Albuquerque's Environmental Story

Educating For a Sustainable Community

Environmental Topic: Regionalism

by Dennis Foltz and Stephen Burstein

Background

Albuquerque, with a population of 410,000 and an employment of over 260,000, has a metropolitan area or regional population of 658,000 people and an employment of 293,000. Many of these people live in Bernalillo County, but many others live in Sandoval, Torrance, Valencia, and southern Santa Fe Counties. These people share a common job base, transportation system, and housing supply, to name a few. They also enjoy the amenities that Albuquerque provides. The Sandia and Manzano Mountains separate watersheds and "airsheds" between the Estancia Basin and the Rio Grande Valley.
Albuquerque Region 1990 Socio-Economic Summary and 2015 Forecasts
1990 2015
Total Population 599,416 819,062
Total Households 225,289 323,820
Total Housing Units 246,561 351,529
Single-Family Units 186,794 272,462
Multifamily Units 59,767 79,067
Total Vehicles 412,621 592,246

**Albuquerque Region 1990 Socio-Economic Summary and 2015 Forecasts**
	1990	2015
Total Population	599,416	819,062
Total Households	225,289	323,820
Total Housing Units	246,561	351,529
Single-Family Units	186,794	272,462
Multifamily Units	59,767	79,067
Total Vehicles	412,621	592,246

View of the Region

From the air, it is impossible to tell where each community or county begins and ends. Rather, the patterns of development appear as one continuous urban area that extends from the town of Bernalillo on the north to Belen on the south and from the escarpment on the west to Moriarty on the east.

Several observations can be made from the air:

Housing consists of mostly low-density, single-family homes.
Transportation is almost totally composed of automobiles; there are very few buses, bicycles, or people walking.
Work and shopping areas are set off by themselves, not "mixed-in" with residential areas.
Except for the foothills of the Sandias and the bosque along the Rio Grande, open spaces are not linked together; however, arroyos form a secondary set of open space "arteries" into the urbanized area.
On many mornings, particularly in the winter, air pollution occurs, especially in the Rio Grande basin portion of the region.

The Region's Systems

The living patterns of the people in Albuquerque's region create a need for region-wide systems to serve the people. Examples of these systems are transportation, water and sewerage, open space and recreation, education, and housing.

Systems requirements differ as living patterns vary. Thus the current, low-density, scattered pattern depends almost totally on the automobile. A more compact pattern that would emphasize higher densities and mixed uses might be more conducive to transit, walking, and other transportation modes.

Systems required by differing living patterns also vary in cost. The current low-density, scattered pattern requires more miles of roads and water/ sewer lines than compact patterns. This low-density pattern not only costs more because of the length of the required systems, but also requires that families own and maintain multiple vehicles. Thus the cost of doing business rises, and the Albuquerque region finds itself in a less competitive position in the global economy we now live in.

Governments in the Region

Within the entire region are four counties, seventeen municipalities and nine Indian tribal governments.

The contiguous urbanized area contains seven cities and towns, of which Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, spread over three counties, are the largest.

In order for regional systems to be planned and managed, people from multiple jurisdictions must work together. Issues that had once appeared to be the problems of a single town, city, or county must be considered by planners and politicians as regional issues in which we all have a stake.

The coordination of transportation and land-use plans across the entire region can result in an overall, coherent urban form resulting in clean air, water conservation, open space preservation, and economic development. The long-term sustainability of the special natural and man-made qualities of the Albuquerque region requires a unified regional strategy.

The Region's Future

AS THE CITY SPREADS

What will the future be like in Albuquerque's region? Will we continue the low-density, scattered development pattern prevalent today or will we find other, more compact patterns that support other transportation modes, conserve water, maintain and link open space and emphasize mixed uses of work, home, and shop and emphasize mixed uses of work, home, and shopping?

Don't be decieved by the political boundaries of Albuquerque - Rio Rancho includes more square miles. The city's social, cultural, economic and political influence travels well beyond its limits, spreading into Valencia, Cibola, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Torrance and, of course, Bernalillo counties. Albuquerque, in fact, is much more than a city. It is a region. But it is only beginning to think regionally.
Map by Jeff Neumann

Options and Opinions

Discussion Questions

What issues might be considered truly regional?
Does air pollution in Rio Rancho affects air quality in Albuquerque? Does air pollution in Albuquerque affects air quality in Belen?
Should a linked open space system be created that defines the edges of each community in the region? How would such a system affect where people shop or work, recreational opportunities, community identity, proximity to natural areas, and use of cars, bicycle, or public transit?
What are the impacts (both positive and negative) of a new business center or a shopping center locating in a community or neighborhood?
What are ways to get people to talk about region issues? Who should be involved?
Why might some communities in the Albuquerque region be reluctant to join in a more formal regional political structure?
What are ways to get people to talk about regional issues? Who should be involved?

Possible Solutions/Opinions

Since air, water, and the natural environment in open space don't have political boundaries, it is necessary to deal with them regionally.
A Regional Transit Authority must be established for many reasons.
All the counties in the Albuquerque region should be required to have comprehensive plans.
All communities in the Albuquerque region should have mandatory vehicle emissions inspection.
One reason some smaller communities near Albuquerque are skeptical about regionalism is that they are afraid of losing some of their authority.

Activities

Contact the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments (MRGCOG, 247-1750) to find out what counties are considered part of the metropolitan Albuquerque region. On the outline map of New Mexico below, color and label these counties. Set up a chart showing the geographic size and population of each of those counties. What is the population of the total region? What is Albuquerque's population? Bernalillo County's? Find out from MRCOG how many people from outside Albuquerque work in the city? In what other ways do people from the region interact with Albuquerque?
Conduct a panel discussion about the issues facing the metropolitan Albuquerque area and the possibility of a more regional approach to them in the near future. Topics for the discussion might include the following:
- What cities and counties are considered part of the metropolitan region and why?
- Is there a need for a regional transportation system, and if so, what kind?
- Is air quality an Albuquerque issue or a regional one?
- What are the pros and cons of a unified approach to regional issues? Poll the panel audience before and after the discussion to learn about their attitudes toward regionalism.
Find out about metro areas in other parts of the country, e.g., Portland, Oregon, Miami/Dade County, Florida, Indianapolis, Indiana. Use the Internet or the library to do research. Consider such questions as the extent and size of the metro region; the type of political organization; the factors that bind the large city and its surrounding communities together; the type of transportation system(s); how long the metro region organization has been in existence; how satisfied the general public and the various member communities are with the regional approach. Discuss how the Albuquerque metro region compares with these others.
Conduct a survey to find out what people know about the relationship between Albuquerque and the metropolitan area, and what their attitudes are about a regional approach to some major issues. Develop a brief questionnaire to learn:
- Whether people have ever considered this question before;
- What cities/counties they consider part of Albuquerque's metro region;
- What issues they think could be considered "regional"; and
- What their attitudes are about a unified approach to these issues.
Survey parents, siblings of voting age, relatives, friends. Analyze the results of the poll. Invite a planner from MRGCOG to come to the class to discuss the findings.

(Up to Section V, Back to Recreation, On to Safety)