TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. (KRQE) – A small town in southern New Mexico is looking to make its streets feel more urban. Truth or Consequences is a city known for its laid-back environment and hot springs. Now, the streets downtown are getting reconfigured to make it easier for bicycles and pedestrians to get around.
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The New Mexico Department of Transportation has started a project that is narrowing travel lanes, adding bike lanes, and offset parking, which allows bikes to travel between parked cars and the sidewalk. “Bringing that big town mind to the little town. The tourists know how to work it and how to use it, something they’re used to, but this gives the downtown area more of a walking type to visit the facilities that are here,” said Ami Evans, New Mexico Department of Transportation, Public Information Officer for District 1.
Ami Evans with the Department of Transportation said the project was based on findings from a 2021 Multimodal Safety Plan. It found problems with accessibility and speeding along the area of Broadway and Main.
Even though the speed limit downtown is 25 mph, NMDOT said a safety study concluded, 15% of drivers speed in this area. Evans says, so far, the new striping has been working. “So visibly it’s a smaller area that they have to drive through, so they do have to slow down, they have to pay attention,” said Evans.
She acknowledged the changes will take some getting used to, and she’s heard mixed reviews from the public. Some people KRQE News 13 spoke to said the new configuration is confusing.
“I feel like it just made everything a lot more congested and I don’t know it kind of seems a little dangerous at points with the parking, coming in there it gets so tight with people opening their doors and you know walking out and in between cars and what not,” said Garrett Mecier, resident of Truth or Consequences.
“I would like to see maybe a spray painted “P” for parking,” said Teddy Winfield, who’s visiting from Albuquerque.
Others said they think it’s an improvement. “It’s very pedestrian-friendly. Walking on the asphalt feels better than walking on the concrete. Maybe next time I’ll bring my bicycle because the lanes look really good,” said Thom Bredenberg, who’s visiting from Santa Fe.
The Department of Transportation said they’re still making adjustments, but the project is expected to be completed by August. If you’d like to stay up to date on the construction, you can visit their website.