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El Paseo & S Solano MRA Plan

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Summary

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El Paseo & S Solano MRA Plan - Public Draft Review

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Introduction

Learn more about the project and its purpose.

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Community Profile

Look at key demographics to better understand the El Paseo & S Solano community.

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Market Analysis

Look at key economic indicators to better understand the local economy and housing market.

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Illustrative Vision

See what the community vision for redevelopment is.

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Strategic Recommendations

Learn how different policies and projects can transform the area.

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Financing and Implementation

Nitty-gritty details about how redevelopment projects will be paid for and implemented.

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Commenting is closed for this document.

Jim Wilcox Jun 24 2025 at 6:27AM on page 1

Suggestion

I support active transportation.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:25PM on page 168

Being able to add comments using this tool is great. I would have liked to be able to widen the work area.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:23PM on page 160

What about Transportation Project Funds? link

These are competitive grants, but the city hasn't applied. Cannot be combined with federal projects, but that's okay. For example, fixing the bicycle facilities at Wyatt/Main might be a qualifying project. Application process goes through the MPO, similar to TAP/RTP.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:15PM on page 122

Add transit stops. If additional or stops recommended to be moved, could be indicated on this map.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:12PM on page 121

Boys and Girls Club will be in this area, so anything that improves active transportation safety needs to be considered.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:11PM on page 121

Look at adding ROW to Campo to improve active transportation safety where the new housing project between Colorado and Arizona will be built.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:08PM on page 120

The planned update to the ATP needs to look more closely at the Missouri/Boutz corridor. This, and Wyatt/Main are areas that were not closely examined previously.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:06PM on page 120

Project should extend from Solano to Main.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:04PM on page 119

Protected bike lanes would be the best. AASHTO has recently released and updated bikeway design guide that includes protected bike lanes.

George Jun 23 2025 at 8:03PM on page 117

Consider placing a bidirectional bicycle lane on the east side of the road that is protected from the traffic lanes. With the apartments at Farney and shopping at Idaho, a protected bicycle facility is needed. If extended the entire length of El Paseo, would provide the needed protected bikeway between NMSU and downtown.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:57PM on page 113

There is an active Recreational Trails Program grant to build a trail along the Las Cruces Lateral from near the Convention Center and hopefully extend to Boutz. The original vision was to extend to the Idaho/Main intersection area.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:55PM on page 114

Suggestion

Hard to tell difference between High Priority and Medium Priority lines. Look at color selection for the lines.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:52PM on page 114

Main Street reconstruction is between Idaho and Boutz, but map shows extending further south. Has this been planned for the future in a time frame that merits including it on this map?

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:50PM on page 114

Wyatt and Main is a problem as it is essentially an Active Transportation dead end.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:48PM on page 111

Elevate when it was adopted five years or so ago included a goal that the city join NACTO. Last I heard they were still working on it.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:46PM on page 110

A three mile bicycle trip takes about the same amount of time as a three mile vehicle trip, especially when including the time needed to park and walk to the final destination. Generally, half the vehicle trips are three miles or less, so wear and tear on a vehicle is maximized. Any improvements to Active Transportation will benefit everyone.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:40PM on page 107

Question

A repeat of the "Nodes of Opportunity" from earlier in the document?

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:36PM on page 100

Maybe add a Traffic Garden to one of the parks in the area. This would let bicyclists practice traffic conditions without vehicles.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:35PM on page 96

Need a heading for this map? Maybe add the name of each node inside the map.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:27PM on page 60

LCHS is being called out as an important pedestrian center of activity. However, it's essentially a transportation desert with respect to bicycle transportation. While there should be plenty of ROW for bicycle facilities along Missouri near the school, it is difficult and dangerous to travel by bicycle in this area. Especially on Missouri east of El Paseo. LCHS is the most urban of the high schools, so it should have the best opportunity for students to bike, but current bike facilities make this difficult if not impossible.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:21PM on page 67

