funds for Sara Road, Meadowlark Lane project

RIO RANCHO — The city of Rio Rancho wants to make a variety of improvements to a segment of Sara Road and install a roundabout where the street intersects with Meadowlark Lane, but the start of construction is undetermined as officials look for other sources of revenue to close a $6 million funding gap.

The details of the project and its funding challenges were outlined by a Texas-based consulting firm Wednesday, when a representative and city officials held a virtual town hall allowing residents to ask questions.

“We’re exploring all opportunities that are presented to us,” said Alex Clay, project manager. “We will definitely update everyone as we progress.”

The project received $1.4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Savina Garcia, a civil engineer with Huitt-Zollars, who presented during Wednesday’s meeting. The city is working with the Mid-Region Council of Governments to look for additional funds, which could come from state and federal sources, she said.

Deputy City Manager Peter Wells wrote in a statement following the meeting that the city’s need to identify and secure funding for projects “is not uncommon.”

He noted that construction will not occur until after design is completed and “all necessary funding is secured.”

The purpose of the project, which launched in January 2024, is not only to improve various aspects of the roadway but also to reduce the number of vehicle crashes, according to Garcia.

The Sara Road project would go from Meadowlark Lane to New Mexico Highway 528. The improvements would include reconstructing the pavement; adding a 12-inch waterline to replace aging ones; rehabilitating and replacing parts of a sewer line; adding roadway lighting; and replacing curb, gutter, and sidewalk, while adding signing and stripping. The project would span less than a mile and retain existing roadway alignment, access points, and traffic signals.

The improvements to the intersection would transform it from an all-way stop to a single-lane roundabout, which would require acquisition of property, according to Garcia. The traffic circle, she said, would reduce overall collisions by 35% and result in 10% to 40% fewer pedestrian and bicycle rider collisions, according to data provided by the firm, which cited the National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

“There have been crashes at this intersection, and implementing this roundabout will really help the intersection and provide connections for pedestrians and bicyclists,” Garcia said.

The roundabout, if constructed, would not be the first for Rio Rancho and would add to two others currently under design, according to the city's website.

The entire project could take nine months to a year to complete, Garcia said.

Following the meeting, Wells said the city “appreciates citizens participating in the meeting.”

“The city is committed to delivering a project that prioritizes safety and long-term community benefits,” he wrote.

Resident feedback provided at the meeting will be considered throughout the life of the project, according to Wells.

Reconstruction of Sara Road and Meadowlark Lane is one of five city projects currently in design, according Rio Rancho’s website. Those projects include the Loma Colorado Boulevard Extension, the second phase of widening of Unser Boulevard, Idalia Road improvements and the second phase of Southern Boulevard reconstruction. Meanwhile, eight city road projects are currently under construction, the website said.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name and title of an official who spoke at the meeting as well as the number of city roundabout projects in design.