The Chile Line Express

T he Chi l e L in e E x p re ss
The Official Newsletter of the 2016 ITE Western District Meeting
Issue Two - Ja n u a r y 2 0 1 6
Ju l y 1 0 - 1 3 , 2 0 1 6
Building Route 66 in
New Mexico
Technical Tours
By Jerry & Loretta Hall
Monday 7:30 AM – 11 AM ($45)
2016 marks the 90th anniversary
of the establishment of the United
States’ first national highway system.
Hardly recognizable as “highways” in
today’s sense, these thoroughfares
were pieced together from sections
of existing roads, most of which were
unpaved.
Join us for a tour of some of
Albuquerque’s bicycle facilities along
the beautiful Paseo del Bosque Trail.
This tour will include riding some of
Albuquerque’s almost complete 50
Mile Loop, a stop at a pedestrian/
bike count station, and a discussion
about Albuquerque’s new Bike Share
Program.
Albuquerque Bicycle System
Call for Abstracts
Extended to
February 22
he Albuquerque LAC has extended
the deadline for submissions of
abstracts until February 22. We want
to hear from you! What innovative
and interesting work have you done
this past year that you can share with
your peers? Our technical program
will feature over 100 individual
presentations plus panel discussions,
career development sessions, and
technical tours. We’ll have what you
need to know to keep at the forefront
of the transportation engineering
profession. Submit your abstract at
ite2016abq.com.
Build a session for this meeting!
Anyone with a great idea for a
technical session and who is willing to
organize the theme and collaborate
with colleagues is invited to propose
a session.
Continued on Page 3
ite2016abq.com
The Federal Aid Highway Act of
1921 was the impetus for a twostage process to create the system.
The first phase, choosing roadway
sections that linked important sites
and met other selected segments
at state boundaries, was completed
November 1, 1923. The second
phase involved developing a uniform
numbering system for the highways
and assigning numbers to the
designated routes. When the second
phase was completed in November
1926, the system consisted of 179
routes. Its 96,626 miles represented
3.4 percent of the country’s public
roads. The American Association of
State Highway Officials (AASHO) led
the effort to create the numbering
system, forming a committee of 21
state highway engineers and three
engineers from the Bureau of Public
Roads (BPR).
Continued on Page 2
Albuquerque Bus Rapid Transit
Monday 1:30 PM – 5 PM ($45)
Albuquerque is on the cusp of
constructing a Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) line along a densely traveled
and geometrically diverse major
arterial, Central Avenue, that spans
the length of the City from east to
west. We will tour Central Avenue
and visit key locations that challenged
transportation engineers to “think
outside the box”.
Continued on Page 3
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Route 66 ─ Continued from Page 1
Completion of Phase 2 was delayed
by a bitter, 9-month dispute over the
designation for a 2,448-mile route
that defied convention by slanting
diagonally across the country, from
Chicago to the Los Angeles-area
community of Santa Monica. The
numbering system used odd numbers
for north-south roads and even
numbers for east-west roads, with
the most prominent route numbers
ending in zero or one. The prestigious
designation of US Highway 60 was
awarded to an overlapping alignment
that would carry the road from the
Atlantic Coast in Virginia all the way
to Los Angeles. Supporters of the
diagonal route believed it would carry
more traffic because of its connection
to the industrial northeast, and
they held out for a single number
for that entire route. Disdaining the
unremarkable and clearly subordinate
alternative of US Highway 62, they
finally suggested a compromise
designation: Route 66.
The number was catchy and appealing,
and the route became a heavily
traveled corridor. The combination
spawned other popular designations
like “America’s Main Street.” John
Steinbeck called it the “Mother Road”
in The Grapes of Wrath (1939). The
mystique grew with Nat King Cole’s
1946 recording of Bobby Troup’s
now-famous song “(Get Your Kicks
On) Route 66.” The road continued to
capture America’s sense of adventure
into the 1960s with the television
series Route 66.
Route 66 in New Mexico
The state of New Mexico was only 14
years old when US 66 was created.
The original 506-mile alignment
through the state meandered around
the most difficult obstacles, utilizing
portions of the century-old Santa Fe
Trail and the 300-year-old Camino
Real. Rural traffic volumes were about
200 vehicles per day along the route,
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which entered the state at Glen Rio
on the Texas border and exited to
Arizona some 20 miles west of Gallup
(the only New Mexico city named in
Troup’s song).
