SCRTD presses for share of regional urbanized transit funds in multi‑party MOU talks
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Summary
SCRTD is pursuing a multi‑party MOU with NMDOT, the Mesilla Valley MPO and Roadrunner Transit to obtain urbanized area funds; Executive Director David Armijo said the change could yield ‘‘upwards of $1,000,000 annually’’ but distribution and matching rules remain under negotiation.
The South Central Regional Transit District on Jan. 28 updated its board on negotiations to create a multi‑party memorandum of understanding among New Mexico DOT, the Mesilla Valley MPO, the City of Las Cruces (Roadrunner Transit) and SCRTD to govern planning and distribution of urbanized transit funds.
Executive Director David Armijo said SCRTD has been seeking a regional agreement for several years and is now pressing to secure its ‘‘fair share’’ of 5307/urbanized capital and operating funds that flow through the urbanized area. He told the board the change could be material: ‘‘we think it'll be upwards of $1,000,000 annually,’’ a sum he said could allow the district to reallocate resources across Anthony, Chaparral and Hatch and invest in bus shelters, benches and other capital needs.
Armijo described the distribution mechanics as complex and dependent on MPO agreement and local matching rules. He said the district will only access New Mexico portions of the regional funds and noted some monies historically required waivers or were not granted; he cited prior El Paso arrangements as a model for how multi‑jurisdictional sharing has worked.
Board members acknowledged that Roadrunner Transit and the City of Las Cruces could resist sharing funds and urged continued MPO engagement. Armijo asked for assistance from board members who sit on the MPO to help move negotiations forward.
Next steps: SCRTD will continue discussions with the Mesilla Valley MPO and state partners, prepare data on revenue hours and miles to support its allocation claim, and present a 10‑year plan to the board in coming months.
