Santa Fe committee reviews street maintenance, bridge replacement and drainage projects; director to depart

The City of Santa Fe Public Works and Utilities Committee on July 21 heard a status report from Jennifer Morrow, Complete Streets division director, on street rehabilitation, drainage and bridge projects and remaining staffing needs.

Morrow said the department is focusing on rehabilitation projects rather than large capital improvement projects and described a set of near-term works and longer-range projects funded by one-time money, legislative grants, road impact fees and a $25 million geo-bond the city approved earlier. “This project included upgrades to the existing traffic signal, making everything ADA compliant, and then we also added pedestrian refuges at all our crosswalks,” Morrow said of the nearly completed St. Michael’s bike-and-ped improvements.

The report laid out several discrete items the division is managing: conversion of a failing traffic signal at Sandoval and Montezuma to a four-way stop (construction estimated at about $700,000, to be paid from road impact fees); design and replacement of the Cerro Gordo Bridge with the existing abutments retained (design expected in about three months and construction targeted to begin by the end of the year and finish by summer 2026); ongoing sediment maintenance at the Rio Vista channel (about $63,000 spent to date); and multiple drop inlet replacements using NMDOT-standard trench drains at problem locations such as Cielo Azul and Otaway and Vitalia.

Morrow also reviewed recent paving completed with FY2025 one-time funds and noted unfinished projects: Rufina (from Zarafino to Calle Tahoe) about $650,000; Orno Ali about $25,000; Solano (from Guadalupe to Paseo Del Peralta) about $60,000; Alice (Sheridan to Grant) a little over $100,000; Sandoval (Alameda to Grant) nearly $400,000; Autumn Leaf Lane end to end about $100,000; and Old Pecos Trail (Cordova to Kaya Medical) about $900,000. She said the department is waiting for the $25 million geo-bond to become available to proceed on a larger programmed list of 2026–2027 projects.

The presentation included operational details: a 15-ton restriction placed on the Cerro Gordo Bridge while design proceeds, an effort to relocate gas lines that delayed culvert work at Hayatekalote, and routine discovery of deteriorated storm infrastructure during ADA ramp or sidewalk work that can turn a small project into an emergency repair. On drainage on private property (Nepal and Alameda), Morrow said staff are pursuing a sediment pond solution but the parcel is in probate, which has slowed right-of-way acquisition.

Elected members pressed for priorities and clarity on timing. Councilor Lee Garcia said he is hearing frequent requests from constituents about Airport Road and urged it be prioritized: “It can’t come soon enough,” he said, asking the department to place Airport Road high on the list. Morrow replied that Airport Road is “the top of our list at this time,” and that crews are waiting on bond funds to proceed. Councilor Michael Garcia raised a question about new signal control at St. Michael’s and Llano — whether the intersection uses a red arrow or a signed “no right on red” — and Morrow said she would check the design intent and add signage if engineers intended a no-right-on-red restriction.

Committee members also acknowledged staffing and succession. Councilor Romero Worth told the committee this would be Morrow’s last formal presentation to the committee because she is leaving the city for another position, and noted four vacant engineering positions in the Complete Streets division. “We’ve been really lucky to have her,” Romero Worth said. Members thanked Morrow for her work and asked staff to return with details as projects move from design to construction.

The committee took no separate vote on the presentation; the briefing was informational.

The department identified several near-term actions: finalize design for the Cerro Gordo Bridge within about three months, start construction once funding and right-of-way issues are resolved, replace clogging drop inlets with trench drains built to NMDOT standards, and proceed on the programmed asphalt and storm-drain list when the geo-bond funds are released.