The City Council took the first procedural steps Oct. 20 to modernize Albuquerque’s traffic code and to adopt a companion public-education resolution, but both the ordinance (O98) and the education resolution (R196) were deferred to the Nov. 5 meeting after floor amendments and public comment.

O98 would update traffic-code language to strengthen protections for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users, clarify driver responsibilities at pedestrian crossings and HAWK signals, and direct automated-speed-enforcement revenue to Vision Zero traffic-safety initiatives. The council adopted a floor amendment clarifying when pedestrians may travel in a roadway (for example when sidewalks are absent or impassable). Following public comment and concerns from several speakers and councilors, the council overrode a deadline issue by deferring the final vote two weeks so formal notice requirements would be met.

Council also considered R196, a resolution directing an education campaign and driver-education changes to accompany the code updates. Councilor Rogers successfully moved an amendment requiring the administration to review Albuquerque Police Department training related to the revised traffic code and to provide an updated APD enforcement plan to council within 120 days. Council adopted that amendment and then deferred R196 to Nov. 5 alongside O98.

Public commenters—including bicycling, pedestrian-safety and disability advocates and family members of recently killed pedestrians—largely supported the ordinance and asked for additional infrastructure, more consistent signage, and education targeted at drivers. Several commenters and some councilors asked staff to revisit a provision (section 8279(b) in the draught) that would restrict crossing at certain unmarked intersections; speakers argued the city’s state crosswalk statute permits unmarked crossings and that enforcement language must not criminalize pedestrians following existing crosswalk designs.

Ending: Councilors and staff said they will draft clarified language on unmarked-crosswalk provisions and return with the finalized ordinance and education resolution at the Nov. 5 meeting; the Rogers amendment requires an APD training and enforcement plan to accompany the package.