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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Highway and Transportation Department

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 50 requests the State Highway and Transportation Department, the National Park Service, and the Village of Pecos cooperate and work diligently in concert to ensure the improvements to State Road 63, a transportation corridor extending from Interstate 25 into the Pecos River Valley, are developed and constructed.

Significant Issues

According to the department, Bridge No. 400, the Glorieta Creek Bridge, is functionally obsolete and requires realignment and reconstruction. The roadway is narrow and does not meet current department specifications. The project is currently identified in the department's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) with Federal TEA-21 funding being utilized to fund the project. The approximate cost to reconstruct and realign 3.4 miles of roadway, including Bridge No. 400, is $3,400.0, with a project development time of 2 to 3 years.

NM 63 is bordered on both sides by the National Park Service. Glorieta Creek Bridge warrants realignment and reconstruction.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

See significant issues above.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The department provided the following information about improvements to NM 63:

NM63 is a state highway which commences in the Village of Rowe, at Interstate 25, and proceeds north through the Village of Pecos. A 5.1 mile long project was identified in 1988 by the department, which included the reconstruction and realignment of the bridge over the Glorieta Creek. A Project Scoping Report was approved by FHWA on August 16, 1990.

The Pecos National Historical Park was expanded on June 27, 1990, with the acquisition of the Forked Lightning Ranch. NM 63 is now bordered to the east and west from approximately MP-1.5 to MP 4.9. An environmental assessment was conducted in the early 1990's to support the reconstruction project of NM63.

In 1995, a resource, which was not initially known to extend through the existing corridor of NM63, was identified as extending into, and through, NM63 at the vicinity of Kozlowski's Trading Post. This resource (Camp Lewis) was not investigated initially by the department. The National Park Service required an investigation be performed prior to any right of way acquisition. Other elements of the design for the project were also questioned at this time.

MFV/njw