Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Canyon Road median redesign
The county is weighing design options for the Canyon Median, landscaping many residents drive past daily. Superintendent Wendy Parker presented options but no decision was made yet.
Fairway Drive reconstruction and utility replacement
Fairway Drive is rated 'poor' (PCI 42.5) and gets a full rebuild in 2027 along with new water lines and sewer rerouting from backyards to the street. Residents wanted specifics on how their properties will be affected.
White Rock traffic communication failures
An old concentric-neutral cable failed near Aragon and Grand Canyon, blacking out much of White Rock; crews replaced it in three hours. Separately, about 60 street lights are out while newly hired staff work through the backlog.
NM 4 corridor study and White Rock crossings
A state and federally funded project combining the New Mexico 4 crossing and Pinos school trail is waiting on funding paperwork. Council could award the construction bid in October, with work running through October 2027.
Central Avenue crosswalk visibility and parking
Crews are adding crosswalks at 20th Street, Battebrow, and Main Street, widening crosswalk striping, and tightening centerlines so drivers make tighter, safer turns. The point is to make people walking more visible on the county's busiest pedestrian street.
Green bike lanes and cyclist safety
The county's first green bike lane marking went in at Sullivan Field, with a survey coming. A bike box at West Road and Diamond Drive is in the works, and board members want real physical protection — not just paint — between bikes and cars.
Transit service expansion and Saturday service study
Bus driver hiring is still a struggle, though no recent losses. A transit study looking at weekend service and shifting to more on-demand routes should produce a draft this fall.
Diamond Drive/Sandia site plan traffic impacts
A board member warned that the approved change of use for the Diamond Drive property — overflow high school parking plus up to seven food trucks — could worsen already-heavy congestion near the high school and deserves board attention this school year.
North Mesa roundabout capacity with new development
A board member worried about roundabout congestion once the new North Mesa housing opens. Staff said a traffic study found the roads and roundabout have adequate capacity — though they joked about 8 a.m. as the exception.
Trinity Drive / NM 502 pedestrian safety improvements
Construction just started on Trinity Drive safety and ADA upgrades, expected to finish by January. A board member warned that bike lanes without physical separation may not get used — and said she was cut off by a right-turning car twice in one day.
Regional transit funding
The Council authorized seeking $7.27 million in federal rural transit funds for FY2028 to keep Atomic City Transit's buses, operations, and equipment running, and separately endorsed the regional transit district's FY2027 budget.
Finch Street Extension and hospital safety
A $2.7 million project will relocate the Los Alamos Medical Center driveway and extend Finch Street, aiming to improve safety near Trinity and Diamond drives, with completion targeted for December.
Four-Way Stop Petition at North Road and Urban Street
After a pedestrian fatality, residents petitioned for a four-way stop. Staff data collection is done; a recommendation comes June 4, with council deciding by June 23. Neighbors worry the steep, icy approach complicates a four-way stop.