Along its entire route through eight
states, US 66 was realigned numerous
times as design concepts and roadbuilding
techniques
improved.
According to the National Park
Service’s Special Resource Study of the
route, these changes “illustrate the
evolution of road engineering from
coexistence with the surrounding
landscape to domination of it.” The
total of US 66’s various alignments
was about 5,000 miles (twice the
route’s actual length).
New Mexico had its share of
realignments. The most dramatic
changes were accomplished in the
mid-1930s when the route was
shortened from 506 miles to 399.
The 1926 alignment had taken the
highway in a broad northern arc
through Santa Fe, then south through
Albuquerque. The route continued
southward another 25 miles to Los
Lunas before curving back to the north
and regaining its primarily westward
direction. In 1933, the southern
arc was eliminated, taking the road
westward from Albuquerque. The
1937 rerouting eliminated the
northern arc, bypassing Santa Fe. By
the time these realignments were
finished, Route 66 was completely
paved through the state, and all
railroad grade crossings had been
eliminated.
The La Bajada Challenge
The original path of Route 66 rose
above 7,000 feet three times in New
Mexico, dropping as low as 4,300 feet
at intermediate points. Vapor lock
plagued motorists until automotive
engine designs were improved
decades later. Abrupt elevation
changes posed severe challenges
in the days before major earthwork
became practical.
One of the most dramatically steep
sections was between Santa Fe and
Albuquerque at La Bajada, “the
descent.” A daunting challenge since
Spanish colonial times, La Bajada was
essentially a 500-foot-high cliff. In
pre-automobile days, animal teams
were doubled to pull wagons up the
grade, which ranged from 7.5 percent
to 28 percent; rope tethers controlled
their descent. When it became part
of Route 66, the La Bajada road was
newly improved. In 1924, it had been
widened, reinforced with masonry
retaining walls, and redesigned to
reduce both the steepness and the
number of switchbacks. The steepest
grade of 15 percent was on a relatively
straight section near the top of the
cliff, but the 1.4-mile section averaged
a 6-percent grade and employed
more than 20 switchbacks.
Automotive fuel pumps were
introduced in 1928, but until they
became common, cars routinely
climbed La Bajada in reverse to avoid
stalling. Descending vehicles faced
different challenges, like cloth brake
pads that overheated and sometimes
caught fire.
At the top of the hill, a State Highway
Department (pre-MUTCD) sign
warned motorists:
La Bajada Hill
Warning
Safe Speed 10 Miles
Watch Sharp Curves
This Road is Not Fool Proof
But Safe For A Sane Driver
Use Low Gear
Continued on Page 5
ite2016abq.com
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Abstracts ─ Continued from Page 1
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway
Family Night
We’re looking for creative ways to
share stories f how the transportation
engineering profession has made
the world a better place. Share the
benefits of the work you’ve delivered
to your clients. See the sample topics
on our website for ideas. These
sessions can be creative beyond
the traditional moderator/speaker
format, and may include work
sessions, round tables, seminars,
training, debate, or other formats.
Please contact Albert Thomas
[email protected]
for more information. 
Wednesday 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM ($45)
Monday 6 PM - 9:30 PM
Explora! Science Center and Children’s
Museum
The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is the
longest aerial tramway in the United
States and third longest in the world.
The Tramway takes riders from a starting
elevation of 6,559 feet to an elevation
at 10,378 feet. Come learn about the
history, the challenges of maintenance,
and what is in the future for the Tramway.
This tour will include a tour of the base
facilities and a “flight” on the Tramway. 
Social Events & Tours
Get Acquainted Social
http://www.ite2016abq.com/call-for-abstract.aspx
Technical ─ Continued from Page 1
New Mexico Rail Runner Express
Tuesday 7 AM – 10 AM ($45)
The New Mexico Rail Runner is New
Mexico’s only commuter train that runs
between the town of Belen and the
City of Santa Fe. Ride along with us
from Albuquerque to Bernalillo while
learning about how the Rail Runner
Express serves the community and the
challenges it faces.
ite2016abq.com
Sunday evening 5 PM - 7:30 PM
Exhibit Hall
Come and reconnect with your ITE
Western District colleagues at the
Sunday evening social reception
held amidst the vendor exhibitors.
Complimentary appetizers will be served
and a cash bar will be available. Find your
complimentary drink tickets with your
registration materials. Brief welcome
remarks will be made and raffle prizes
will be given away. Find your old friends,
make new friends, and make plans for
dinner after the reception.
