Saturday, April 1, 2006

Fewer homes taken under new plan for overpass

Jackie Schlotfeldt News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jschlotfeldt@news-bulletin.com

Belen A realignment of plans for the proposed railroad overpass on Aragon Road means four rather than 11 homes would be taken.

Residents filled City Hall March 23 to listen to an update on the proposed Aragon overpass and closure of three railroad crossing.

Representatives from the New Mexico Department of Transportation, BNSF, Wilson and Company and Marron and Associates Inc., the environmental consultants, were there to provide information on what stage the project is in, answer questions and concerns and receive input from the residents whose homes will be affected by the overpass.

In the original overpass alignment design, 11 homes would have been taken, however, after hearing from the community, the first re-alignment was done, moving the overpass further south, which would lower the need to acquire homes from 11 to four.

"We want to do what the community wants and what's best for the community," said Steve Metro, executive vice president and director of Wilson and Company.

In a Powerpoint presentation, the primary purpose and need of the overpass was identified as a way to reduce the potential of accidents at the rail crossings, in addition to improving traffic flow and reducing wait times at the tracks.

Metro said that 100 trains a day are running now and 160 are projected once a third line is put in by BNSF.

"Aragon was picked for its central location and higher volumes of traffic," Metro said.

In the traffic studies conducted, approximately 500 cars travel daily on Aragon Road compared to 200 on Ross Avenue and 300 on Garcia.

When asked what kind of timeframe they were looking at if everything, including impact studies, was a go, Metro said construction of the bridge could begin in September or October and be completed in February or March of next year. Metro said that another public hearing would take place in May or June.

Before construction can begin, an environmental impact study has to be completed and approved. Acquisition maps and appraisals of property for those who would be affected would then be done around June or July.

The temporary closings of the railroad crossings could begin as soon as April for Ross Avenue.

"This will give us an opportunity to study the impact better," Metro said. "It will also keep it on schedule with the funding for the project."

Heather Parmeter of Marron and Associates said there is a process that has to be followed throughout the environmental impact study.

"A finding of no significant impact, or FONSI, will let the project move forward," Parmeter said.

During her presentation, seven environmental components were addressed that are either in the process of being done or they have been completed.

The seven are: communities and land use, socio-economics, cultural resources, biological resources, hazardous materials, visual resources and cumulative impacts.

"The biological survey and the cultural resources have been completed," Parmeter said.

Upon completion of their presentation, they opened the floor for comments, questions and concerns.

One resident wanted to know who would be responsible for maintaining the bridge, and Henry Gonzales of the New Mexico Department of Transportation or NMDOT said both the city and state would be responsible.

"For snow removal, like it's done on Reinken, the NMDOT takes care of it," Gonzales said.

Questions regarding the historic preservation and archeological surveys were directed at Parmeter and she said all concerns are noted and findings are reviewed by the DOT environmental section, however, the State Historic Preservation has the final say.

"Everything will be included in the environmental report," Parmeter said. "It will be a public document."

One resident advised them to take all the houses on both sides of Aragon so no one would have to look at the bridge.

Ken Hainsworth, a concerned citizen, asked if the state had conducted a population growth project for the area where it would need to be a four-lane bridge, since the whole project is predicated on safety issues.

Osvaldo Reyes-Alicea, the project development engineer, said the study doesn't show that a four-lane bridge would be required, but they would look into it.

Another resident, Priscilla Krause, said the value of the homes will go down if the bridge is there. "For those who have had their homes for 30 or 40 years, what will we do?"

She added that "as far as the noise of the horns, it won't stop. You can ask anyone here, they play with the horns."

Gonzales said with the overpass in place and three crossings closed, there would be no reason to blast the horns. "It would be a de facto quiet zone," he said. "Although, sometimes it is necessary to clear and test a horn or when backing up."

Questions revolving around the actual construction of the overpass were brought up, regarding the damage to existing homes that could be incurred from all the heavy equipment.

Reyes-Alicea said that contractors would be restricted from using any kind of vibrating equipment, and if necessary, drilling would be done to minimize any vibrations. "Before, during and after construction, we will require contractors to inspect properties and make reports on any damage," he said. "It will be monitored throughout construction."

Hainsworth described his attempts to be reimbursed for damage to his home during a previous construction project and he said it would have cost him more to go to court than to just fix his property. "This will happen to you," he said.

"Any damage to structures during the process of construction, the owner will be reimbursed," Reyes-Alicea said.

Lola Quintana raised the question of how soon the public could access the reports on the studies being done, and what information would be included in the reports.

Gonzales said all the information is sent to the DOT for review, then to the State Historical Preservation before it is a public document. "I believe it's a public document but I think you have to request it," he said.

"What kind of timeline are we looking at before we can access the document?" Quintana asked.

Parmeter said theoretically the document could be ready by the beginning of May.

Quintana said she also would like to see a map or design when the alternative changes are made. "That's what I'd like to see, in black and white, how the whole thing will look."

In lieu of requesting a copy of the document, residents would be able to access it at the public library or on-line, Gonzales said.

Max Cordova, another resident, said they should consider going over all the tracks, not just the transcontinental lines.

Metro said they had discussed that, but since the track will be a lesser used single track, their main concern was the transcontinental line.

The way the overpass is designed, the east end of it will come down approximately 250 feet before the single track crossing, which Metro said was adequate visual and stopping distance. This track will be used by the Rail Runner commuter train.

Another resident said that the railroad has brought many jobs to Belen, and with the extra line and more trains getting ready to come through, the youth of Belen will be able to get good-paying jobs.

Councilor Rudy Jaramillo asked how much it would cost to upgrade the crossing gates if the overpass didn't go through and Gonzales said it would take $250,000 to $300,000 per crossing.

"That wouldn't make the crossings any safer," Gonzales said. "It would just make a bad situation worse."

Questions of safety regarding the fumes from the trains as well as the dust that will be raised during construction of the overpass were raised.

"Air quality and climate are part of the study," Parmeter said. "The study looks at all the people who will be affected and best management processes to reduce dust will be used."

Metro added that Mayor Ronnie Torres was very concerned about the elderly in the area who are on oxygen and dialysis.

"We're listening to him (Torres)," Metro said.

For residents whose homes may be taken, they were told that fair market value will be paid and, if the residents aren't satisfied with the offers, they can counter offer.

"You will be properly compensated," Reyes-Alicea said.

The residents at the meeting were asked to fill out a comment sheet that was provided and submit their concerns and questions In writing.

"Everybody's input is important," Parmeter said.

Based on the last input from residents, Gonzales said that shifting the project farther south to lessen the number of homes that would be taken was why they realigned the project in the first place.

"We really only had one plan, but because of the community involvement, we pursued an alternative," Gonzales said.

While there is still more to be studied before a go-ahead is given by the Federal Highway Administration, Reyes-Alicea said the process they are following today will determine if there will be a build or no-build determination.

Another public meeting will be held in approximately a month so the concerns raised at the meeting can be considered.

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