Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today said that a key transportation bill that contains several New Mexico transportation-related projects has cleared Congress and is now on its way to the president to be signed into law.

The bill makes technical corrections and updates to the 2005 SAFETEA-LU (The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act-Legacy for Users) Act, which sends millions of dollars to New Mexico for various for highway and transit projects.

Bingaman secured $5 million, in SAFETEA-LU for the reconstruction of seven miles of the NM-524 truck bypass in Carlsbad. Mayor Bob Forrest asked Bingaman to seek Congressional approval of a provision that would allow the city to use some of the $5 million for a project to reconstruct 1.6 miles of Canal Street. Because the $5 million was originally set aside in the law exclusively for NM-524, Congressional approval is needed before the funds can be redirected.

“With this bill on its way to becoming law, Carlsbad is one step closer to getting the funding necessary for the Canal Street project,” Bingaman said.

At Bingaman’s urging, the bill also redirects $14 million originally slated for the relocation of the El Paso rail yards to Santa Teresa for road infrastructure and other projects relating to the relocation of the new yard. The Union Pacific Rail Road has already begun the process of relocating the rail yard to its new location.

“This funding will help the state ensure that it’s ready for the new Santa Teresa rail yard,” Bingaman said.

Finally, the bill contains a Bingaman provision authorizing the New Mexico Department of Transportation to use a $1 million set aside for the Rail Runner for stations and transit projects in Albuquerque and Santa Fe associated with the commuter rail. The funding was originally set aside for studies that have already been completed.