PDV: A Boost to West Side Development
or
a Blow to Enchanted Hills Home Values And Quality of Life?
Late in the 1980’s, New Mexico transportation planners proposed a limited access highway to be built between I-40 west of Albuquerque to I-25 north of Bernalillo. This new road would route auto and truck traffic around downtown Albuquerque – reducing drive time and traffic congestion, and opening a new route across the metro area’s fast-growing West Side. Public agencies began acquiring right of way through what was then largely vacant land on the west mesa. By the late 1990’s, when highway funding became available, the proposed route of Paseo Del Volcan - or PDV, as the highway came to be known - was surrounded by new residential neighborhoods in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
January 1998:
PDV alternative routes and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) were released for public comment. The proposed route was not immediately listed on local land use maps, and many residents purchased homes in the area between 1990 and 2003 with no knowledge of the proposed highway construction.
February 1998:
Public hearings were held around the Albuquerque metro area. A group of Rio Rancho residents testified and petitioned to re-route PDV around rather than through new residential subdivisions. As planning and right-of-way acquisition continued, the Enchanted Hills Home-owners Association (EHHA) was formed and became active in the PDV planning process. EHHA proposed an alternate PDV route terminating at Idalia Road. From there, traffic would reach I-25 via existing sections of Idalia, NM-528 and US-550 rather than on a new roadway through Enchanted Hills residential areas. This alternative was rejected by NMDOT and the City of Rio Rancho.
August 2001:
NMDOT and the City of Rio Rancho submitted their “preferred” PDV route - including the segment bisecting Enchanted Hills - to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). FHWA approved the proposed route and Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS set conditions to offset possible negative impacts on neighborhood home values and quality of life.
October 2005:
EHHA adopted a policy in favor of building PDV along the City/NMDOT “preferred” route provided that:
· ALL FEIS requirements are met
· Residents in Enchanted Hills and other affected areas of Rio Rancho are actively involved in PDV design and construction.
The policy also called for EHHA representatives to attend City staff meetings on PDV, and for the City to hold public hearings monthly or oftener to keep residents informed on the PDV planning process. EHHA mailed copies of the policy to City, state and federal highway officials, but received no response. To review the entire EHHA PDV Policy, go to Paseo del Volcan News > Adopted Policy
July 2007:
FHWA announced $1.6 million grant to NMDOT for PDV construction through Enchanted Hills.
Jan 2008 – Apr 2009
Time period for the City of Rio Rancho, NMDOT and FHWA staff to finalize construction plans and pdate their environmental analysis of “preferred” PDV route through Enchanted Hills.
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PDV CONSTRUCTION IN ENCHANTED HILLS
From the 2005 FEIS – Approved by FHWA, May be REVISED during current inter-agency PDV design meetings
PDV would be a two-lane highway with limited access to residential areas in its path. The roadway would be 400 feet wide with two 12-foot wide driving lanes and 8-foot wide shoulders.
PDV would be built 8-10 feet below the level of surrounding neighborhoods in the Enchanted Hills subdivision, and would pass below Enchanted Hills Blvd. via an underpass.
Ten-foot high noise walls would be built along populated segments of PDV through Enchanted Hills. Height and appearance of the walls would be determined through further design studies and public input.
The highway would have no significant impact on air quality except during construction. Road contractors must (a) minimize noise, dust, vehicle traffic and other disturbances to area residents, and (b) preserving any trees lying at a safe distance from the PDV roadbed. Once construction is completed, native plants and wildlife habitat must be restored along the PDV right of way.
A separate study to gauge PDV’s impact on US-550 traffic between PDV and I-25 is also mandated by the 2005 FEIS. No information on that study is available at this time.
PDV: WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW – AND WHAT’S PLANNED FOR 2008-09
Southern Rio Rancho and Northern Meadows portions of Paseo Del Volcan (PDV) have been completed, providing access to Rio Rancho City Hall, the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho’s new V. Sue Cleveland High School, a future campus of Central New Mexico Community College and two proposed Rio Ranch hospitals.
The Enchanted Hills portion of PDV (Iris Rd. to US-550) is now underway in the City Public Works Department. For more information contact Project Manager Jamie Marrufo at 505-891-5016.
ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE:
*Aerial mapping and location surveys – 3/13/08
*Drainage analysis and report –04/29/08
*Preliminary roadway engineering – 5/15/08
*Traffic analysis – 5/22/08
*Public involvement plan – 6/26/08
*Pavement design and bridge type recommendations (including Enchanted Hills Blvd. bridge) – 07/18/08
*Utility investigation – 9/25/08
TASKS AND DUE DATES:
*Environmental re-evaluation – 6/12/09 *Funding certifications – 6/12/09
*Bidding – 8/21/09
PREVIOUS PUBLIC MEETINGS
*Preliminary design meetings: 08/15/08 - 09/04/08
*Pre-final design: 01/13/09
*Final design: 04/21/09
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Who "owns" PDV?In response to the often asked question, Who "owns" PDV?, the following is our understanding of PDV history.
* Original planning and routing for PDV was done by NMDOT, acting as "lead agency." Federal highway (FHA) funds were allocated to MRCOG for PDV funding.
* The City of Rio Rancho declined the "lead agency" role to avoid responsibility (assumed by NMDOT) for possible litigation, right-of-way maintenance and other expenses.
* Highway right-of-way in Rio Rancho, originally owned by AMREP, was dedicated to the City of Rio Rancho, with the approval of the Rio Rancho City Council.
* The City Council then secured from MRCOG the original FHA funding for PDV - thereby becoming the "lead agency" for the project.
From that point forward, the City has assumed "ownership" of the PDV project.
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This page was last updated or reviewed on 02/04/2009.
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