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I found this article rather interesting....it was in the Alamogordo Daily News a few days ago, as well as online here:
Small towns among NM's fastest-growing
BARRY MASSEY,Associated Press Writer
SANTA FE (AP) - Smaller communities have been among the fastest-growing in New Mexico this decade, and the village of Cuba leads the pack, according to the Census Bureau.
I found it rather interesting that Cuba is at the top of the list for growth.
When I first started going through Cuba on the way to Farmington in 2006, I thought the place was dying on the vine. Looks like that's not the case at all, though it is still tiny, at less than 2,000.
It is at a nice, cooler high elevation (74-7500 ft) in some stunningly beautiful country. I had not seen it in the summer until this year. The last few times I had gone through, it was mostly snow-covered.
The same was true for 550, from Bernalillo (are they EVER going to get through with the construction mess?!?!?!) to Durango. The changing colors and landscapes are all gorgeous in their own right, whether they are mountains or mesas. I so love the drive for its sheer beauty and changing scenery.
I just wish it were not so long. Although the drive is pretty all the way from Alamogordo via 54/380/550, I do not understand why the speed limits are so low on both 380 and 54.
Although there are sections on both 54 and 380 that deserve the lower 55 MPH, much of both are in excellent condition, and can easily handle 70-75.
I had 2 front doors, and if conditions were good, I'd go at least 65-70 behind them. 55 MPH on good roads is excruciatingly boring and unnecessary.
Why do they set the limits so low on good roads? I can understand smaller sections being set at 55, but.....geeze.
Is it the high incidents of drunks on the roads?
Going via Las Cruces is an option, but the higher speed limts on 25 do not make up for the extra 80 miles on that route.
Are there many Cubans in Cuba? If that offends anyone, I apologize in advance.
I agree concerning the painfully low speed limits. The drive on US 60, from TX through Fort Sumner and beyond, is painfully slow at the speed limit (at least it's 60 mph instead of 55, as I recall, but it's still 10 mph too low). I suspect revenue generation might be a reason.
Are there many Cubans in Cuba? If that offends anyone, I apologize in advance.
I agree concerning the painfully low speed limits. The drive on US 60, from TX through Fort Sumner and beyond, is painfully slow at the speed limit (at least it's 60 mph instead of 55, as I recall, but it's still 10 mph too low). I suspect revenue generation might be a reason.
Yes, I've driven 60--a real snoozer.
Of course that's it--my cynicism meter must be off this week.
I don't have any other way to go except through Cruces...and since it doesn't save me any time at all, I probably wouldn't go that route again unless I needed to stop in Cruces at Sam's Club or something like that. It's at least 45 min longer.
Contrast that with my route home. I can go either through Cloudcroft, Artesia, Carlsbad, Pecos....and on down until I hit 10 for the last part.
Or, I can go 54 to EP and then 10 all the way in at 85 most of the way. I save at least 30-45 minutes, even though it is 30 miles farther as the crow flies. So much of the Cloudcroft route is so slow that other is worth it!
Last edited by Cathy4017; 07-13-2010 at 07:17 AM..
The only rationale I can think of for the low speed limits (other than revenue generation) is the greater likelihood that one would be able to miss an animal that runs out into the road. But I doubt that the authorities considered that.
I hate driving on Interstates, but they do save time!
Why is everyone in such a hurry? I recently drove I-40 from Kingman to Albuquerque and back and couldn't believe that the speed limit was 75 and people were passing us like we were standing still. Guess I've been in Alaska too long....top speed limit anywhere is 65....and still only 55 in a lot of places.
Why is everyone in such a hurry? I recently drove I-40 from Kingman to Albuquerque and back and couldn't believe that the speed limit was 75 and people were passing us like we were standing still. Guess I've been in Alaska too long....top speed limit anywhere is 65....and still only 55 in a lot of places.
But how are the roads in the 55 MPH zones in AK?
65 isn't bad, but anything below that on a good road is just a pain. I don't like spending all of my time in the car!
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