[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6130951,"mediaKeyId","5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c","parentId",5734447,"title","Grant County prospectors group details vetted capital‑outlay process and New Mexico Grow grants","audioSeconds",1225,"startMs",1296000,"endMs",2521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c&start=1296&end=2521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c/thumbnail_1296000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6130951/New-Mexico/Grant-County-prospectors-group-details-vetted-capitaloutlay-process-and-New-Mexico-Grow-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130951-9c5f9d3b5b558f4b5fd63e8b081966a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398872&Signature=K6uyLYzcZIuYxXuPX7J9QfzkdxGxm1YxWmjP0ppVbjqwQ00qOUCLSoUsK6GxVfCBH6LDC2Fmtt9tPBMrnan7oQkYw63ji0i5VSuDdRYeOWUg-~lxoRNeZOQo6ajs2gk4sHkHDY7UwlHxE5wEgg-3CTecTmD9jZWg2rtL-zAEJHrFancIqD5Pd0JhEpHOwnz0gMfRvEoRMhdI~A~xvQF6xLc-ZR4wIOJgct7gG~5FIfmxxjMxjj2x3cvts8S-BxK2ikF9ae1K4vZr5c32Z-WumQ~yqY5jPZjNzv3Di~WMKNjmOh04N0h2dzmwL90JjElt4d6G426ics22Z8pZeUjBSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Interim - Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee ","date","2025-08-22T00:00:00Z","article","Priscilla Lucero, speaking for the Grant County Prospectors and the Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments, described a long‑standing local project vetting process and early‑childhood and community grant administration that lawmakers said has helped rural applicants access capital outlay and other state funds.

Lucero described the prospectors as a regional vetting and prioritization forum for capital outlay and related requests that began in 1975 and that she has worked with for roughly 25 years. She said the Prospectors process reduces duplicate requests to legislators by consolidating and prioritizing local governments’, education and nonprofit project proposals and by helping to craft accurate legislative language.

New Mexico Grow and grant administration
Lucero said she administers New Mexico Grow funds and currently manages 37 grant agreements and that the program is about 50% expended in her region. “For the money that I got from New Mexico Grow, we have benefited in 1 year 15,000 individuals with your dollars,” she told legislators.

Lucero also said she now administers the Imagination Library program for 33 counties after securing an initial $100,000 allocation through CYFD years ago; she said the program has expanded and that a national appearance by the program’s founder is planned to visit New Mexico soon.

Why it matters
Legislators praised the regional vetting process as an efficiency that helps elected officials allocate capital spending and ensure proposals are EO‑compliant and well drafted. Lawmakers said the prospectors’ screening reduces workload and improves the likelihood that projects the Legislature approves will be properly implemented.

No formal action followed the presentation; Lucero urged local and legislative staff to consult with Prospectors ahead of future capital‑outlay cycles.

This account draws only on testimony and figures presented to the committee by Priscilla Lucero at the Western New Mexico University meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Interim - Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee - Aug 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Priscilla Lucero described the Grant County Prospectors’ regional vetting process for capital outlay and said she is administering New Mexico Grow grants for 33 counties, reporting the program is roughly 50% expended and has served an estimated 15,000 people in the region so far.","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},6130956,"Legislators praise Western New Mexico University, discuss dual‑credit, Deming campus and short courses",475,421000,896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c&start=421&end=896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c/thumbnail_421000.jpg","/articles/6130956/New-Mexico/Legislators-praise-Western-New-Mexico-University-discuss-dualcredit-Deming-campus-and-short-courses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130956-1c3c67be7d09b0acb7dda86aca811a8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398872&Signature=TKTPjDCzlW7rX5qg~Xptjc9rJHcZtO56QpKJYrDClOqeu2H-y2ng9KrwIMfMBcOubvITBfHFwhZGZDtFvmJ92stiVZvETNd0pcSTbwrUlfKMnTsF4z5uYOPaZKKqEc5WaVh60Wg~bNtQnucDH3qvXCP1z7qURpXwH0aQrHRvXPTx~VbLzp1JxEZBMekAqWIchdlURmoaPQrSk6tuHuYCnAy4pYzrB30OS7VnuLYmHQePqPWYqUPr6DYNGjA-W-P6STxfI161q8PLjd5G82NRkCmkvIxYV5y0DWPhXPsZSXebQdnGLzW2Jv8Um7uwXR3H-usWiQll8kqzfXS7~lWK6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Western New Mexico University’s interim president told a legislative interim committee visiting the Silver City campus that the university serves about 3,000 students, most of them in some online course formats, and that the school is emphasizing workforce and career‑technical partnerships for the region.

