Mesilla mayor says DOT will adjust university‑corridor lighting and maintain drainage after community concerns

Mayor Russell Hernandez briefed trustees on a recent one‑on‑one meeting with the DOT district engineer about the University corridor project and noted three executed agreements (roadway lighting, drainage‑pond maintenance and landscaping/maintenance) that were executed in 2023.

Hernandez said the lighting agreement specifies approximately nine 165‑watt LED luminaires with cutoff fixtures; residents and trustees have raised concerns about light trespass and fixture brightness. The mayor reported DOT is evaluating shielded fixtures and added bright yellow safety bollards and pipe fencing at specific intersections to address vehicle‑run‑off concerns.

The mayor also described drainage‑pond locations and a maintenance agreement and said DOT and town engineers are coordinating on maintenance responsibilities. He provided trustees with a binder of planning documents and timelines (the project’s MPO approval process began years earlier with preliminary approvals and design in 2019) and encouraged the public to attend an upcoming DOT public update scheduled for May 20 at Zia Middle School.

Why it matters: community concerns about lighting, stormwater detention and roadside safety prompted the town and DOT to clarify executed agreements and to add mitigation measures; trustees and residents asked for design details and for DOT to consider lighting shields to reduce trespass onto private property.

DOT and town staff continue to coordinate on final details; Hernandez said he will share the district engineer’s contact information and that copies of executed agreements are publicly available on the town website and in meeting binders.