Congresswoman Heather Wilson, First Congressional District of New Mexico
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| Albuquerque Transportation Funding On the Way to the White House |
October 04, 1999 |
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WASHINGTON -- Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced that Albuquerque transportation projects have cleared the last hurdle before going to the President. Both the House and the Senate have passed the Conference Report on the bill. The Congresswoman called on the President to sign the measure. The Transportation Appropriations bill contains funds for several projects included at Wilson's request, including:
- $2 million for an intelligent transportation system to reduce traffic congestion during reconstruction of the Big I;
- $2 million for a west side bus maintenance facility; and
- $1.25 million for the purchase of buses and vehicles in Bernalillo County
"These projects are vital for the Albuquerque metro area," Wilson said. "By helping ease traffic snarls during construction of the Big I and providing bus service for the West Side, citizens can get to work and around town more easily."
Wilson also asked House Transportation Committee members to support a proposal by Senator Pete Domenici to include $7 million for the continuation of the Light Rail Study for Albuquerque.
The Intelligent Transportation System will significantly improve the safety and efficient operation of reconstruction of the Big I interchange of Interstate 40 and Interstate 25. The reconstruction will include 63 new bridges and 12 lane miles of interstate as well as provisions for high occupancy vehicle lanes. The intelligent transportation system will be used for freeway management and traffic control. By fully informing motorists of traffic conditions, it promises to improve the traffic flow throughout Albuquerque. The ITS was funded at $2 million through the Federal Highway Administration.
Public transportation is vital for residents who cannot afford reliable, personal transportation. Albuquerque will improve its public transportation system by constructing the West Side Transit Maintenance Facility. The facility was funded for $2 million through the Federal Transit Administration. Buses and vehicles were funded at $1.25 million through the FTA as well.
The funding bill was sent to the President after it passed the House of Representatives on October 1 and passed the Senate on October 4.
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