44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

URGING THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO EXPLORE OTHER MEANS TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF MAINTENANCE ON HIGH-VOLUME INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.

WHEREAS, the interstate highways are the most heavily traveled roads in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the interstate highways are the backbone of New Mexico's economic development, providing transportation for materials, goods and workers; and

WHEREAS, many visitors to New Mexico use the interstate highways to travel to their destinations and derive their only impressions of New Mexico from their experiences driving the miles of interstate within the state; and

WHEREAS, the accumulation of litter along the interstate highways presents a blemished view of the beauty of New Mexico to weary travelers, and the miles of poorly maintained roads are a continual problem that annoys travelers and may destroy their interest in returning to the state; and

WHEREAS, litter and weed control, maintenance and interstate highway improvements cannot be addressed by the available manpower and allocated resources; and

WHEREAS, maintenance of the interstate highways consumes an ever increasing share of the state's available highway dollars; and

WHEREAS, the non-interstate roads suffer from insufficient maintenance also due to a lack of adequate manpower and funding allocations; and

WHEREAS, the condition of all interstate highways, as well as state highways, has a direct influence on economic development and tourism;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state highway and transportation department be urged to explore alternative means of increasing the level of maintenance and funding allocated for maintenance of high-volume interstate highways, including litter and weed control, pavement and bridge repair and striping; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of highway and transportation and the members of the state highway commission.