TRANSPORTATION
Sandy Chancey (South Eastern Regional)
Steve Henthorn ( North Eastern Regional)
In an effort to enhance rural areas and communities in New Mexico the Federal Highway Administration, through the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), established several planning districts that allow local communities to receive transportation assistance through a Regional Planning process. Currently, the Eastern Plains Council of Governments is part of this planning process with two regional planners who serve our seven county area. The area of coverage for each planner reflects the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s respective district boundaries.
The Eastern Plains Council of Governments covers the largest geographical area in New Mexico and its seven counties spread over two New Mexico Department of Transportation Districts. The North Eastern Regional Planning District (NERPO) includes Quay, Harding, Union, and Guadalupe Counties. This area receives NMDOT funding through District 4 which is headquartered in Las Vegas. The South Eastern Regional Planning District (SERPO) serves Curry, De Baca, and Roosevelt Counties with Vaughn also included in the service area. This district receives NMDOT funding through District 2 in Roswell.
The duties for the Transportation Department are to assist all local governments with planning and funding for Federal and State projects. The planners assist the local communities with application, project feasibility, and with the Regional Planning Process. This process is a meeting where the Regional Planning Organization meet and rate and rank the applications. These applications are then sent to the respective NMDOT District Engineer’s Offices for funding consideration. Rate and rank applications from votes of the members of Transit, Roadway, Enhancement, Safety, Bridges and Scenic Byways projects throughout the RPO for entry onto the STIP ( State Transportation Improvement Plan.) Deliver RPO Presentation to all entities annually and advise entities of project status for projects on the STIP and to follow projects on the STIP.
The projects vary in type, funding matches, and availability. The main type is Roadway and Enhancement. These project are for road repair, rehabilitation, and improvements. The other types include Federal Transit. These are to continue funding Transits that operate in the areas. The Transportation Planners also assist with the GRIP II Program that is in the final phases.
EPCOG’s Planners have other areas of expertise such as Engineering and Project Management. They can assist with technical advice and preliminary scoping and project management.