The project alternatives and the results of the social, economic, and environmental analyses conducted for this project are summarized below. The build alternatives may reconstruct the roadway, realign the intersection of Osuna Road and Chavez Road with 4^th Street, provide improvements to major intersections within the study area, provide drainage improvements, and provide pedestrian facilities. However, several different improvement scenarios may occur in different areas (Character Zones). No improvements to bicycle facilities are provided except to improve the connection to the bicycle network in the southern project area.

A preferred build alternative was selected for the roadway and for the major intersections in most areas of the project. The preferred alternative was selected based upon the ability of the alternative to satisfy the project need and purpose (to correct deficiencies of poor pavement conditions, existing and future traffic operations, roadway design, drainage, to improve roadway safety, and to encourage economic development while minimizing acquisitions and relocations of businesses). This information is summarized in the following tables. The preferred alternative, where one was selected, is indicated in the following tables by bolding. A complete description of each of the project alternatives may be found in Chapter 2, Project Alternatives.

In Character Zone 1 (Solar Road to Schulte Road), only one build alternative was considered (five-lane roadway with raised center median, curb and gutter, and sidewalk); therefore, this build alternative is the preferred alternative and this information is not presented in a table. Likewise, the only build alternative considered at the intersection of 4^th Street and El Pueblo Road was geometric reconstruction and resignalization; therefore, this build alternative is the preferred alternative and this information is also not presented in a table. At the intersection of 4^th Street and Ranchitos Road, the build alternatives (geometric reconstruction and construction of a roundabout) equally addressed the project need and purpose; therefore, neither of the build alternatives at this intersection was selected as a preferred alternative. The comparison of alternatives at this intersection, however, is summarized in a table below.

The no build alternative and each of the build alternatives considered are briefly described below and the environmental consequences of each of the alternatives are summarized. Only overall relative differences in social, economic, and environmental effects of these alternatives are summarized below; therefore, readers are asked to read this Environmental Assessment in its entirety for a complete discussion of the project needs, the project alternatives and the anticipated affects of each of these alternatives. In each of the Character Zones, a matrix comparing the alternatives is presented.

The no build alternative would maintain 4th Street and all its intersections in their existing alignments, lane configurations, and conditions. No improvements would be made to the roadway and intersections except for routine maintenance. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages. These advantages and disadvantages are presented below.

Advantages – The no build alternative would:

• not acquire additional property or buildings
• be in compliance with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Master Plan
• not remove land from the county’s tax roles or reduce gross receipts tax to the Village (displacement of businesses)
• not displace or eliminate parking spaces at businesses
• not disturb land that may be contaminated by hazardous materials
• not install additional roadway or intersection lighting that may interfere with night skies
• not produce inconveniences and delays during construction.

Disadvantages - The no build alternative would:

• continue to experience deficiencies in pedestrian facilities and handicapped accessibility
• continue to experience deteriorating traffic operations
• continue to experience deficiencies in intersection and roadway safety
• continue to experience deficiencies in intersection and roadway drainage
• not provide amenities that could produce economic stimulation of the area
• not abate traffic noise impacts at existing residences
• not install additional roadway or intersection lighting to provide safety benefits
• retain the existing cluttered appearance produced by overhead utilities.

In addition, the no build alternative would retain a more rural appearance of the roadway.

The effects of the no build alternative are compared with those of the build alternatives and are summarized in the tables at the end of the discussions of each Character Zone.

This alternative would realign Chavez Road to the north to match the existing Osuna Road alignment. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – The preferred intersection build alternative would:

Disadvantages - The preferred intersection build alternative would:

In addition, the preferred build alternative would result in a more urban appearance of the roadway.

Realignment of Osuna to Chavez and Resignalization (see Figure 2.3-2)

This alternative would realign Osuna Road south to match the existing Chavez Road alignment. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This intersection build alternative would:

In addition, this build alternative would result in a more urban appearance of the roadway.

Plaza Alternative (see Figure 2.3-4)

This intersection build alternative does not realign Chavez Road or Osuna Road, but adds a circulation roadway between Chavez Road and the existing Northdale Shopping Center intersection at Osuna Road. This alternative also produces an area between the circulation roadway and Chavez Road that could be used as a plaza. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This intersection build alternative would:

• improve intersection traffic operations

Disadvantages - This intersection build alternative would:

In addition, this build alternative would result in a more urban appearance of the roadway.

The effects of the intersection alternatives are summarized in the following table.

In this alternative, a five-lane roadway with a raised center median and curb and gutter and sidewalk along both sides would be constructed. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages. These advantages and disadvantages are presented below and compared with the no build alternative in the table that follows.

