[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6130939,"mediaKeyId","5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112","parentId",5734453,"title","District 6 engineer details I‑40 needs, local project funding and rising equipment costs","audioSeconds",591,"startMs",4243000,"endMs",4834000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112&start=4243&end=4834","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112/thumbnail_4243000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6130939/New-Mexico/District-6-engineer-details-I40-needs-local-project-funding-and-rising-equipment-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130939-205494617503590894e00a67291dcec0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152536&Signature=QVA2jjXWdIthW5YBgiawKnMXG3hh66cHhBGo0oZOawmKmdXaLvIUUKj0oeLwkCFieVkmWmxkBLzBvS5krBpjnDTnjVyjUeehQH4ImJWD6B8Gj44IzIxbTEZ8GlGv7GBBMRKxUMei9zamk~wY1Xvg5sOH-DrLFX0NxmSJlcidQV7jqvhLwG0fwFzxST5-HGB76ynCnjN5R4LvCz-OsFCHKEQ17BRGHAhRw-p5kF-3TNke~PzIz2JsMaG6gTd0fH3YPrF7mG1XHDqxU2WtbnpF4oaDXAwQ7DJ--tYrjItIoE4bexJdWsiQ2WMbpOAG3UAs8H5hQO-AqXTZiEApVz3WeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Interim - Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee","date","2025-08-21T00:00:00Z","article","Lisa Vega, District 6 engineer for New Mexico Department of Transportation, presented the district’s capital and maintenance program, highlighted I‑40 corridor study findings and flagged equipment and funding shortfalls.

Vega outlined completed appropriations from 2021–2024 and said projects funded in 2024 delivered roughly $22.6 million of work while 2025 delivery is expected to be about $10 million, with only $2 million available for equipment purchases this fiscal year. She said District 6 received $50 million statewide for wildlife crossings and that two US 550 locations are under design, but unexpected soils prompted a bridge-type re-evaluation that reduced design progress from 60% to about 30%.

On I‑40, Vega summarized the 2022 corridor study that recommended an ‘‘enhanced 2‑lane typical section’’ (two 12‑foot lanes and 12‑foot shoulders) and identified widespread needs: additional data stations, 77.5 miles of reconstruction, 51 miles of poor pavement, 118 deficient curves and 87 deficient ramps. The 2022 study estimated the total funding need for I‑40 improvements at about $3.75 billion to $4.0 billion (2022 estimate, includes 20% contingency) and proposed about $35 million for ITS improvements. Vega also provided a prioritization of roughly 67 two‑mile pavement segments requiring work based on current condition data.

Vega provided a district‑level list of prioritized but unfunded projects and presented an equipment list totaling about $24 million; the district received $2 million in the last session for equipment but said unit costs have risen (for example, the motor grader estimate moved from roughly $276,000 to about $489,000), reducing buying power. She also noted a transposition error in the published grant-match numbers for the City of Gallup project (the DOT/local match shares were reversed in the slide) and corrected it on the record.

Vega concluded by noting the district’s vacancy rate (about 7.29%, 18 positions) and said the district will continue to prioritize projects through the Transportation Asset Management Plan and local partnership programs such as the Transportation Project Fund and the Local Government Road Fund.

No formal votes were taken on project approvals; Vega requested continued legislative support for funding to cover reconstruction, ITS, equipment and maintenance needs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Interim - Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee (Pt.2) - Aug 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District 6 Engineer Lisa Vega briefed lawmakers on I‑40 corridor needs, local project lists and equipment shortages, noting a 2022 study estimated $3.75–4.0 billion to implement corridor recommendations and that district equipment costs have risen sharply.","taxTitle","Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee, Interim, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",65451,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6130944,"Lawmakers, DOT discuss dust mitigation, produced water and response drills after long highway closures",325,2901000,3226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112&start=2901&end=3226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112/thumbnail_2901000.jpg","/articles/6130944/New-Mexico/Lawmakers-DOT-discuss-dust-mitigation-produced-water-and-response-drills-after-long-highway-closures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130944-b251c786b25f344f0664827733bfa3a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152536&Signature=gdQXNgMoig2uIInRadcXbjKkoYimXRc520wCfwuQ25YKTdfngDVHDM4ol8xahA0HgZmNDyLhbiGzXwe6w6kAYToIK78N3ZZ-GqoiHX0gcIFibUXK1ZVRrV3puKUL-ba8X1F7xhpcPFN0Tla-7oXSJJK~pdXQdOWK6UCikgcNEfYrDSPBO0PtxS0RwuhowqNaaOVEO~zygxfWeckjNcVizZ9cXwG9tWAPs4tZN1eFzFUoXSQX1AlWZMzTZGqWACbOZGNHL~RFJU5bMEtYTyZekyy-Qt62qjVwo3PnPqHZ2XSnPDZ83ynHmb4321~DYc1HJt2cmFvXDOJ4mU-sXn2p5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Legislators and New Mexico Department of Transportation staff discussed dust mitigation and emergency response after long highway closures attributed to dust storms and site-preparation activities.

Representative Dow asked whether produced or desalinated water could be used to suppress dust on highways after substantial closures on Interstate 10; NMDOT staff said dust mitigation is a standing program but noted practical limits where much of the dust originates on private property or federal lands. \"Part of the challenge in doing a lot of dust mitigation is a lot of the property that needs to be worked on to minimize the dust is private property,\" a NMDOT official said.

Aaron Chavarria, a district-level NMDOT staffer, said NMDOT has used land transfers with the Bureau of Land Management and negotiated grazing changes at Lordsford Playa, but that dust sources can now come from miles away and from a mix of BLM, state land and private property. He described the situation as “sensitive” because ranchers’ livelihoods are affected by land-use changes.

