SCRTD board approves ICIP prioritizing Venus facility, microgrid and electric buses

The South Central Regional Transit District board approved a five‑year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for fiscal years 2027–2031 during its May 28 meeting.

Tim, a staff member presenting the plan, told the board the ICIP is “a local planning tool” used to establish project priorities and to file an updated five‑year plan with the state. He outlined seven priority projects in order: the Venus Road office and maintenance facility; a Sunland Park microgrid; electric buses planned for FY2027; Sunland Park facility upgrades; hybrid buses for FY2027; bus shelter purchases; and updates to the micro‑transit fleet and dispatching software.

Tim described the Venus facility work as phase two of a previously funded project that will add an office and maintenance capacity to reduce deadhead mileage for vehicles serving the East Mesa and northern service area. The microgrid project would generate solar energy to serve electric vehicles at the Sunland Park Mobility and Energy Hub. Staff said the electric‑vehicle purchases include smaller vans for low‑ridership routes and larger hybrids where charging infrastructure is not yet available.

Mayor Murillo moved to begin discussion and Trustee Powe seconded that motion; the board then voted to approve the ICIP list. A roll call recorded the votes as yes from Trustee Powe, Mayor Hernandez, Mayor Murillo and Commissioner Sanchez; the motion passed.

Board members and staff said the ICIP will help prioritize projects for grant requests and legislative outreach. Tim and other staff said the cleaned‑up ICIP will make the district’s funding requests more visible to state and federal partners.

The resolution passed as an action item; staff will pursue programming and grant steps required to implement the listed projects.