Links to the documents referenced would be great.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:20PM on page 58

Suggestion

Magistrate Court is in this area and should probably be called out as it is an important destination. May make more sense that the picture showing "Social institutions" includes the court rather that what's shown.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:14PM on page 52

Wyatt is a bicycle facility, but it dead ends at Main with no obvious safe way out of the intersection. A safe way to continue from Wyatt to Melendres is needed.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:10PM on page 46

While it's only a small portion of the MRA in the Mesquite neighborhood area, there has been discussion on the need to address road safety on the Lohman/Amador corridor. Four lanes in each direction is simply overbuilt and promotes speeding and crashes, including fatal crashes.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:06PM on page 40

Suggestion

Maybe add a short explanation what "AE" and "AH" indicates.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:05PM on page 38

Suggestion

Add some text explaining the black dashed line around the parks. Took me a moment to figure it out and someone that doesn't know that 1/4 mile walking distance from a park is a goal may never figure it out.

George Jun 23 2025 at 7:02PM on page 36

Suggestion

Separate out the bike and transit maps. Trying to figure out the bike facilities becomes confusing with the addition of the transit routes. On the transit map, add locations of current bus stops, and perhaps any suggested additions or changes for existing stops.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:59PM on page 23

Suggestion

Maybe replace this picture. This building looks very different now.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:58PM on page 17

Another Current Project that is in the works and planned for Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 is Ruedas Unidas/United Wheels and is being organized by the city's Community Engagement Office. The plan is to close off the south part of Solano to traffic and create a Ciclovia style event.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:53PM on page 15

Question

link is dated Sept. 17, 2021 and seems like the final report from the committee. Was there something else after this that's referenced here?

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:50PM on page 14

Don't remember all the details, but I believe Picturing El Paseo was a large grant received by the city and was the first El Paseo corridor planning effort. link Looking at the El Paseo Corridor Blueprint document (link) Picturing El Paseo is referenced. There are also references to the Picturing El Paseo project page and 2010 Road Safety Assessment, but the links are only to the main city web site. Having a current link to these documents would help with a historical view of the corridor.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:32PM on page 12

Including links to the mentioned reports would be great. I was actually surprised that I could find a couple after a quick search on the city web site.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:08PM on page 12

Current ATP identifies a separated bike lane on Idaho between Main and Solano at the top of the list of capital bikeway projects. The city has been awarded a Safe Streets For All grant to update the ATP. The RFP for this $500K project is expected in the next couple of months.

George Jun 23 2025 at 6:00PM on page 7

The Plan Goals should reflect the action items identified in the body of the document. It's likely many people will not read past the first few pages, so even if the goals needs to be expanded somewhat, it should represent what is desired to be accomplished by this report.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:56PM on page 7

Historic Preservation: Foster neighborhood identities which could result in the identification of a new historic neighborhood. Chiva Town seems like a candidate inside the MRA and Bellamah outside the MRA. Work with the Community Engagement Office as they are actively identifying current neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch areas.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:51PM on page 7

Environmental Sustainability: Active Transportation is the solution to this problem.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:51PM on page 7

Social Equity: Roughly a third of the population does not have a drivers license (too young, too old, physical handicap (e.g. blind), or other reason). Better Active Transportation options will provide freedom and reduce the need to rely on someone else for transportation.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:48PM on page 7

Public Safety and Health: Safe and secure bike parking is needed. This will result in more people being able to choose to use a bike commuting and errands. More biking results in lots of health benefits, including a longer life span.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:47PM on page 7

Infrastructure Improvement: Improved bicycle facilities are needed, especially a protected bike lane between NMSU and downtown.

