Enchantment State News

WASHINGTON – On June 5, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) announced a total of $31,171,088 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Doña Ana County Railroad Crossing Elimination Program to create a vehicle overpass at the Industrial Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) line. 

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) authorized the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (RCE) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to provide funding for highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects to improve the safety and mobility of people and goods. The FRA announced up to $570,982,420 for 63 projects nationwide, including New Mexico.

In September, members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation sent a letter of support to the U.S. Department of Transportation on behalf of the Doña Ana County FRA’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Program application. 

“I have worked for years to expand the services and capabilities of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry and secure federal investments in the road, rail, and air cargo infrastructure in this rapidly growing center of New Mexico’s trade economy,” said Heinrich. “This new overpass will finally allow passenger and freight vehicles traveling through Santa Teresa’s port of entry and industrial parks to drive over the Union Pacific rail line and reduce traffic congestion. This is one more piece in the overall puzzle to help Santa Teresa realize its full potential as a powerhouse destination for international trade, the onshoring of our supply chains, and major economic growth opportunities for New Mexico.” 

“The Santa Teresa Region is central to trade and transporting goods, and it’s crucial that we reduce congestion to continue to accelerate New Mexico’s economic growth,” said Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome these federal investments to Doña Ana County to build an overpass to minimize traffic. This Railroad Crossing Elimination Program will also improve infrastructure and improve safety for drivers and pedestrians passing through our state's southern corridor.”

“I’m proud to see the federal government investing in the development of this overpass in the Santa Teresa Region because it promotes safety while encouraging freight vehicles and passengers to use the Santa Teresa Port of Entry,” said Vasquez. “I recently introduced legislation to modernize our land ports of entry because the ports of entry in New Mexico, like the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, are a leading example of how we need to support our border communities.”

Original source can be found here.