N.M. Delegation Welcomes Over $172 Million for Road and Rail Safety and Connectivity Improvements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) welcomed $172,299,188 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support a series of infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and safety for rail, pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists across several New Mexico communities. These projects are made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a landmark piece of legislation that has brought billions of dollars in infrastructure investments to New Mexico, continuing to drive critical improvements across the state.

“These grants are exactly the transformative investments that New Mexicans deserve from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This federal funding will re-envision street safety in Gallup, build safer highways near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southeastern NM, deliver a new road that will help Las Cruces grow, build new infrastructure to help the Rail Runner better serve families from Belen to Santa Fe, and improve public transit for the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the Pueblo of Taos. Combined, this funding reflects what we set out to do with our Infrastructure Law: improve safety for everyone using our roads, grow local economies, lower transportation costs, and create high-quality jobs New Mexicans can build their families around,” said Heinrich, “I am proud to have worked with the Biden Administration and Secretary Buttigieg to deliver these needed investments in our communities.” 

“I am proud to welcome over $172 million for projects that will enhance safety and connectivity across our state. These projects will ensure safer roads for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, while making our rail systems safer and strengthening the links between our communities,” said Luján. “This funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a critical investment in the future of New Mexico, and these projects will help create a more efficient, safe, and sustainable transportation network for years to come.”

“From safer roads in Santa Fe to enhanced transit for the Pueblo of Taos and Mescalero Apache Tribe, these projects are about improving safety, connectivity, and opportunity for everyone. These over $172 million will transform road and rail safety for our comunidades,” said Leger Fernández. “Thanks to the Biden/Harris Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re building a stronger, more equitable future for New Mexico, one that supports jobs, reduces costs, and ensures our transportation systems work for all.”

“Updated and well-maintained infrastructure lays the groundwork to move communities forward. Thank you to President Biden and the Department of Transportation for supporting safe transportation in New Mexico,” said Stansbury. “The over $172 million for projects across the state, including several in the First Congressional District, will bring construction jobs to our state and is transformational as New Mexico grows.”

“Investing in safer roads and modernized infrastructure is key to supporting economic growth and ensuring the well-being of our communities,” said Vasquez. “ These projects reflect our commitment to addressing rural and underserved areas’ unique needs. These investments will improve daily commutes, enhance safety for workers in the energy sector and lay the foundation for future economic opportunities.”

Projects Receiving DOT Funding:

The City of Las Cruces will receive $61.8 million from DOT’s FY25-26 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Award for the Mesa Grande Drive Extension Project. The project will construct a north-south principal arterial road that will provide a new connection between US Route 70 to Interstate Highways 25 and 10. The project includes new east-west connections at Northrise Drive, Calle Jitas Boulevard, Sedona Hills Parkway, Sonora Springs Boulevard, Sonoma Springs Avenue, and Lohman Avenue. The roadway includes a four-lane boulevard, sidewalks, protected bike lanes, high frequency transit accommodations.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive $44.8 million from the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program for the Allison Road Grade Separated Crossing Project. The project was selected for Construction and includes activities to support grade crossing and bridge-related improvements on BNSF infrastructure and on Amtrak’s Southwest Chief route in Gallup, New Mexico. The grade separated crossing would carry vehicular and non-motorized traffic and connect a newly aligned Allison Road north of the rail corridor with Florence Street (approximately 100 yards west of the existing at-grade Allison Road crossing) south of the corridor. The project aligns with selection criteria by enhancing safety and improving mobility as the project will enhance efficiency of mobility for all users, including transit users and operators, first responders, pedestrians, and cyclists. BNSF, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and the City of Gallup will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas, and specifically for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will receive $36.1 million from DOT’s FY25-26 Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant Awards for the Improving Safety and Economic Strength in New Mexico’s Energy Production Basin project. The project includes reconstruction of two segments on the NM 128 mainline and three major intersections at WIPP Road, Buck Jackson, and Orla Roads. Reconstruction of all intersections includes the addition of left-turn and right-turn lanes and deceleration and acceleration lanes for traffic entering and exiting the highway. “High-T” intersection configurations will also be constructed at each intersection to separate turning traffic from through traffic. Improvements to NM 128 include widening the existing two-lane highway to a four-lane section with a 60-foot depressed median, including ten-foot outside shoulders, and six-foot inside shoulders.

The Rio Metro Regional Transit District will receive $22.4 million from DOT’s FY 2025 RAISE Grant Awards for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express Operations and Maintenance Facility project. This project will construct a new Rail Runner Express Operations and Maintenance Facility for the purpose of inspecting and servicing commuter rail locomotives, coach cars, and cab cars. The new facility will feature a maintenance shop that is composed of a high-bay area, storage and work rooms, and offices.

McKinley County will receive $3.3 million from the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program for McKinley County-BNSF Rail Crossing Elimination Project. The project was selected for Project Planning and includes activities to evaluate the potential grade separation of 10 existing at-grade crossings in McKinley and Cibola counites, New Mexico. This project will conduct planning, alternatives analysis, and conceptual pre-engineering. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety as the project will reduce or eliminate vehicle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities. McKinley County and the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for Planning projects and the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas, and specifically for projects in counties with 20 or fewer residents per square mile.

The City of Gallup will receive $2 million from DOT’s FY24 Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Award for theCity of Gallup 2nd & 3rd Street Crossings Community Planning Project. The 2nd & 3rd Street Crossing study would identify preferred alternatives to remove two at-grade crossings of a BNSF rail line in downtown Gallup in order to restore community connectivity and reconnect two regions of the City that have historically been bisected by the rail corridor and interstate highway transportation infrastructure. An Alternatives Analysis will determine the preliminary range of reasonable alternatives necessary to carry the Project forward into future development phases.

The City of Clovis will receive $1 million dollars from the DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program for the Clovis, New Mexico Corridor Improvement Project. The project was selected for Project Development and includes activities to eliminate an existing grade crossing and make improvements to another near the BNSF Clovis Yard in Clovis, New Mexico. The project aligns with the selection criteria by enhancing safety, as the project will result in one or more grade crossing improvements, create a new overcrossing of the BNSF line, improve an existing crossing on the east side of the rail yard, and better integrate rail crossing signals into the surrounding network. The City of Clovis and BNSF will contribute the 20 percent non-Federal match. This project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.

The Mescalero Apache Tribe will receive $480,913 from the DOT’s FY24 Tribal Transit Program for a snowplow and salt spreader to ensure safe transit service in the winter months. The Mescalero Apache Tribe will receive funding to buy a snowplow-enabled maintenance vehicle to ensure continued transit services in the winter months. The project will ensure continued transit service for tribal members with improved access to jobs, healthcare, and essential services.

The Pueblo of Taos will receive $158,448 from the DOT’s FY24 Tribal Transit Program for capital improvements to two bus stops in Taos Pueblo. The Pueblo of Taos will receive funding to upgrade two bus stops to American with Disabilities Act standards, which will include shelters, lighting, and other amenities. This project will help the Pueblo of Taos continue to provide safe and reliable transit service to help tribal residents access employment, education, and healthcare.

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