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BPAC recommends four TIP amendments including I‑25 capacity study PE funds and US‑70 safety work
Summary
The Mesilla Valley MPO BPAC voted to recommend four amendments to the region’s Transportation Improvement Program: three NMDOT items (I‑25 capacity study, Engler interchange timing change, US‑70 median/wall/lighting PE funds) and a South Central Regional Transit District operations suballocation.
The Mesilla Valley MPO Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee on April 15 voted to recommend that the MPO governing board approve four Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) amendments proposed by MPO staff and NMDOT.
MPO staff described three NMDOT amendments and one South Central Regional Transit District (SCRTD) suballocation. The amendments would add or move preliminary engineering funds for highway safety and capacity work and add an operations suballocation for SCRTD for federal fiscal year 2026.
The amendments as presented to the committee were:
- LC00380: Add preliminary engineering (PE) funds for an I‑25 capacity study for federal fiscal year 2026. The packet listed STIP PE funds of $299,040 with a road-fund match of $50,960; the new project total shown in MPO materials was $7,217,188. MPO staff said the study will affect performance measure 1 (safety) targets.
- LC00380 (Engler interchange): Move construction funding from federal fiscal year 2028 to fiscal year 2027 in the amount of $854,400 with a road fund match listed in the packet (see clarifying note below). MPO staff said this shift does not change the project’s total cost and will affect performance measure 1 safety targets.
- LC00530: Add PE funds in federal fiscal year 2026 for a US‑70 median concrete wall barrier and lighting project. The packet listed STIP funds of $1,281,600 with a road-fund match of $218,400 (PE total $1,500,000) and a new project total of $11,500,000; staff said the work is tied to safety performance measures.
- TL00160: Add a South Central Regional Transit District 5307 suballocation for operations for federal fiscal year 2026. The packet listed an FTA suballocation of $25,833 with a local match of $25,833 for a total of $51,666; MPO staff said this amendment will have no effect on current performance measures.
Committee members sought clarification of acronyms and timelines. A committee member asked whether “PE” meant planning; staff clarified PE refers to preliminary engineering and that the I‑25 capacity study work is beyond what would be allowed for a pure planning category. When asked about construction timing for the Engler interchange, MPO staff said construction remains several years out, likely around 2028.
MPO staff asked the committee to recommend approval to the governing board. A motion to recommend approval was moved and seconded and the committee approved the package by voice vote; no roll-call vote was recorded in the committee minutes.
The amendments will appear on the MPO governing board agenda for formal action; committee members asked that staff provide further schedule details for the Engler interchange at a future meeting.