Interim President Chris Maples said the university’s profile as “New Mexico’s applied arts and sciences campus” makes it a natural host for transportation and infrastructure panels. “We’re at about students around 3,000 or so,” Maples said when asked for enrollment. He also said many WNMU students take courses online and that faculty teach from across and outside the state.

Lawmakers and university leaders discussed several recurring topics
- Dual and concurrent enrollment: Representatives praised WNMU’s dual‑ and concurrent‑enrollment work and the university’s local partnerships with schools, the hospital, veterans’ facilities and early‑childhood providers. Maples and lawmakers emphasized that dual and accelerated degree pathways can reduce time and cost for students and strengthen a rural workforce.
- Deming/John Arthur Smith campus: Representatives asked about activity at the Deming campus. Maples said the university intends to maintain and grow a presence in Deming and is still finalizing plans for construction and program development, citing ongoing proposals and an interest in responsive, nimble programming for rural communities.
- New short course/paraprofessional certification: Representative Dow described work with Representative Terrazas on a 6‑ to 8‑week paraprofessional certification for archaeological surveys that federal rules allow in extraordinary circumstances (for rapid response to catastrophic events). The course would create more “boots on the ground” for thinning, recovery and post‑fire stabilization; Maples said Western could add a course and expects local enrollment.

Why it matters: lawmakers said strengthening dual enrollment, career‑technical education and short, practical certifications helps reduce student debt, build the local workforce and keep graduates in New Mexico. Several legislators also described grants and capital outlay investments that depend on close local‑university collaboration.

What was not decided: committee members did not take formal action on capital projects, but several legislators asked for continued coordination with the university on nursing, early‑childhood and technical programs and follow‑up on Deming campus plans.

This account is based on committee testimony given at Western New Mexico University by Interim President Chris Maples and lawmakers including Representatives Dow, Terrazas and Jones.","Interim Western New Mexico University president and lawmakers highlighted the university's role in rural workforce training, dual‑credit programs and plans to expand services in Deming; lawmakers and the interim president also discussed a possible paraprofessional archaeological certification to support recovery and fire mitigation.",{"_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},6130961,"Non‑punitive license‑plate diversion program presented as way to reduce uninsured drivers",1242,3000000,4242000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c&start=3000&end=4242","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c/thumbnail_3000000.jpg","/articles/6130961/New-Mexico/Nonpunitive-licenseplate-diversion-program-presented-as-way-to-reduce-uninsured-drivers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130961-b4377cad183e060947e066401698576d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398872&Signature=chmrS6eLpdHmtTe4kKyN1c4nZUicIbVl4AIAqAMLVEkJuHSpLLqm0ngbhRNICxFpiWh7jgnLNkgQ5oKmJWKSNHTLq5Ca3iyihDqHsinu-ByUZ1aCFDwTlBCV-Dyip0GgfRqZgGgP1msJRcSK-TykD8LESJepzdeAJjoHc7RbbAFNk~La6owJaa8TiZaVFnKdDPlM~K~gmjuJWKISiMSY3P~jsiRS0yzfBrDJeP-JFvRda1egLe4WOJ94AANILkjfuVTTkKj7UEE6f-T2fCWqtWTG8HC8QQ5jVT2yamcdkDSgGOwHLiPYtXWBWTMFTNaA7g9~HF2FpBMDXO2tZtQEsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A non‑punitive license‑plate recognition and diversion program was presented to legislators as a way to reduce New Mexico’s high uninsured‑motorist rate without adding costs to local governments.

Former state Representative Michael O’Gheen introduced the program and said New Mexico has a rising uninsured‑driver problem. “Right now, about one third of our driving population is uninsured,” O’Gheen said in committee remarks. He described a vendor model, introduced by Jonathan Miller and allied law‑enforcement voices, that combines automated rear‑plate reads with a diversion workflow rather than arrest or heavy fines.

