Santa Fe council ratifies NMDOT extensions for Asequia and Tierra Contenta trail projects
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Summary
The council ratified two New Mexico Department of Transportation cooperative-agreement amendments extending the design and construction deadlines for the Asequia and Tierra Contenta trail extensions, citing scope changes, stormwater work and prairie‑dog relocations; both motions passed on roll call.
The Santa Fe governing body on Jan. 15 ratified two amendments to cooperative agreements with the New Mexico Department of Transportation to extend deadlines and adjust scope on local trail projects.
City clerk read item 10e asking the council to ratify a second amendment to cooperative-project agreement 25-0546 to extend the term through Dec. 30, 2027, for engineering design of S100650, the Asequia Trail extension. Capital projects manager Romella Glorios Omas told the council that NMDOT’s standard one-month turnaround for approving contract amendments does not allow municipal review by the city attorney, finance and the relevant committees. Staff requested and received city‑manager authority under Santa Fe City Code 2-46(b) to enter the amendment and brought the measure forward for ratification. Romella said the extension also accommodates additional project scope to address stormwater drainage issues in the Morning Drive subdivision. The council approved the ratification on roll call.
The governing body then ratified item 10f, a second amendment to cooperative‑project agreement 24-0535 for construction of S100770, the Tierra Contenta Trail extension. The amendment extends the contract through Dec. 30, 2026, and adds $2,000,000 in federal funding to complete construction and close out the federally funded project. Romella told the council the extension was needed to allow relocation of prairie dogs in compliance with the city ordinance (capture windows Apr. 1–Apr. 30 and Jun. 15–Sept. 15) and to permit an orderly federal closeout. She said the trail will provide a safe route to school for students attending Sweeney Elementary School and Ortiz Middle School; staff cited an SFMPO count of roughly 60–70 students who use the trail.
Councilors thanked staff for responsiveness to community concerns about project construction and voted to approve the amendment on roll call.
What happens next: Staff will proceed under the extended agreements with design and construction work and continue coordination with NMDOT and federal funders. Any substantial contract changes will be brought back to the governing body as required.