Washington,
Apr 2, 2004 -
Twenty-eight million dollars to reconstruct the Coors and Interstate 40 interchange in Albuquerque. Another $10 million to expand a highway running from Carlsbad to Texas. A million to develop a transportation plan near the border.
Those are just a few of the New Mexico projects contained in a massive federal highway spending bill set for a vote today in the House.
The bill also authorizes the initiation of a Belen-to-Santa Fe commuter rail project, with a dollar figure expected to be attached at a later date.
In all, the House bill would bring nearly $2 billion in federal dollars to New Mexico to improve roads and transportation over the next six years, according to Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican member of the House Transportation Committee.
Each of the three members of New Mexico's U.S. House delegation has touted projects contained in the controversial bill. The measure has been assailed by budget watchdog groups, and President Bush has threatened a veto. If the measure passes today, it will still need to be negotiated with the Senate.
A report by Taxpayers for Common Sense released Thursday showed that New Mexico ranks 41st in the nation in terms of dollars ($92 million) in the House bill for specifically requested projects. The rest of the nearly $2 billion for New Mexico is set by funding formulas.
Some of the specific New Mexico projects— or those earmarked by members of different congressional districts— include:
· $50 million for buses and bus equipment in Albuquerque over the next six years;
· $2 million to widen U.S. 491 (formerly U.S. 666) from Gallup to Shiprock;
· $2 million for a Santa Fe Railyard Redevelopment project;
· $11 million to build a two-lane enhancement of U.S. 54 from Tularosa to Santa Rosa;
· $2 million for planning and design of an interchange proposed for the new Mesa del Sol interchange in Albuquerque;
· $2 million to improve the interchange at I-25 and Tramway in Albuquerque; and
· $2 million for improvements to U.S. Highway 64/87 from Raton to Clayton.
