Does train traffic keep people out of downtown?

Pedestrians, a cyclist and automobiles cross the railroad tracks at Third Street and Rt. 66 in downtown Gallup as a freight train idles just beyond them Wednesday. [photo by Jeff Jones / Independent]

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — Frank Sanchez, a barber at Deluxe Hair Stylists on Coal Avenue, sits on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon waiting for a customer to come in. It’s a slow day for him, and he reads a book to pass the time. He says that an underpass beneath the tracks at Second Street would certainly help bring people in for more haircuts.

“They’ve been talking about that forever. We’re always stuck on one side or another. Anything they can do to alleviate the problem is a plus,” Sanchez said.

A plan has been in the works to build an overpass at Allison Avenue and an underpass at Second Street. The multimillion dollar projects would take years to complete. But this past legislative session, the state provided funding for further studies for the projects.

Sanchez, who has been cutting hair at the same shop for 40 years, recalls a time when there were no bridges over the railroads. With no options to cross when trains came through, traffic would be backed in all directions. The crossings to the east and west of town certainly helped the problem immensely, but, he said, another crossing is still needed. Many would-be customers who live to the north tell him that they are more likely to eat and shop at Wal-Mart simply to avoid the congestion at the tracks trying to get in and out of downtown.

“The underpass will bring business downtown, and that’s what we need,” he said.

City Manager Gerald Herrera says he thinks that traffic on the railroad has decreased lately.

“It seems a bit lighter in the last couple months,” he said.
According to Director of Public Relations for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railways Joe Faust, the slowing economy has decreased the traffic in one area. Consumer products, which are shipped through Los Angeles and on through Gallup, have fallen off enough that there is a noticeable decrease. But that is not expected to last, and traffic to the north through Seattle is up.

“There are some areas that we’ve seen growth,” Faust said.

In some cases, slower traffic may be good for business. Albert Ortega, owner of Mesa Bikes and Gears at Second Street and Coal, thinks so. He isn’t too worried about the underpass.

“It’s actually been good for my business,” he said about the traffic delays.

When cars are backed up because of the trains, he explained, they are more likely to notice his shop and stop in to buy something. He’s not concerned with people being diverted to Wal-Mart to avoid coming downtown to his shop.

“Wal-Mart sells toys. If they were real bikes, they wouldn’t be in the toy department,” he remarks.