Evening Shuttles to Downtown and
Nob Hill
Sunday evening 7 PM - 10:30 PM
Following the Get Acquainted Reception,
complimentary shuttle service will be
provided along the Central Avenue
corridor (historic Route 66) to Downtown,
EDo (East Downtown), and Nob Hill,
where numerous options for dinner and
drinks are yours to explore. The LAC will
provide an insider’s guide to our favorite
restaurants, breweries, brewpubs, tap
rooms, and bars so you can find just what
you’re looking for.
Get ready for some hands-on
science fun! Explora is part science
center, part children’s museum, part
free-choice school, part grandma’s
attic, part grandpa’s garage, part
laboratory. Exhibits are designed to
engage visitors of all ages. Explora
is just a short walk from the Hotel
Albuquerque. A New Mexican buffet
dinner will be served before our group
will have exclusive access to the entire
museum for the evening.
Annual Awards Banquet:
The Red or Green Ball
Tuesday evening
6 PM - 7 PM Cocktail Reception
7 PM - 10:30 PM Awards Banquet and
entertainment - Alvarado Ballroom
Don’t miss the famous Western
District Annual Awards Banquet
on Tuesday evening where the
District’s best and brightest will be
recognized for their contributions
and achievements. After the dinner
and formalities, dance the night
away to one of our favorite local New
Mexico bands. “The Red or Green
Ball” invites you to come in your best
southwestern attire. Child care will
be provided in a nearby room.
Continued on Page 6
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New Mexico Fare for Foodies
These traditional New Mexican comfort foods will keep you warm during the cold winter months! Posole is simple, but
classic staple in New Mexican cuisine. Sopapillas are the perfect ending to any meal, especially a warm bowl of posole.
These golden and crispy pillows of fried dough are the ideal dessert! No one can resist the light and flaky crunch paired
with local pure lavender honey.
Vegetarian Posole
Ingredients
Preparation
• 16 oz posole (dried and
soaked overnight, or thawed
frozen)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 16 ounces peeled, seeded,
and chopped tomato
• 8 ounces (or more!) peeled,
seeded, and chopped roasted
green chile
• 6- 8 cups vegetable broth
• Olive oil
• 2 whole chipotle chiles
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh
oregano
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• lime wedges
• freshly chopped cilantro, for
garnish
• salt and pepper
In a large soup pot over medium
heat, toast the cumin seeds until
fragrant.
Add the olive oil. Once it heats,
add the onions and saute until
translucent, then add the garlic
and saute for a minute or two
more.
Add the oregano and stir.
Add the tomatoes and green
chile, cook until the tomatoes
begin to liquefy.
Add the posole and stir.
Add enough vegetable broth to
cover by 2 inches, and bring to a
boil.
Reduce heat, add the bay leaves,
chipotle, and salt to taste.
Cover and simmer for about 3
hours. Stir and taste occasionally.
Add salt or broth as needed until
posole has softened and burst.
Sopapillas
Ingredients
•
•
•
•
•
•
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons shortening
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 quarts frying oil
Preparation
In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking
powder, salt, and shortening. Stir in water;
mix until dough is smooth.
Cover dough and let stand for 20 minutes.
Roll out dough on floured board until 1/8 to
1/4 inch thick.
Cut dough into 3 inch squares.
Heat oil in deep fryer to 375 degrees F.
Fry dough squares until golden brown on
both sides.
Drain on paper towels.
Serve sopaillas hot with local lavender
honey. 
Serve with lime wedges and
chopped cilantro.
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ite2016abq.com
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Route 66 ─ Continued from Page 2
The Tijeras Canyon Challenge
Before the northern approach to
Albuquerque via La Bajada could be
abandoned, two kinds of obstacles
had to be conquered—bureaucratic
and physical. The political obstacles
to rerouting US 66 westward through
Albuquerque proved as difficult as
conquering the topography. Residents
of the towns along the original
northerly route through Santa Fe
opposed bypassing their communities
even though travelers would benefit
from shortening the route by 80 miles.
There was also heavy opposition
from towns along another highway
(US 60) that branched southward
and took interstate travelers through
Socorro rather than Albuquerque.
A stalemate persisted until lameduck New Mexico governor Arthur
Hannett took decisive action in late
November 1926. He had narrowly
lost a reelection bid and was due to
leave office on January 1. Before then,
he was determined to construct the
east-west route through Albuquerque
that had been thwarted during his
governorship. Hannett ordered the
district highway engineer to round up
all available roadbuilding equipment
and plow a 69-mile, unpaved road
between Santa Rosa and Moriarty,
where it would join the roadway that
ran west through Tijeras Canyon to
Albuquerque.
