Santa Fe parks staff propose lighter, fold-down bollards to keep vehicles off trails

Melissa McDonald, director of the City of Santa Fe Parks and Open Space Division, told the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on Feb. 13 that the city plans to replace several existing heavy bollards and add new, lighter, fold-down bollards at multiple trail access points to reduce unauthorized motor-vehicle use and improve crew access for maintenance.

The proposal focuses on places where vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and utility-terrain vehicles have driven onto the trail, McDonald said. Superintendent Lawrence Cordova described problems with the current concrete or heavy bollards: they are difficult for staff to move, can fall over after being dislodged, and at several locations leave crews unable to drive trailers and equipment onto the trail for snow removal and debris pickup.

Why it matters: parks staff said lighter fold-down bollards will still block ATVs and motorcycles but will be easier for crews to operate and are less likely to create hazards when displaced. Several BPAC members told staff they had received repeated complaints from adjacent homeowners about motorized vehicles using trails and urged quick fixes at trouble spots.

City staff listed specific locations where new or replacement bollards are proposed, including rail-trail crossings near Alta Vista, segments from Veil Trail to Rabbit Road, Swan Park gate access, Yucca Street crossings, Rodeo and Serringo Road crossings, and the rail-yard underpass area. Cordova said the older bollards weighed roughly 65–80 pounds and sat about 42 inches tall; the new steel fold-down bollards would be lower (about 36 inches tall) and lighter, and would lock in an upright position for normal trail use but fold down for authorized vehicle access.

McDonald and Cordova noted the projects are intended both to reduce illegal vehicle access — including periodic events where drivers use trails to evade police — and to ensure safe access for city maintenance crews for snow removal and trail repair.

Parks staff also reported progress on trail surface repairs. McDonald said crews completed crack-and-seal work on several high-priority segments identified in a condition assessment prepared with the Santa Fe Conservation Trust: 2.9 miles of rail-trail to Alta Vista, about 3.0 miles on a second corridor, 1.9 miles on Nava Ade from Governor Miles Road, and 0.9 additional miles on a nearby section. She said much of the repair work has been funded with ARPA funds and grants.

Committee members asked follow-up questions about emergency access, bike passage through bollard locations and whether the fire department holds keys for bollard access; McDonald said fire has keys to bollards used by crews. Members also pressed staff to provide photos and clearer maps; staff agreed to send those materials after the meeting.

Ending: Parks staff said they will return with photo examples, a more detailed list of exact replacement locations and an implementation timeline tied to available maintenance funding.