MPO outlines Transportation Project Fund application schedule and requirements

Mesilla Valley MPO staff presented the Transportation Project Fund call for projects and a schedule for applicants at the Feb. 5 TAC meeting.

Dominic Loya said eligible activities include environmental and other studies, planning, design, construction and acquisition of rights of way for transportation infrastructure; the fund is state‑only and applicants must provide a 5% local match. Required application components include a cover letter, project overview, funding verification, project category identification, project feasibility form, a map, and letters of support when rights of way are owned by others.

Key deadlines: the project feasibility form is due March 20; a project feasibility meeting with NMDOT District 1 will be held March 31; the full application is due April 10; TAC will hear applicant presentations on April 21 and May 7; the policy board will rank applications and a resolution/action item is expected on May 13; MPO staff must upload final application packages to the NMDOT FTP site by May 31.

Staff clarified that projects using federal funds are not eligible; if a project is phased and one phase uses federal funds, subsequent phases may be eligible only if an earlier federally funded phase is fully completed and closed out, per TAC discussion. MPO staff encouraged applicants to submit as complete an application as possible by March 20 for feedback at the March 31 feasibility meeting.