The workers, who assumed they
would be fired when the new
governor took office, embraced the
project as a show of defiance and
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agreed to forego taking Christmas Day
off work. With only 31 days available,
there was no time to get permission
from property owners along the
route, and crews simply tore down
fences and cut across the land. The
most difficult section was a 27-mile
swath through a stand of pinon
pines, which had to be ripped out by
the roots before the tractor-pulled
graders could proceed. Equipment
sabotage slowed the work at times,
and the road was not quite finished
on January 1. The new governor sent
a representative to order an immediate
halt, but bad weather kept him from
arriving until January 3. By then the
workers had completed their task. The
main geologic challenge to the eastwest alignment was Tijeras (Scissors)
Canyon, where the Sandia and Manzano
mountains met just east of Albuquerque.
Flanked by peaks towering as much as
a mile above the mile-high city, Tijeras
Canyon was narrow, winding, and prone
to flooding. The path through the canyon
had been an important trade route for
centuries, and in 1925 a Federal-Aid
highway project paved 8 miles of it with
concrete.
Paving the route helped motorists, but
problems remained even after it became
part of Route 66 in 1937. A steep hill
at the eastern edge of the canyon was
bypassed in 1949, at a cost of $125,000
per mile for 6.5-miles, with a 46-foot wide
asphalt section. Two years later, 8 miles
of divided highway were forged through
the boulder-strewn canyon, raising the
roadway higher above the flood-prone
floor. The $187,500 per mile cost of this
project included blasting away a hill that
for years had been crowned with “Dead
Man’s Curve.”
Water and Soil Challenges
The route from Albuquerque to Arizona
presented obstacles as well. After a
sustained climb up Nine Mile Hill west
of the city, the road would have to
cross the Rio Puerco. The river normally
carried little water, but it occasionally
experienced torrential flooding.
In 1933 it was bridged with the state’s
longest single-span Parker truss. The
250-foot span carried only one lane,
but it allowed the southern arc of
Route 66 through Los Lunas to be
discontinued, shortening the highway
by about 25 miles.
Seventy miles west of Albuquerque,
Route 66 crossed 5 miles of El
Malpais, New Mexico’s “badlands.”
The uneven lava bed was riddled with
air pockets, and the thin crust tended
to crumble. A different kind of soil
problem surfaced 45 miles farther
west, at the Continental Divide. At
7,263 feet, it was the highest point on
the entire length of US 66, although
it was surprisingly non-mountainous.
Especially in wet weather, the clay soil
was unsatisfactory as a roadbed.
What’s Left
In 1937, US 66 was one of the most
modern highways in the country. Its
boosters proclaimed, “You can drive
Route 66 all year in high gear.” Yet
the work was only beginning. Heavy
use and limited resources during
World War II brought deterioration.
After the war, traffic volumes and
characteristics changed dramatically.
With approval of the National System
of Interstate and Defense Highways
in 1956, attention shifted to building
a more modern replacement for the
route.
The last segment of US 66 in New Mexico
was bypassed in 1981, four years before
the entire route was officially
Continued on Page 6
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P AGE 6
Route 66 ─ Continued from Page 5
Social ─ Continued from Page 3
decommissioned. Continuing interest in Breaking Bad RV Tour
the history of the route has fueled efforts Monday 10 AM to 2 PM
to preserve and celebrate its remnants.
Six long, paved segments totaling 340
miles are still accessible in the state, as
well as various shorter bits and pieces,
both paved and unpaved, rural and
urban. Surviving sections of US 66 in
New Mexico were designated a State
Scenic Byway in 1994 and a National
Scenic Byway in 2000.