How it works and what presenters said
Jonathan Miller, the presenter who described the vendor service, told the committee the program is intended to be “less stressful, less onerous” for motorists and “at no cost to local government.” The system captures rear license plates, checks them against a daily “hot list” (insurance status and other flags), and routes matches to a law‑enforcement‑controlled adjudication workflow. Chief Paul Sell, a former IACP official in one of the program videos, emphasized three benefits: fewer court appearances, safer roads and no cost to participating police agencies.

Miller said the approach is widely used in other states and jurisdictions, and he cited examples of punitive approaches elsewhere to contrast the diversion model (e.g., Wisconsin fines up to $5,000; an example he attributed to other jurisdictions). He said the model can be configured so law enforcement controls any stop decisions, and the automated read itself does not automatically generate a roadside stop.

Local officials’ questions and clarifications
Committee members and local officials asked about privacy, who receives notices, and how the system reaches owners. Miller said the system uses the plate and VIN to verify whether a plate is stolen or mis‑affixed, and that only law enforcement can act on an alert. Notices or diversion offers are then mailed to the registered owner; the vendor operates a helpdesk and an online portal where drivers can take an online diversion course and resolve their case without a court appearance. Miller explained a typical diversion cost in other jurisdictions is about $300 total; program rules in many areas allow payment plans as low as $50 per month, with half of collections retained by the local agency and the other half to cover program operations and equipment.

Public‑safety and civil‑liberties notes
Presenters emphasized the system captures only rear plates (no faces) and that local law enforcement maintains control of any enforcement action. They also said the program can identify stolen vehicles, outstanding warrants and other priorities during plate reads. Several committee members asked about municipal and county authority; Miller said cities can adopt ordinances but counties in some states require legislative authorization or statutory tweaks. He said many jurisdictions have implemented similar programs without a state appropriation.

What the committee did not decide
The committee did not adopt policy or funding. Committee members asked staff to coordinate additional conversations with municipal and county associations and law enforcement to resolve privacy, legal and operational questions.

Provenance: the matter was introduced when the chair announced a presentation on a no‑cost, no‑risk solution to uninsured motorists and included testimony from Michael O’Gheen, Jonathan Miller and a recorded statement from Chief Paul Sell.","A private vendor and former state lawmaker proposed a license‑plate recognition diversion program that avoids arrests and court appearances, offers a low‑cost compliance pathway and, according to presenters, identifies stolen cars and warrants while reducing court workload.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6130966,"New Mexico DOT warns nearly $471 million gap puts federal grants and major highways at risk",1721,5323000,7044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c&start=5323&end=7044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c/thumbnail_5323000.jpg","/articles/6130966/New-Mexico/New-Mexico-DOT-warns-nearly-471-million-gap-puts-federal-grants-and-major-highways-at-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130966-d1a076b7fe25c1a358d9ce041978fab1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398872&Signature=fH-rlj~cyGM8F5Moa0boKcyDRp5x36YqCCPMeOFIY3MT0WTbhL7Bdui~bQSMlgEFVqSZsCTyvrq1PuyqwQTKJDY8gG2ZqbOynGLxePzwFD1qcY0NvjSSAcxiagxtipc69INwZYG5a4ETk0NLgVljVGTMPeadjH4rkGk-lSD150THj1PvgO46ehd8glk12WQHG305DTjNeBsqq1nC9jwD7D9q7tcIcMfExCa5QsVziXcQXO65C8esYxEnPCdkFVh4qZ8rzx5WTDLwC~MvQwUGZSIKmd18EbqRXKbuSrUUISCSm8llechasx4hurDuZ8wslM-s-hWyD8~dxgY~~5mXKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Mexico Department of Transportation told a legislative interim committee at Western New Mexico University that roughly $471 million in funding gaps across the department’s priority projects could jeopardize more than $330 million in federal grant awards and delay or cancel major highway projects statewide.

The department’s chief engineer, David Quintana, told the committee that total priority construction needs now total about $1.48 billion and that about $678 million is already obligated; the remaining shortfall across prioritized projects is approximately $471 million. Quintana said roughly $330 million of federal grant funding is at risk if the state cannot cover required matching or other gaps.