George Jun 23 2025 at 5:43PM on page 7

The cost of transportation needs to be included when talking about housing, especially "affordable" housing. Average cost of vehicle ownership is $10,000 per year. The MRA is well suited to allow getting rid of a vehicle for each driver, replacing the vehicle with a (possibly electric) bike. Also, improved transit in the MRA would encourage people to use the bus as their main mode of transport to and from work.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:59PM on page 104

The El Paseo Corridor shouldn't be conceptualized or actualized as a "low income area". There is plenty of room to include affordable units and complexes within a variety of multifamily development styles, including work force, student, senior and professional. residents.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:55PM on page 104

Suggestion

We have a tremendous opportunity to provide centrally located housing, surrounded by services, in the large tracts of land that border El Paso. Tax and other incentives should be used to help owners and developers get projects going.

One important tool, beyond the MRA-created opportunities is C-PACE, which provides low interest loans for energy infrastructure, withi no financial investment required from the municipality. Since Dona Ana County has already passed the necessary C-PACE ordinance, all the City of Las Cruces has to do is pass a resolution enabling developers within the city limits to participate, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars on commercial or multi-family development.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:45PM on page 101

Many cities tax undeveloped property in certain urban areas at an increasing rate from year to year, prompting absentee landlords to move toward doing something with their properties. Las Cruces should consider doing this in designated sections of the MRA.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:43PM on page 101

Creating more shade through trees and shade structures is a great idea, including along the sidewalks and within parking lots. It would really increase the enjoyability of being in the area -- like is happening in downtown now.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:40PM on page 94

El Paseo was once, even in the memory of many current residents, lined with large cottonwoods, and it was part of a natural walking 'paseo' from downtown. We may be past that time now, but a corridor of trees along the sidewalks like we have downtown, would do a lot to make the El Paseo orridor south to Idaho distinctive (and cooler).

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:33PM on page 95

I remember talking with the Chief Operational Officer of Albuquerque about 20 years ago, and he told me just naming their neighborhoods, with appropriate signage, really gave the neighborhoods a stronger sense of cohesion and shared identity. Our local neighborhoods like "The Bellamah District" have an important historical identity as well.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:30PM on page 95

Suggestion

Utilizing the irrigation ditches is a great idea for all concerned!

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 8:28PM on page 95

Suggestion

This is a good approach to Solano, enhancing the commercial/small business aspects of an already existing neighborhood. Solano is bordered on either side by smaller homes in established neighborhoods that represent a large repository of reasonably priced housing.
As small businesses become a center of activity, it's worth thinking about branding of the Solano District as a place to go for local food, (shaded and at night colorfully lit sidewalk and patio cafes), local specialty stores, etc. Several generations of Las Crucens used to take our families to Juarez on Saturdays and Sundays for haircuts, shopping in the markets, the feeling of an outing and a nice lunch or dinner -- something people looked forward to all week. Now with the time involved in going back and forth across the border, there's a void to be filled. The Solano District could be an authentic, bustling place to go not just for the nearby neighborhoods, but for everyone, especially when visitors come to town.
Trees along the sidewalks on either side of a designated area, like we have downtown, would be a great addition.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 5:51PM on page 94

Suggestion

The key is getting the process started, probably with City and grants support for attractive mixed income housing. Housing leads to commercial ventures to serve the new residents and good transit opportunities ties it all together.

Don Kurtz Jun 18 2025 at 5:47PM on page 94

Suggestion

I think this vision of the El Paseo Corridor is a good one -- as the report indicates, El Paseo can be a major housing housing, commercial and transit corridor that connects and revitalizes that whole core section of the city. A couple of notes -- I think housing should be mixed, within the same developments if possible, to include housing for students, urban-oriented young professionals and seniors, and with affordable housing units mixed in with market rate units. I also would like emphasis on the transportation corridor aspect of El Paso, with wide sidewalks, bikeways, and planning with Roadrunner Transit from the very beginning to have a shuttle that runs frequently from downtown to NMSU and the convention center -- frequently enough that people will actually think of it as an easy way to get to work, class, the grocery store and entertainment. A shuttle would encourage this with its free, simple, frequently running route. Anti-DWI transportation funding could support nighttime routes and encourage the development of a downtown entertainment district.

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