SANTA FE METROPOLITA N PLANNING ORGANIZATION Nov. 03, 2014 Volume 1, Issue 8 Vámonos Santa Fe! “Transportation Planning for Pedestrians, Bicycles, Transit, Rail and Roads ” Representing you… CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON THESE City of Santa Fe CALL FOR PROJECTS FFY16/17 Transportation Alternatives Santa Fe County Program FFY15/16/17 Recreational Trails Pueblo of Tesuque Program Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) NMDOT The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) provides funding for programs and projects such as: pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to school projects, infrastructure improvements that provide non-drivers better access to transit, environmental mitiga- JOIN US! Nov. TRANSPORTATION POLICY BOARD 4:30PM Recreational Trails Program (RTP) 20th Market Station Offices The New Mexico (NM) Recreational Trails Program (RTP) provides funding authority to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized Nov. SFMPO TECHNICAL COOR- DINATING COMMITTEE recreational trail uses. 17th 1:30 PM Market Station Offices Nov. 27th YOU CAN NOW FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @SantaFeMPO 1 www.santafempo.org 2015 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update … Update! The Santa Fe MPO let a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in September for assistance with the Up-Dating of the 2010 MTP. We are currently work- ing on a contract with a consulting firm and hope to have a team on board by early December. A new element the MPO will be introducing to the MTP highlights the relationship be- tween public health and trans- portation policy and invest- ments. Opportunities exist to partner with state and local public health agencies to achieve multiple community goals by aligning programs like Bike-To-Work Week and public investments that delib- The Robert Woods Johnson erately stimulate active trans- Foundation and the Office of the Sur- portation options. geon General are working on a “New Public Health National Prevention The Pedestrian, Transit and Bi- Strategy series underway that in- cycle Master Plans provide a clude the above info-graphcis. comprehensive platform to as- Check it out at: www.rwjf.org sist with fostering this rela- tionship. 2 www.santafempo.org COMMUTE SANTA FE A Bicycle Commuter Gathering On Friday, October 10th, thirty-five dedicated souls who make bicycling in San- ta Fe a regular habit gathered to discuss A brief, but poignant key note ad- current issues, meet fellow commuters dress by City Councilor, Joseph and consider the development of a one Maestas detailed why cities like day Bicycle Commuter Summit in 2015. Santa Fe benefit from championing infrastructure investments that sup- With three focused break-out groups, port safe commuting options at all everyone had a chance to describe to levels. others why they bike, what routes they take and lessons learned. Common themes surfaced quickly, but what was A follow up debriefing of the event most striking was the desire by all to and discussion regarding Bike-To- share their experiences and expertise Work Week 2015 and a Bicycle Com- with their peers and others who desire to muter Summit in 2015 will be held at make active transpiration a part of their the City Rail yard offices on Thursday, lives. Nov. 6th at 9AM. Follow “Bike-To-Work Santa Fe” on Facebook to stay in- formed. Thanks to all who helped organize and participate!! 3 www.santafempo.org Southwest Chief Rail Service: Reports to Subcommittee on Nov. 6th. The Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee will hear the results of two studies in reference to the possible de- commissioning/rerouting of the Amtrak Southwest Chief Route through northern New Mexico, Southern Colorado and Kansas. The Santa Fe MPO Board passed a resolution in August supporting the con- tinuance of the historic route. (Copy of MPO Resolution on next page) After 4 www.santafempo.org A RESOLUTION ENDORSING EFFORTS TO MAIN- TAIN THE AMTRAK SOUTHWEST CHIEF PASSEN- GER SERVICE THROUGH RATON, LAS VEGAS AND LAMY, NEW MEXICO WHEREAS, the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organiza- tion (‘MPO’) promotes a multi-modal, regional transportation system that is safe, energy and fiscally efficient, maximizes community connectivity, serves the mobility needs of all citi- zens, and exists in harmony with the environment; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the 2010 Santa Fe Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the Santa Fe MPO “supports the economic vitality of the metropolitan area, especially by enable global competitiveness productivity and efficiency, and emphasizes the preservation of the existing transportation system”; and WHEREAS, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief serves northern New Mexico on its route between Chicago and Los An- geles on the host railroad line of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF); and WHEREAS, The Southwest Chief is an indirect successor to the famed Santa Fe Super Chief, operate until Amtrak took over provision of the nation’s