Quintana said several large projects face near-term deadlines tied to grant obligations. “We received a USDOT bridge improvement grant award in the amount of $71,500,000,” he said of the Nogal Canyon bridge project, then added, “we have to request FHWA to obligate those funds by next September, in order to to realize that funding. If not, there’s a potential we could lose them.” He gave similar deadlines for an INFRA grant on the new border-connector project at Santa Teresa and for other awarded grants.

Why it matters: Quintana and NMDOT staff said losing federal awards would not only delay construction but also undermine the state’s ability to attract and manage future competitive grants. Department officials and committee members repeatedly linked the funding gap to a wider, longer-term challenge: flat or slowly growing state road revenues while construction costs rise and federal competitive grants grow more prominent and conditional.

What the DOT presented and recommended
- Project-level gaps: Quintana listed several high-priority projects with gaps. Examples included Nogal Canyon bridge (estimated construction cost about $146 million; gap roughly $74.5 million after a $71.5 million federal award), the Santa Teresa border connector (estimated construction cost $170 million; a $45 million INFRA award leaves an estimated $125 million gap) and other bridge and interchange projects across multiple districts. He said some grants carry firm obligation deadlines that require the state to prove its match within months.
- Statewide totals: Quintana summarized priority project costs at $1.48 billion, grant funds at risk at $330 million, other obligated funds about $678 million and total gaps near $471 million.
- DOT finances and workforce: Secretary Ricky Serna told the committee the State Road Fund is “just over $500,000,000 and so half of it goes directly to just paying DOT — just DOT salaries and benefits.” Michael Morrison, the department’s chief economist, cited the January trip-report data showing deteriorated roads cost New Mexicans roughly $3.6 billion annually in vehicle operating, safety and congestion costs.
- Policy options discussed: DOT staff described the limits of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), the dependence on federal competitive grants, and the department’s preference to convert some new revenue into bonding authority for larger, multi-year projects rather than one-time appropriations that must be spent quickly. The DOT and allied lawmakers referenced language in a prior bill (House Bill 145) that would have issued bonding authority tied to new, dedicated revenue streams.

Legislative and industry reactions
Representatives and stakeholders told the committee they had heard directly from contractors about layoffs and lost capacity after a recent legislative session failed to authorize more predictable bonding or other recurring road funding. Representative Terraz as read a statement written by Sterling Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Construction, that urged a one-time appropriation (Sterling’s statement recommended at least $200 million) to avoid losing matching funds and the jobs they support.

Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales and several committee members said predictable, recurring funding would allow contractors and DOT to plan projects and preserve local workforce capacity; several legislators cited the bonding authority in last year’s House Bill 145 as a rejected but viable path.

What DOT staff said about tradeoffs and timing
Quintana emphasized the practical constraints of federal grants and the STIP: projects in the first four years of the STIP must be fiscally constrained and obligations for some grant awards require proof of state match by specific dates. “We’re scrambling to figure out how we’re gonna find that money,” Quintana said of at least one major corridor grant. Secretary Serna and the DOT economists urged the committee to consider a mix of funding tools — modest recurring revenue increases, targeted surcharges, and bonding tied to new revenue — so the state can meet grant matches without creating unsustainable recurring obligations.

What was not decided
The committee did not take any votes. Lawmakers debated options, asked DOT to provide more comparative data and asked the executive branch for follow-up; no new appropriations or formal directions were adopted in the meeting.

Context and next steps
DOT officials said that without additional state funding or bonding authority, some federal awards could be lost and construction schedules delayed, and that those outcomes would in turn raise costs for New Mexicans (through vehicle repairs, congestion and safety impacts) and reduce the state’s capacity to use future competitive federal funds. Several legislators urged renewed work on predictable revenue sources (registration fees, weight-distance tax adjustments, delivery surcharges or incremental fuel tax changes) and suggested reconsidering bonding tied to dedicated new revenue.

