I would like to clarify a misconception in the letter from Mr. Dowden (link), and add a bit of history:

As the Los Alamos Daily Post editor pointed out in the earlier letter from Mr. Antos (link), it is indeed the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) that is building the roundabout (RDB) at the main entrance to Los Alamos, not Los Alamos County, because it involves an official New Mexico State highway.

The important point is that NMDOT was NEVER in favor of an RDB at that location (or anywhere on that highway), and proposed a simple signalized intersection a number of years ago. It would have preserved and even expanded the little park and slowed traffic on Central Avenue. Half a million dollars instead of $7 million.

But then the County Engineer, who never saw an intersection that didn’t merit a RDB (recall an earlier proposal of several RDBs up and down Diamond Drive, and more recently a string of them all along Trinity), finally got one that will be built. With dismay I watched him sketch it over a drawing of the intersection at a public meeting of the Transportation Board. That was his parting gift to the town, supported by a small cadre of acolytes.

Last year, I and several colleagues, including Joel Williams but most importantly Bill Mead, tried to stop the one remaining RDB. A great presentation to the Council by Bill addressed the myriad shortcomings of the proposed design, supported by an email petition signed by hundreds of concerned citizens; all was for naught. Our County Council wasn’t interested in facts or public opinion; their minds were already made up. Only Councilor Pete Sheehey voted against the RDB.

Bill Mead appealed to the head of NMDOT, Gov. Susana Martinez and Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, in the hope that some higher authority would intervene and stop this nonsense. His appeals evidently fell on deaf ears; I suspect all these parties respectfully defer to our County Council.

So, now we will be stuck with a $7 million boondoggle in a state that complains about being short of money. The RDB will inconvenience thousands of commuters every work day not to mention visitors to our National Parks. Following a lengthy and disruptive construction project we can expect numerous accidents.

Our County Councilors will come to rue their approval of this RDB.

Citizens are allowed to vote on some issues but unfortunately not something of such major significance.