An Example of Rural Planning:
Improving Transportation in the Jemez Corridor

Soda Dam on Highway 4 near Jemez

Starting in 2005, MRCOG staff began meeting with residents and planners in the Jemez Valley to discuss concerns about the primary transportation corridor (State Highway 4) through the valley.

Participants from Native American Pueblos and various governmental entities identified needed improvements to the transportation system:

• Traffic congestion and pedestrian safety problems in the Village of Jemez Springs
• An expanded pedestrian network and parking facilities in the Village of San Ysidro
• Congestion and safety issues related to NM4 through the Pueblo of Jemez
• Congestion and traffic/pedestrian safety concerns related to access to national forest facilities during holidays and weekends

The resulting recommendations were:

• Form a subcommittee to conduct ongoing assessment of mobility needs in the corridor and identify projects and priorities
• Enhance the corridor with wider shoulders, more pull-outs and passing lanes wherever needed and feasible
• Provide public transit along the corridor and work to mitigate the impact of storm water runoff with effective and aesthetically pleasing projects

The resulting document was the  Jemez Valley Corridor Assessment 3.28 Mb.

Participants included Jemez Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, the Villages of Jemez Springs and San Ysidro, Sandoval County, New Mexico Department of Transportation, and staff members from the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest and the Valles Caldera Trust.

The Mid-Region Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) is a transportation forum for local and tribal governments in the rural portions of State Planning and Development District 3. Members work together with State and Federal representatives to identify the region's transportation needs and priorities.

The Mid-Region Council of Governments provides staff support to the Mid-Region Rural Transportation Planning Organization.  This support includes technical assistance for transportation planning, and assistance in obtaining funding for transportation projects.

The Rural Transportation Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee (RTPO TAC) makes recommendations to the MRCOG Board of Directors and the New Mexico Department of Transportation.  The committee meets bi-monthly.

 View agenda 61.95 Kb for the next RTPO TAC meeting.

Current Projects and Services

• We are updating the Valencia County Mobility Plan, expected to be complete in Summer 2008.
• The Rural Transportation District Service Plan is in progress
• We support rural communities implementing transportation funds from GRIP II, Governor Richardson's Investment Partnership (a $1.6 billion statewide transportation expansion and infrastructure improvement project.)
• We support local organizations identify projects that will enhance the Scenic Byways in their communities. The Salt Missions Trail, the Turquoise Trail, the Jemez Mountain Trail, the Camino Real and the Route 66 Scenic Byway are all in the rural planning area.
• We are helping rural communities with applications-assistance for federal grants from the Federal Transit Administration.
• The New Mexico Department of Transportation will hold a one-day conference in early 2009 to get citizen input about transportation issues. The results of the conference will be critical to the development of the Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan. We are helping organize this conference.

Reports

•  The  Mid Region Long Range Transportation Plan 3.31 Mb (approved in 2007) identifies transportation needs in Torrance, Valencia, rural Sandoval and southern Santa Fe counties between now and 2030. 
• This list of projects was recommended to the Department of Transportation for funding:   2008-2013 Rural Transportation Improvement Program Recommendations
• Traffic flow maps are available for major road network in Sandoval, Torrance, rural Bernalillo, and Valencia Counties.
•  Jemez Valley Corridor Assessment 3.28 Mb

Resources for Local Communities

There are a number of resources that local communities can use as they identify their communities needs and ways to address those needs, search for funding for projects, or navigate the grant and project development process.

• Federal Highway Administration 
• Federal Railroad Administration 
• Federal Transit Administration
• Environmental Protection Agency
• New Mexico Department of Transportation
• NM Scenic Byways
• Scenic Byways
• Rural Transportation Clearinghouse
• New Mexico Finance Authority   

Contact:  Loretta Tollefson ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )