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Residents urge county to re-evaluate Eastside extension, citing safety and data concerns
Summary
Residents from neighborhoods east of Highway 47 urged Valencia County commissioners to reconsider proposed Eastside extension alignments, arguing designs create public-safety risks, rely on outdated population projections and threaten farmland and long-term residents.
Residents from Los Lunas–area neighborhoods pressed Valencia County commissioners on May 20 over proposed alignments for the Eastside extension, voicing safety concerns, citing outdated population estimates used in planning and asking the board to partner with affected communities.
Stephanie Montano told commissioners she and neighbors have organized a task force, held monthly meetings and collected research that, she said, shows the current proposals threaten property, heritage and daily access. “We have safety concerns about Boulevard coming out at 47,” Montano said during public comment, asking the board to be “thought partners” with the village on alternatives.
Another commenter cited technical standards and state guidance, arguing the proposed intersection configuration would inhibit emergency access, restrict local business traffic and conflict with New Mexico Department of Transportation access-management expectations. “These concerns are not very inconvenient. These are public safety issues,” the speaker said, pressing the board to require further study before advancing a preferred alignment.
A separate presentation questioned the study’s growth assumptions. A speaker reviewing the corridor report told commissioners Valencia County’s population growth has been much weaker than the plan assumed and that prior population projections were carried forward without new, local analysis. That commenter recommended conducting new studies for areas east of the Manzano Expressway before committing to construction.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the public input and described the current work as a design study, not a construction project. Staff said the process will continue to the end of the public-comment period and that narrower route options will be identified and returned to the public for review; a final design or construction timeline was not announced.
The board encouraged residents to use posted QR-code surveys and public meetings to ensure their input is part of the record as the county narrows route options over the coming year.