passenger services in 1971. It had been the first Diesel-powered and all -Pullman (sleeping car) train in the U.S., and was that railroad’s standard bearer, making its maiden run in 1936; and WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief’s Lamy station is located on the southern boundary of the MPO Planning Area and is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Santa Fe; and WHEREAS, Amtrak’s agreement with BNSF for use of the track expires in January of 2016; and WHEREAS, the operation of long distance trains has been a core federal responsibility since 1971 and “long dis- tance passenger rail is a vital and necessary part of our national transportation system and economy”; and After WHEREAS, Amtrak’s findings indicate that ridership along long-distance routes has increased 20 percent since 1998, reaching its highest point in 20 years in fiscal year 2013; and WHEREAS, On April 5th, 2014, United States Senator’s Mark Udall, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich together drafted a letter supporting the preservation of the existing Southwest Chief route to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; and WHEREAS, On June 19th, 2014 the New Mexico Association of Counties passed a resolution supporting the continuance of the existing Southwest Chief route; and WHEREAS, the members of the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board are in alignment with the call for support of the preservation of the existing Southwest Chief route and desire to see all reasonable solutions exhausted. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization Transporta- tion Policy Board supports the continuation of Amtrak’s Southwest Chief along its current and historic route now and after January 2016; 5 www.santafempo.org NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD on DRAFT AMENDMENT 6 TO THE FFY2014-2017 TIP Public Comment Period 11/05/14 – 11/19/14 The proposed Amendment includes the following changes: Federal Fiscal Year 2015 CN:S100311 – I-25 Bridge Replacement at Milepoint 282.5 (Nine Mile Road) New Project to be added Federal Funds = $854,400; State Match = $145,600; Project Total = $1,000,000 CN:S100330 – Santa Fe River Crossing at St Francis Drive and West Alameda Project to be removed due to City Funding being reallocated to other Bikeways Projects. CN:S100390 – Acequia Trail/Railyard Crossing Construction New Project to be added following award of CMAQ-Flex funding for construction of a Multi-use Trail Underpass of St Francis Drive. Federal Funds = $3,263,808; City Match = $556,192; Project Total = $3,820,000 CN:S100410 – El Camino Real Buckman Road Retracement Project New Project to be added following award of Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funding. Still awaiting final confirmation of total awards amount. Federal Funds = $TBD ; County/City Match = $TBD; Project Total = $TBD Federal Fiscal Year 2016 CN:S100420 – FR-2098 Arroyo Hondo Bridge PreventativeAfter Maintenance Project New Project to be added for the I-25 Frontage Road Bridge over the Arroyo Hondo between NM599 and NM14 Federal Funds = $266,573; State Match = $45,427; Project Total = $312,000 The Public Comment Period runs from November 5, 2014 through November19, 2014. The MPO Technical Coordinating Committee will review submitted public comment and make a recom- mendation on the proposed amendment at their next meeting on November 17 and the MPO Transportation Policy Board will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed amendment at their meet- ing on November 20, 2014 The Santa Fe MPO’s public participation process satisfies the public participation process for the Santa Fe Trails’ Program of Projects. For more information on the Santa Fe MPO Transportation Improvement Program, please visit our website at the following link: http://santafempo.org/documents/tip/ For more information, if you have questions, or wish to submit written comment, please contact: Keith Wilson, MPO Senior Planner 505-955-6706 Written comments can also be mailed to: Keith Wilson 6 www.santafempo.org NCRTD CELEBRATES 10 YEARS From the Santa FeHometownNews…”In 2004, the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) became the first Regional Transit Dis- trict created in the State of New Mexico follow- ing the passing of the New Mexico Regional Transit District Act, in 2003, which enabled the formation of multi-jurisdictional transit agencies. The legislation was put forth and enacted to pro- vide safe and efficient regional transit services to transit-dependent groups such as seniors, youth, low income and mobility-impaired resi- dents, veterans, and further to provide residents with access to education, higher paying jobs, medical and quality-of-life services.” Read more by clicking on: 7 www.santafempo.org City of Santa Fe gives Santa Fe Trails Thumbs Up for Moving Southside Transit Center To Valdez Park “Santa Fe Trails passengers will soon have a new transit facil- ity, located in the growing south side of the City Different, as a result of a joint effort between the Federal Transit Admin- istration and the City of Santa Fe.