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Mesilla Valley MPO adopts Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2050 after amendments
Summary
The Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization governing board on June 11 adopted Resolution 25-13 to approve the Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2050, after correcting the plan year to 2050 and adding “safe” to the plan’s core policy.
The Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization governing board on June 11 adopted Resolution 25-13 to approve the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) 2050, after members approved two amendments: correcting the plan year to 2050 and adding the word “safe” to the plan’s core policy.
The MTP 2050 is the MPO’s federally required 20-year transportation plan and updates Mobility 2045. Dominic Loya, presenting the plan, said the update was “18 months in the making” and explained that cost increases, inflation and changes in local development altered the prioritization and viability of many projects included in the previous plan.
Board members and advisory committees raised concerns about removal of certain active-mobility projects from the map. George Pearson, chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), urged adding safety to the core policy and said changing the policy to read “planning, implementing, and maintaining a safe transportation system” would support Vision Zero goals. Staff endorsed that wording and the board approved the amendment by roll call.
The plan retains most long-range goals from Mobility 2045—prioritizing system maintenance, multimodal connectivity, equity, resiliency and economic vitality—but staff removed projected maintenance cost estimates because of fluctuating materials prices. Loya listed projects the MPO expects in the next five years that are currently in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): Dripping Springs improvements, the English interchange, completion of the I-25 capacity study, the Las Cruces Lateral Trail, signal upgrades, several railroad crossing upgrades, a local bridge replacement and the University multimodal project; other items include US 70 Phase 5 and several I-10 bridge projects. Projects further out include the Arrowhead interchange, US 70 pavement preservation, I-25 widening and the I-10 rehabilitation project between I-25 and the state line. Loya noted Mesa Grande could move into the nearer-term program as grant funding becomes available.
BPAC and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recommended adoption but flagged concerns. BPAC asked that staff restore or re-evaluate active mobility projects removed from earlier MTP drafts; staff said it would work with BPAC to develop a potential projects list soon. TAC requested clarifications on project descriptions and highlighted gaps in the active-mobility network.
Action and votes: Councilor Koren moved to approve the plan as presented; members later approved a friendly correction to change references from “2025” to “2050,” and approved Trustee Johnson Buric’s motion to add “safe” into the core vision policy. The board passed the resolution as amended by unanimous roll call.
The MTP must be adopted to maintain federal funding eligibility for Doña Ana County jurisdictions. Staff said public comments received during the draft period will be published in the plan appendices and that the plan will be distributed after adoption. BPAC’s chair and other board members asked staff to continue work with local jurisdictions to restore aspirational active-transportation projects in future updates.
The board’s approval sets the MPO’s policy framework and project list for programming and TIP amendments; staff indicated TIP amendments and cost updates will follow as project estimates change.
