Left over Meadowlark money could go to a crosswalk

CORRALES — After Meadowlark Lane improvements were completed this year, Corrales discovered there was money left over on the project — enough for a crosswalk at Loma Larga.

The village council voted Dec. 16 to change the scope of the work on the project because public works found they had $200,000 left to use.

Steve Leslu, director of public works, said that they needed a resolution of support from the council to send to the New Mexico Department of Transportation. He said the crosswalk would connect the pathways from lower Meadowlark and upper Meadowlark across Loma Larga Road.

Councilor Stuart Murray asked for confirmation that the village would have to purchase mailbox clusters to go on Meadowlark.

"It's come up, and we were going to try and put it in the design, because with the curb and gutter, the mail person actually has to drive on the walking path to deliver the mail, and it's just not a good thing to have them up there driving, but they will not get out and block Meadowlark and deliver them by hand," Leslu said. 

He did not have a location for the boxes set, however.

Murray also wanted clarification on what the sidewalk work would entail.

Leslu said that sidewalk would be poured and that there would have to be ADA ramps. It would be in line with Meadowlark on the north side across Loma Larga for about 200 feet.

Murray also asked about the cost of the crosswalk and if the village could use that money for something else in Corrales.

"That I'm not sure about. The crosswalk signals themselves can get very expensive. I honestly don't know. I mean, from from a curb and gutter and concrete standpoint, it's probably $20,000 give or take, $25,000 but as far as the the rest, the engineering, and then the crosswalk when we were at our DOT meeting, they said they can go anywhere from $20,000-30, 000 all the way up to $500,000-600,000. I don't know what they would design to put in there to stop traffic," Leslu said.

Outgoing Mayor Jim Fahey added that the council can make requests for what kind of crosswalk signal it could be and see what fits within the budget.

Councilor Zach Burkett took issue with the cost as well.

"My hunch is, since we have $200,000 dollars in the budget, that by sheer coincidence and nothing else that a crosswalk is going to cost roughly $200,000, which fills me with rage because I'm looking at data from other states and some of it's not new, but in 2020, average cost of a crosswalk is about $20,000-25, 000," Burkett said from Zoom. "But in New Mexico, with our probably one or two people that are allowed to do it, who may or may not have cousins that are state legislators, it's going to cost us exactly whatever ... We don't probably have any other options."

He asked if the money could be used elsewhere.

Leslu said the money can't be used for any other project — just the Meadowlark project.

"I had to get permission from DOT to extend the project another ... I think it was another 200 feet or 100 feet for them to accept it," he added.

Burkett still expressed displeasure for the addition, saying it was a misuse of funds.

Speaking up again, Murray asked if the crosswalk could also be made equestrian friendly. However, he tended to agree with Burkett.

"Two hundred thousand, like counselor Burkett says, that's just a lot of money. It is failing. It doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money for that, but I understand," Murray said.

Councilors unanimously approved the change to the scope of work.