BPAC hears staff updates: model refresh, bylaws on hold; members note active transportation coordinator vacancy and Idaho stop law

MPO staff said the long‑anticipated transportation model update — not updated in about eight to ten years — is expected to be available by the end of the calendar year. Staff also said a bylaws update is temporarily on hold and they hope to resume work in September or October, though no further details were given.

Committee member Jim Wilcox said the City of Las Cruces has not had a full‑time active transportation coordinator in place for five years, with the position filled for only one of those years. He asked city representatives to check the hiring status and to explain a roughly $150,000 difference he observed on the active transportation line from the FY25–26 budget, noting he was unsure how that money was spent. City and MPO staff did not provide a detailed accounting during the meeting and said they would follow up.

Chair George Pearson summarized that Senate Bill 73 — commonly known as the Idaho stop — took effect July 1 and described how it changes bicyclist obligations at stop signs and signals: on a stop sign where intersections are clear, bicyclists may treat the sign as a yield and proceed; at signalized intersections a red light still requires a stop, though if there is no conflicting traffic a bicyclist may proceed after stopping.

Why this matters: staffing for active transportation affects project prioritization and outreach; the model update supports planning and project evaluation; changes in state law affect bicyclists’ on‑street behavior and enforcement.

Next steps: staff to follow up on bylaws schedule and model update timeline; city staff to report on the status of the active transportation coordinator recruitment and respond to the budget question.