Feds designate $14 million for PDV

Bond money now to be used on other local projects

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE


Rio Rancho will get $14 million from the federal stimulus package for the construction of Paseo del Volcan, Mayor Tom Swisstack said Friday.

The money, specifically earmarked for PDV, will be administered through the Mid-Region Council of Governments and the State Transportation Department. That body’s Metropolitan Transportation Board approved the $14 million allocation on Thursday.

Tuesday’s $25 million bond issue includes $10 million for the construction of PDV. Because that federal funding came through, Swisstack said if the bond issue passes the $10 million designated for PDV will be used for other projects.

The Mayor has said if the bond issue passes he would seek voter approval for $11 million in bonds in both 2011 and 2013. The federal money means that projects set for the 2011 bond can be done as part of the current cycle and the 2013 projects could be moved up two years.

The Public Works Department is in the process of completing a city-wide evaluation of all roads, including those in older areas of the city. Once that survey is completed, the city will recommend to the Governing Body a plan for repair, maintenance and/or construction/reconstruction of roads using the newly available money (again, if the bond issue passes Tuesday.)

The most recent estimate of the cost of this leg of PDV from Iris Road o U.S. 550 is $28 million. The other $14 million is available from a previous grant from NMDOT. 

Other projects on the 2009 bond cycle include

• Unser Boulevard Widening: Paseo del Volcan to King Blvd. including intersection, $6.1 million
 
• Northern Blvd. Widening: 35th Court to Broadmoor Drive including intersection at Broadmoor Drive, $1.6 million
 
• 30th Street Paving (Design): Northern Blvd. to Paseo del Volcan, $300,000;
 
• Western Hills Drive (Unser Boulevard to Southern Boulevard): Reconstruction of asphalt section, $2.58 million
 
• Nicklaus Drive from Broadmoor Drive to Southern Boulevard: Reconstruction of asphalt section, $2.1 million
 
• Pavement Preservation/Preventative Maintenance: Prevention measures to ensure full life expectancy of roads are achieved, $2.32 million.

Projects currently identified for 2011 include Cherry Road from Unser Blvd. to 10th Street; widening of Unser Blvd. from just north of Northern Blvd. (where it narrows to two lanes) to PDV; and 30th Street from Northern to PDV. The 2013 projects that might be advanced two years include widening of Idalia Road from where it narrows to two lanes (just west of N.M. 528) to Northern Blvd. and a segment of Northern itself from 30th Street to Unser.

The city council will have to weigh these projects against other maintenance or reconstruction projects on older city roads. City Administrator James Jimenez is expected to ask the council to designate the money toward older roads at the March 25 Governing Body meeting, the first meeting after the election results will be certified.

The federal money will be available to the city once the state of New Mexico and MRCOG receives the allotment of federal stimulus package funding. The city anticipates construction of Paseo del Volcan to start this August.

Swisstack and the city consider the extension of Paseo del Volcan as a priority because it will create new access to Rio Rancho’s City Center, which includes City Hall and the Santa Ana Star Center. Other projects planned for the area include Cleveland High School, which hopes to open in August 2009; Hewlett-Packard Customer Service and Technical Support Center (opening late 2009); University of New Mexico West campus (opening spring 2010); Central New Mexico Community College campus (opening spring 2010) and the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center (opening 2011).

Swisstack said he believes new roads and these projects will also spur future economic development. At a town hall meeting on Tuesday, e hinted that several major restaurants and retail outlets are in negotiations with the city to build in the area as well.

For polling places and other information on Tuesday’s election, go to http://www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us and click on the appropriate links.

Will be updated with additional information.