Study Process

The US 60 MP 203 TO 205 Alignment Study process follows the guidelines set forth in the NMDOT’s Location Study Procedures 2015. The Guidebook outlines three phases of an alignment study:

Phase A—Initial Evaluation of Alternatives
Phase B—Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives (Current Study status - We are here)
- The results of the detailed evaluation of alternatives will be presented at the In-Person Public meeting was held on November 16th. Comments are being compiled. A recording of the presentation and a PDF of the presentation material will be provided on this website with the summary of the public meeting.
Phase C—Environmental Documentation and Processing

The Study Team has combined the Phase A and Phase B evaluation of alternatives.

This report identifies 6 “Build” alternatives and a “No Build” alternative for comparison. This Phase I-A/B report also identifies the recommended alternative by evaluating each alternative in its ability to achieve the purpose and need of the project and impacts on the community and environment.

A Context Sensitive Public Involvement Plan (CSPIP) has been prepared to establish a structural decision-making process for problem definition. The Plan identifies strategies for making effective decisions, incorporating community input and environmental sensitivity, and ensuring safe and feasible solutions that address the project needs. The Plan includes a comprehensive public involvement plan (PIP), which is intended to ensure opportunities for meaningful input into the design process and for the Study Team to respond to concerns and suggestions.

Once the Phase I-A/B study is completed and a preferred alternative(s) is determined, Phase I-C of the study process; the environmental documentation for the project, can begin. It is assumed that the environmental documentation for this project will be a Categorical Exclusion (CE). This document will be circulated and reviewed by interested agencies, stakeholders, and the general public. Environmental concerns will be addressed as appropriate and mitigation measures developed to minimize impacts. The last step of Phase I-C will be FHWA approval of the CE. This approval by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will provide authorization for the release of federal funds for final design, Right-of-Way (R/W) acquisition, and construction of the project.

Public Involvement Plan

To provide a unified approach to public involvement and context sensitive solutions, a Context Sensitive Public Involvement Plan (CSPIP) was prepared by Ecosphere Environmental Services for the US 60 MP 203.6 TO 205 corridor study. The CSPIP combines the public involvement and context sensitive solutions plan mandated by NMDOT and FHWA regulations. It involves solicitation of input to help identify the need for the project, alternative design concepts, and issues of concern.

The goals of the CSPIP for the Study are:

To establish the Study context and identify major community values;
To identify the Study stakeholders, the methods to inform and involve them, and the approaches to resolve issues, concerns, and conflicts that may arise; and
To develop a decision-making process that is sensitive to the Study context, involves stakeholders in a meaningful way, and leads to the development of a preferred alternative that is consistent with the transportation, environmental, cultural, community, land use, and economic contexts of the Study area.

Public Information Meetings

To date there have been two public information meetings. Click the links below to access the summaries for each meeting.

First Public Information meeting

Second Public Information meeting

Town Coordination meeting

Agency Coordination

The involvement of resource agencies, local jurisdictions, roadway users, community residents, and others having an interest in the roadway and project area was used to identify issues of interest and concern to stakeholders and to develop, evaluate, and refine project alternatives. Stakeholder agencies with jurisdictional authority over the infrastructure and/or land use within the project area were identified and are listed below.

Town of Mountainair

To date, coordination with stakeholder agencies has primarily consisted of attendance at Town Council Meetings and letters describing the intent to complete a transportation study and soliciting agency concerns. Additional follow-up discussions have been held as needed. Most of the outreach during the early study phase has been with the Bureau of Land Management. They had representatives at the first public meeting and expressed concern with the status of right-of-way easements through their property and with the NEPA level of effort. Discussions concerning these topics are on-going.