Travelers with a curiosity or an affinity
for the famous route can enjoy sites
and events like the following:
• Hiking a 0.7-mile section of La
Bajada switchbacks and comparing it
to a 0.8-mile section of older, steeper
alignment
• Cruising an 18-mile section along
AIbuquerque’s Central Avenue, which
is sprinkled with more than 100 classic
buildings from the Route 66 heyday
• Reliving earlier eras at the Route
66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, 110
miles east of Albuquerque
• Exploring the Federal Highway
Administration-funded Route 66
interpretive Center at Acoma Pueblo,
65 miles west of Albuquerque
• Participating in the annual Route 66
Summerfest celebration July 16, 2016,
in the Nob Hill district of Albuquerque
• Eating at Route 66 diners — check
with the locals for recommendations
• Eating, gaming, or enjoying live
entertainment at the Route 66 Casino,
10 minutes west of Albuquerque on
I-40 
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You loved the TV series, now see the show
locations live and in-person, traveling in
the style and comfort of an RV just like
the one on the show! Actors from the
show will lead you on this tour of some 20
show locations including Jesse’s House,
The Dog House, Tucco’s, Combo’s Corner,
The Railyard, RV Junkyard, Crossroads,
Jane’s, Denny’s, Danny’s, The Car Wash,
Walt’s House, The Super Lab, and Los
Pollos Hermanos. Exact locations vary
by tour, and some stops to get out and
take photos are included. Guests can win
prizes for their knowledge of the show.
NM Railrunner Express to Santa Fe
Tuesday 7 AM to 3 PM
Spend a half day in Santa Fe touring the
historic plaza, Native American crafts
vendors, art galleries, museums, and
restaurants. The group will depart on
the 7:19 AM northbound train along
with attendees on the technical tour.
The technical tour attendees will split
off at Bernalillo, while the social tour will
continue on to an 8:59 AM arrival at the
Santa Fe Depot.
Return will be on the 1:02 PM southbound
train, arriving back to Albuquerque at
2:37 PM. Optionally, guests may return
on the southbound train departing
Santa Fe at 4:15 PM and arriving back to
Albuquerque at 5:50 PM. Please note
that these Rail Runner schedules are
subject to change and adjustments will
be made as necessary.
Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway
Wednesday 7:30 AM to 12 Noon
The Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is the
longest aerial tramway in the United
States and third longest in the world.
The Tram takes riders from a starting
elevation of 6,559 feet to an elevation
at 10,378 feet. This tour will be in
conjunction with the Technical Tour of
the tramway, with all attendees riding
up the mountain together and learning
about the history and operation of the
tram. Once on top, social tour attendees
will be able hike the many trails on the
Sandia Crest, see the sights, and enjoy a
refreshment or lunch (starting at 11:00
AM) at the High Finance Restaurant.
Technical tourists will need to descend by
11:00 AM, but the social tour departure
may be extended to allow more time on
the mountain. 
Questions?
Paul Barricklow, PE PTOE
2016 LAC Co-Chair
(505) 388-0988
[email protected]
Ite2016abq.com
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2016 Western District Annual Meeting Schedule
MiteY Race E-News
Join us in Albuquerque, NM on
Saturday, July 9th from 3-5 PM for the
next installment of the MiteY Race.
This year’s MiteY race is presented in
conjunction with the 2016 Western
District Annual Meeting as a fundraiser
for the Student Endowment Fund and
our theme this year is “Around the
Burque in 80 Minutes.” Student and
family/friends teams will complete
challenging but fun tasks near Old
Town Albuquerque.
Registration is open for the upcoming
race! Click here to register now!
Photo Hint #1
Sponsorship
Participation Needed
Looking for corporate exposure in
front of transportation professionals
from 13 western states and beyond?
Consider sponsoring the Western
District
Meeting.
Sponsorship
opportunities include a variety
of ways to be recognized as a
leading transportation firm from
preferred exhibit booth space to
company exposure, logo placement,
and recognition throughout the
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for conference. Consider becoming a
more clues about the upcoming race. sponsor at any of the following levels:

• Habanero............... $3,500
• Tepín ..................... $2,500
• Cayenne ................ $1,500
Vendor Registration
• Serrano ................. $1,000
• Jalapeño................ $500
Vendor registration also open. Booths
have been reduced to $1695. Visit Vendors who become Habanero or
the meeting website ite2016abq. Tepín sponsors this month have the
com and click Vendors for the latest ability to select their premium booth
exhibit hall layout and the vendor locations. Many a la carte event and
registration form. Register early for function sponsorship opportunities
the best booth location. 
are also available, click here for more
sponsorship information. 
ite2016abq.com
Registration
Registration is now open for the
ITE Western District Meeting in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 10-13,
2016. Individuals attendees should
register today at ite2016abq.com and
save $100 before early registration ends
on April 15. 
Register Early to WIN!
Full Conference Early Registrants will not
only save $100 on registrstion fees, but they
will also be entered to win a hot air balloon
ride! Two flight certificates are up for grabs.
For more information and to register early,
click here. 
#ite2016abq