Strong Towns ABQ 

Call to Action

I-25 S-Curve Public Meeting

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will be hosting a public house meeting concerning the I-25 S-Curve project tomorrow, December 3rd, 2024. We hope to have a large turnout to show that Albuquerque does not need more unnecessary road expansion projects. The details of the meeting are below:

Location: CNM Smith Brasher Hall (717 University Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106) 

Time: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• 5–5:30 p.m. Open House 

• 5:30–6:30 p.m. Presentation and Q&A 

• 6:30–7:30 p.m. Open House

The proposed expansion of the I-25 S-curve remains a top priority for Strong Towns ABQ’s advocacy efforts. We believe that highway expansions, like this one, fail to address long-term traffic challenges and come with significant safety, environmental, and community costs. You can learn about Strong Towns' Highway Expansion platform here: https://www.strongtowns.org/highways and watch their the video on the topic here to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_nLd1TdUC8&t=108s

Key issues with the current plan include:

• Induced Demand: More lanes lead to more traffic and congestion over time, not less.

• Speed and Safety: Increasing speed limits within city limits will result in more fatalities. Current plans aim for speeds of 70 mph in the corridor. Speed safety cameras and strict enforcement of a 55 mph limit are proven solutions that prioritize lives over convenience.

• Pedestrian Dangers: The current design lacks safe pedestrian and bike facilities. Existing underpasses, like the one on Gibson, fail to meet federal standards for safety and accessibility. Future designs must follow the Federal Highway Administration’s Bikeway Selection Guide to ensure safe multimodal access.

We’re asking critical questions that the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has yet to answer:

• Has a comprehensive traffic study been conducted to justify the expansion?

• What’s the plan for when congestion returns after expansion?

• How will pedestrian and bike facilities be improved to meet federal standards?

The bottom line: Expanding the S-curve won’t solve Albuquerque’s transportation problems. It’s time for smarter, community-centered solutions that prioritize safety, sustainability, and long-term planning.

Take Action!
NMDOT is hosting a public meeting about the project on December 3rd, 2024. This is a critical opportunity to make your voice heard. Attend the meeting, or submit your comments online to show your opposition to the current plans and advocate for meaningful alternatives.

Let’s make it clear that Albuquerque deserves better than outdated highway expansions.

Sample email or comment:

Dear New Mexico Department of Transportation,

I oppose the proposed expansion of the I-25 S-curve. Highway expansions like this fail to solve long-term congestion due to induced demand—more lanes lead to more traffic, not less. Instead of short-term fixes, we need sustainable solutions that reduce car dependency and invest in public transit, biking, and walking infrastructure.

Raising speed limits within city limits is dangerous. Even if the number of crashes decreases, higher speeds as emphasized in this plan will make the crashes that do occur far more severe, resulting in more injuries and fatalities. We should prioritize safety with measures like speed cameras and better pedestrian and bike facilities that meet federal standards, especially at underpasses like Lead, Coal, and Gibson. The current design fails to protect all road users, and it’s time to focus on smarter, safer alternatives that prepare Albuquerque for a sustainable future.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

How to Participate and Share your Comments

• Come to the meeting and share your comments in person! The following points are important to keep in mind when you go to the meeting:

  • Additional lanes won't solve congestion and may induce future issues

  • Current plans are not safe for drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians

  • Converting neighboring roadways such as Locust Street (next to Highland Park) into frontage roads as some current plans propose will bring vehicles and pollution to residential neighborhoods, hurt Downtown area revitalization efforts, and increase pollution (and health issues linked to pollution) for adjacent neighborhoods

  • Many of the neighborhoods impacted are historically disadvantaged areas where residents have already had to bear the brunt of past highway expansions

  • Current plans could potentially make connecting the neighborhoods in the corridor even harder

• Visit i25scurve.com and fill out their survey and comment forms

• Email the study team at study@i25scurve.com

• Call the team at 505-600-2232