Advantages – The preferred roadway build alternative would:

• improve traffic operations
• improve roadway safety
• improve roadway drainage
• not acquire buildings
• provide amenities that could produce economic stimulation of the area
• improve pedestrian facilities and handicapped accessibility
• install additional roadway lighting to provide safety benefits

Disadvantages – The preferred roadway build alternative would:

In addition, the preferred roadway build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

Geometric Reconstruction and Resignalization (see Figure 2.3-6)

This alternative would add a left-turn lane to both northbound and southbound 4^th Street. Widening of Ranchitos Road approaches is not proposed. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This intersection build alternative would:

In addition, this intersection build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

Modern Roundabout (see Figure 2.3-7)

This alternative would provide a single lane roundabout. Minor realignment of Ranchitos Road would be required. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This intersection build alternative would:

In addition, this intersection build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

In this alternative, a four-lane roadway with curb and gutter and sidewalk would be constructed. The preferred roadway alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – The preferred roadway build alternative would:

• conflict with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Master Plan by providing curb, gutter, sidewalk, and lighting (Master Plan is currently being revised)
• acquire 0.8 acres (0.3 hectares) of property (an additional 1 foot (0.3 m) on the west side of 4^th Street and land for six bus bays) and obtain an additional 5.3 acres (2.1 hectares) in easements for storm water retention facilities
• remove land from county’s tax roles
• potentially encounter additional sites of subsurface contamination
• require modifications to irrigation facilities
• install additional roadway lighting, but less frequent fixtures than in Character Zone 1
• produce inconveniences and delays during construction.

In addition, this roadway build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

In this alternative, a four-lane roadway with shoulders and side tapers would be constructed. This roadway alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This roadway build alternative would:

• improve roadway safety
• improve roadway drainage
• provide greater separation between roadway and pedestrians by increasing the width of the roadway clear zone
• be in compliance with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Master Plan (Master Plan is currently being revised)
• relocate overhead utility poles and mailboxes from the west side of the roadway
• install additional lighting only at major intersections for improved safety
• not acquire any buildings, but encroaching structures, such as signs, mailboxes, and fences, may be removed.

Disadvantages - This roadway build alternative would:

• acquire 2.5 acres (1.0 hectares) of property (an additional 14 feet (4.2 m) on the west side of 4^th Street and six bus bays) and obtain an additional 5.3 acres (2.1 hectares) in easements or right of way for storm water retention facilities
• remove land from tax roles and may reduce gross receipts tax to the Village (through acquisition of parking spaces)
• acquire property near one site potentially contaminated with hazardous materials
• potentially encounter additional sites of subsurface contamination
• displace approximately 58 parking spaces; however, off-site replacement parking for all but 5 spaces is available (Zoning Ordinance is being amended)
• require modifications to irrigation facilities
• remove existing landscaping, but replace with low-growing landscaping
• produce inconveniences and delays during construction.

In addition, this roadway build alternative would maintain a rural appearance.

Geometric Reconstruction and Resignalization (see Figure 2.3-8)

This alternative would add a dedicated left-turn lane to both northbound and southbound 4^th Street and to westbound El Pueblo Road. The intersection will be provided with curb and gutter and sidewalk on all sides. This intersection build alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This intersection build alternative would:

In addition, this intersection build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

In this alternative, a four-lane roadway with curb and gutter and sidewalk would be constructed. The preferred roadway alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – The preferred roadway build alternative would:

• improve roadway safety
• improve roadway drainage
• improve pedestrian facilities and handicapped accessibility
• provide amenities that could produce economic stimulation
• not acquire any buildings

Disadvantages - The preferred roadway build alternative would:

• conflict with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Master Plan by providing curb, gutter, sidewalk, and lighting (Master Plan is currently being revised)
• acquire 0.6 acres (0.2 hectares) of property (an additional 1 foot (0.3 m) on the west side of 4^th Street and land for five bus bays) and obtain an additional 6.3 acres (2.5 hectares) in easements for storm water retention facilities
• remove land from county’s tax roles
• construct a retention pond near a site suspected of contamination with hazardous materials
• potentially encounter additional sites of subsurface contamination
• require modifications to irrigation facilities
• install additional roadway lighting, but less frequent fixtures than in Character Zone 2
• produce a discontinuous roadway section with Bernalillo County’s roadway further north
• produce inconveniences and delays during construction.

In addition, this roadway build alternative would result in a more urban appearance.

In this alternative, a four-lane roadway with shoulders and side tapers would be constructed. This roadway alternative would have several advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages – This roadway build alternative would:

• improve roadway safety

• improve roadway drainage
• provide greater separation between roadway and pedestrians by increasing width of the roadway clear zone
• not acquire any buildings, but encroaching structures may be removed
• be in compliance with the Village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Master Plan (Master Plan is currently being revised)
• install additional roadway lighting only near major intersections for safety benefits.

Disadvantages - This roadway build alternative would:

• acquire 1.9 acres (0.8 hectares) of property (an additional 14 feet (4.2 m) on the west side of 4^th Street and five bus bays) and obtain an additional 6.3 acres (2.5 hectares) in easements or right of way for storm water retention facilities
• remove land from county’s tax roles
• acquire property near one site potentially contaminated with hazardous materials
• construct a retention pond near a site suspected of contamination with hazardous materials
• potentially encounter additional sites of subsurface contamination
• displace approximately 6 parking spaces
• relocate overhead utility poles and mailboxes from the west side of the roadway
• require modifications to irrigation facilities
• remove existing landscaping and mature trees, but replace with low-growing landscaping
• produce inconveniences and delays during construction.

In addition, this roadway build alternative would maintain a rural appearance.