Legislators asked about leasing right-of-way so the state could actively water or treat adjacent areas; NMDOT replied that leasing for mitigation is possible but would be costly and that policy clarification from the Legislature could define when mitigation should be required as part of permitting and site‑readiness for large developments. Senator Ramos and Representative Dow also proposed running cross‑agency drills with Homeland Security, local emergency managers and law enforcement to improve the speed of closures and coordinated responses for long-duration events.

NMDOT said not all problem corridors are currently targeted for mitigation; the transcript shows New Mexico Highways 9 and 15 were not on the current list of targeted dust-mitigation sites. The department said it maintains web-accessible information about dust mitigation measures and is pursuing partnerships with counties, tribes and federal land managers to identify effective interventions.","Committee members and NMDOT staff discussed dust-driven highway closures, options for mitigation such as leasing right-of-way or using produced/desalinated water, and the need for cross-agency drills and clearer policy on private lands that contribute to roadside dust.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6130949,"NMDOT outlines 'Target 0' plan aiming to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050",1291,181000,1472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112&start=181&end=1472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734453-a4f0a80c84c6cb7103df887432552112/thumbnail_181000.jpg","/articles/6130949/New-Mexico/NMDOT-outlines-Target-0-plan-aiming-to-eliminate-traffic-deaths-by-2050","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130949-46e2308e89251eda4e3c4b9f899b939c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771152536&Signature=LjMKFk4JFFcLkgmVW0c5wRWomsJogvS1EMX9EqK0z~AQP317PrLE-JWSD8mt~VVTnIud-8D1lmCWsvDksDeJzuRvTyDud0iWTStVi7jWLF6sYOPDR7xpYVWPpymf88mykuxho4aWBxmUdZy4vuLRmIgtQFlwuoaNEo-PTUvgbTQjhVLyeEJQkSdh7fGBvKfDkvonB0Fvpv27FXoIcL9dJNSVEANhkIY9EdRHy4vITIoPAbGgkGg67RGpwV77dKuIbYlwsSLSGVCkbLVsJsju3G2pE7VWS6YcZsq7oPWbFgBa8Q2uOox2Gg~5Waq5ozUBXBRRtks7WvUc78Kl2a6tPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Whitfield, a representative of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, told members of a legislative committee that NMDOT has launched “Target 0,” a comprehensive initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2050. Whitfield said the program grew out of 2023 House Memorial 85 and is modeled on national “Vision Zero” or “Toward Zero” efforts.

Whitfield said Target 0 will coordinate nine existing NMDOT safety plans and bring new, data-driven tools and countermeasures together under a safe-system approach promoted by the Federal Highway Administration. “We need to create the few things that we need, cutting edge strategies that we see in other states that we haven't employed yet. We need to coordinate,” Whitfield said. She listed AASHTOWare Safety, road-safety audits, and a hazard-perception component for driver-education as central tools.

Why this matters: New Mexico ranks high on national measures of traffic fatalities, and Whitfield cited pedestrian-fatality rankings from the Governor's Highway Safety Association and a 2018 CDC estimate that traffic fatalities cost New Mexico about $573,500,000. Whitfield told the committee the state can reduce fatalities incrementally year to year by applying proven countermeasures and addressing social contributors to risk such as homelessness, vehicle age and substance-use rates.

NMDOT described specific program elements the department is pursuing: integrating AASHTOWare Safety to prioritize locations for countermeasures; expanding road-safety audits to involve multidisciplinary teams and local stakeholders; deploying hazard-perception training across driver-education programs to standardize testing and collect outcome data; and proactively identifying 15 high-risk locations for earlier intervention.

On funding, Whitfield said NMDOT does not yet have a single total cost for reaching zero fatalities but asked the committee for increased maintenance funding, dedicated local transportation dollars to implement ADA and safety plans, supplements for rural transit, and set-aside money for targeted locations. She referenced Kansas’s safety corridor program as a model for concentrating engineering, enforcement and education in a small number of high‑risk corridors; Kansas implemented five corridors using about $2.5 million in the first year, she said.

Committee members pressed on data and local roles. Representative Delasos noted Hot-Spot maps that showed many pedestrian incidents on Central Avenue and asked how pedestrian error could read low when crash counts were high; Whitfield replied that slide 14 referenced all crashes while the hot-spot list showed pedestrian crash locations, and stressed exposure and roadway design as risk multipliers. Members and Whitfield also agreed that many hot spots are on municipally owned streets and that coordination with cities is essential; Whitfield pointed to the City of Albuquerque’s Vision Zero work and Safe Streets for All funding as examples of local efforts.

On enforcement and the social drivers of risk, Whitfield said engineering alone will not reach zero fatalities. “If we're gonna truly get to 0, we have to work with the social conditions that contribute to crash fatalities,” she said. Committee members raised homelessness and substance-use as immediate risks in places such as Central Avenue; Whitfield and city representatives noted a mix of engineering, outreach and enforcement will be required.

No formal vote or statutory change was adopted at the meeting. Whitfield said NMDOT will continue to develop Target 0 tools, convene a community of practice across NMDOT districts, send staff to national safety summits and provide technical assistance and training to local governments.

Whitfield closed by inviting elected officials and community partners to participate in an NMDOT Transportation Safety Summit planned for September, and to work with NMDOT to identify near-term, high‑impact investments to reduce fatalities.","At a New Mexico legislative committee meeting, New Mexico Department of Transportation staff described Target 0, a statewide safety initiative that bundles data tools, road-safety audits, driver-education changes and local partnerships and said increased maintenance and local funding will be needed to reduce traffic fatalities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District 6 engineer details I‑40 needs, local project funding and rising equipment costs

Lawmakers, DOT discuss dust mitigation, produced water and response drills after long highway closures

NMDOT outlines 'Target 0' plan aiming to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050