Summary
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.
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.