Quotations used in this article are taken directly from committee testimony and DOT staff presentations during the Western New Mexico University meeting.","Department of Transportation staff told legislators a roughly $471 million funding shortfall across priority projects could force the state to forfeit about $330 million in federal grants and delay major interchanges, bridges and the Santa Teresa border connector without new revenue or bonding authority.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6130947,"Dust storms, bridge outages and rest‑area closures strain DOT District 1 operations",1382,11311000,12693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c&start=11311&end=12693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734447-d6f8df89e88e21ea38f993f69bad098c/thumbnail_11311000.jpg","/articles/6130947/New-Mexico/Dust-storms-bridge-outages-and-restarea-closures-strain-DOT-District-1-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6130947-09824820e27cd1f07fb2f6aef75d25de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770398872&Signature=LQphgsTb~R4Ma-5ff2XhjDGdv7oYhzM0BaIOab~diMj5NYGAcN438ZRUueUziD2arq1O24nap3D8dnpLQNBFt35j62fRygvNnuMV8gNWiYjQb91UfRDatZgFQy3NlTiBW6PcBngMA1b13rTghtY3hboQMq-2RyPvuGG5ciM3qdEqzYBMz~3xiuimAMw2kLCNq8lBBHfROnfosyKt7WinyYOWR60C-tlD89NxdDT08Bdiq8d8yKb0naVO2UFmjxKje0OOojLyQXv7i57V3xTgpcV5zaMwWu0~RlHUR0emVFsaBoIu2dwsMIcGqnhlGyByjZKpYPr~wVkcIPvKGiKJ6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","New Mexico DOT’s District 1 told legislators that severe dust storms, bridge failures and several rest‑area problems are creating recurring safety and economic disruptions across the southwestern part of the state.

District 1 engineer Aaron Chavarria told the committee the district covers six counties and manages roughly 350 centerline interstate miles; the district’s operating budget for the year is about $45.8 million. He said the district has about $300 million in current construction contracts and 22 staff vacancies among nearly 300 positions.

Dust storms and closures
Chavarria described repeated dust‑storm closures along I‑10 and other corridors this year. “This past year specifically, it started February 27. We had our first storm… Since then, we’ve had close to 50 road closures, around Deming, I‑10, all the way to Las Cruces, all the way to the Texas line just due to storms, dust storms,” he said. He described DOT mitigation steps: advance warning systems, variable speed signage, outreach to truckers and partnerships with federal land managers and ranchers to reduce exposed playa and dust sources.

Bridge outage and local impacts
The district engineer described an I‑10 bridge near Lordsburg that was struck and taken out of service; the closure reduced business traffic and cost jobs in Lordsburg, he said. The district is repairing the bridge and coordinating with local workforce agencies to help affected workers while repairs proceed. Chavarria said DOT aimed to reopen the bridge within weeks and that he had discussed surge assistance with Workforce Solutions.

Rest areas and water issues
Chavarria said some rest areas remain closed for safety reasons (including a well with high nitrate levels) and that the district is replacing systems and repairing leach fields to reopen them safely. He described a custodial contract that keeps 12 rest areas maintained in District 1 and noted the high cost of repairs and vandalism; he also said the district is reviewing capital outlay for upgrades to reduce repeated closures.

Budget and capacity notes
District 1’s annual budget of roughly $45.8 million includes about $25 million for salaries and benefits, Chavarria said; he contrasted that with an El Paso district counterpart who reported a roughly $50 million maintenance budget for a similar interstate footprint. Chavarria warned that limited maintenance dollars and staff vacancies make extended, repeated emergency responses harder to absorb.

What the committee did not do
The committee heard the district briefing and asked questions; no formal appropriation or action was taken. District staff said they will pursue repairs, water‑quality fixes and ITS enhancements and will return with further updates if requested.

This article reflects District 1 testimony to the committee; project status and financial details should be confirmed with DOT documents for operational decisions.","District 1 engineers reported frequent dust‑storm closures, a major bridge outage affecting Lordsburg businesses, rest‑area water contamination and a maintenance budget that local engineers say is tight compared with neighboring districts — all stressing crews and local economies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Grant County prospectors group details vetted capital‑outlay process and New Mexico Grow grants

Legislators praise Western New Mexico University, discuss dual‑credit, Deming campus and short courses

Non‑punitive license‑plate diversion program presented as way to reduce uninsured drivers

New Mexico DOT warns nearly $471 million gap puts federal grants and major highways at risk

Dust storms, bridge outages and rest‑area closures strain DOT District 1 operations