SENATE MEMORIAL 8

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

David Ulibarri

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF NAVAJO ROUTE 55 AND TO SCHEDULE THE IMPROVEMENT OF NAVAJO ROUTE 55 TO INTERSTATE 40 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

     WHEREAS, reliable access to the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation from Albuquerque may now be accomplished only through an approximately one-hundred-twenty-five-mile drive through Socorro and Magdalena via interstate 25, United States route 60 and New Mexico route 169; and

     WHEREAS, access north of the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation via Navajo route 55 is difficult under the best conditions and all but impossible during inclement weather; and

     WHEREAS, reliable road access from the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation north to New Mexico route 6 and interstate 40 will benefit the health, safety and welfare of residents of the Alamo chapter and other portions of Socorro and Valencia counties by drastically reducing the travel times for medical and other emergency services available in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, in a time of rapidly increasing gas and diesel fuel prices, reliable road access from the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation north to New Mexico route 6 and interstate 40 will dramatically reduce the expense of travel from the Alamo chapter to Albuquerque and points west via interstate 25; and

     WHEREAS, reliable road access from the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation north to New Mexico route 6 and interstate 40 will help to open up large areas of Socorro and Valencia counties to economic development;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States bureau of Indian affairs be requested to conduct a feasibility study for the improvement of Navajo route 55 from the chapter house of the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation north to New Mexico route 6 and interstate 40 and to schedule the improvement of Navajo route 55 from the chapter house of the Alamo chapter of the Navajo Nation north to New Mexico route 6 and interstate 40 at the earliest possible opportunity; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the regional director of the Navajo regional office of the bureau of Indian affairs, United States Senator Jeff Bingaman, United States Senator Tom Udall, United States Representative Harry Teague, the president of the Navajo Nation, the speaker of the Navajo Nation council, the chairperson of the transportation and community development committee of the Navajo Nation council, the New Mexico secretary of transportation and the chairpersons of the Socorro county commission and the Valencia county commission.

- 3 -