New Mexico to get almost $39 million in federal dollars for three transportation projects

Jul. 5—New Mexico will get almost $39 million in federal grant funds for three transportation projects, including $15 million coming to Bernalillo County to plan the I-40 Tradeport.

New Mexico's congressional delegation announced the new funding Wednesday. The other two awards will provide millions for road improvements in Taos Pueblo and money for a regional rural rapid transit system in northern New Mexico.

I-40 Tradeport, sustainable shipping

The I-40 Tradeport Corridor project is meant to improve trade along Interstate 40 from California to New Mexico by investing in new infrastructure with regional hubs in the Albuquerque area and Kingman and Winslow, Arizona. Along with helping bring more commercial activity into the regional hubs, the project will also develop fueling stations for hydrogen- and electric-powered shipping vehicles.

The Albuquerque area will be the future home of some of those fueling stations and should also become home to warehouses for goods transported along I-40. Site locations for the regional hub are still being vetted, said Bernalillo County's Executive Development Officer Marcos Gonzales.

The Tradeport is a long-term, multi-state project with many partners — larger than the scope of most Bernalillo County projects.

"A lot of it is building the spine in this national infrastructure that's going to change the way that the supply chain moves through the country," Gonzales said.

By being part of planning the Tradeport Corridor, New Mexico can be proactive about changes already coming to the economy because of climate change and technological improvements, according to Gonzales.

"It's either 'Do we stand by and watch it happen, or do we take an active role in making sure that a lot of these critical elements are in New Mexico?' Because right now, billions and billions of dollars of goods just move through New Mexico and don't stop here, don't get added value here — aren't part of our local economy," Gonzales said. "But being part of it and building this national chain will allow a lot of activity to happen here in the metro area, not just in Albuquerque or Bernalillo County, but also with other partners, Los Lunas and in Sandoval County."

The new grant funds will be for planning, environmental site assessment and road and rail engineering.

Some of the $15 million announced this week will be allocated for each of the three hubs, Gonzales said. A portion of the money will also be spent on designing full corridor systems like the intelligent cargo systems and truck mobility complexes and how they will interact with each other.

This is the second federal grant that Bernalillo County has received for the Tradeport project. Last year the county was awarded $974,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The county is waiting to hear back on other grant applications as well, Gonzales said. So far, no county dollars are invested in planning the project, but down the road Gonzales expects the county may consider using general obligation bond funding for Tradeport construction.

The full Tradeport project will take years to complete and is expected to cost $38 billion, including public and private investment along the entire route, according to Bernalillo County Economic Development Manager Carolyn Tobias.

"On behalf of the I-40 Tradeport Corridor's coalition of partners, we appreciate this wonderful allocation for continued planning," said Bernalillo County Commission Chair Barbara Baca.

Money for Taos Pueblo, rural buses

Taos Pueblo is also getting $14.3 million to widen and pave roads, make drainage improvements and create new pedestrian infrastructure as part of the four-roads improvement project.

The North Central Regional Transit District will receive $9.5 million for phase one of the regional rural rapid transit system, a project to develop seven mobility hubs between Santa Fe and Taos. The grant funds will also be used to buy seven diesel-electric hybrid buses.

Based in Española, the NCRTD provides bus transit for communities in northern and central New Mexico, including in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, San Juan and Taos counties as well as the pueblos of Ohkay Owingeh, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Pojoaque, Santa Clara, Nambé, Picuris, Taos and the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

Where the dollars are coming from

The grant funds are coming from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, a federal grant program created by the 2021 bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

New Mexico's all-Democratic congressional delegation celebrated the grant funds with an announcement Wednesday that also touted Democratic support for the infrastructure law. All three of New Mexico's representatives and the state's senior senator, Martin Heinrich, are running for reelection in November.

"I fought to pass the Infrastructure Law to deliver the very best for New Mexico," said Heinrich. "That's absolutely true of these newest investments, which will help make families' commutes safer, easier and healthier, all while creating jobs and economic opportunities."

"I am proud to welcome nearly $39 million in Department of Transportation grants dedicated to improving our state's infrastructure in Taos, Bernalillo County, and Española," Sen. Ben Ray Luján said. "This is a substantial investment in our future, paving the way for greater connectivity, accessibility and opportunity."