HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 21

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Mimi Stewart

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REQUEST A FEDERAL APPROPRIATION FOR FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR IDENTIFIED PRIORITY WILDLIFE CROSSINGS TO REDUCE WILDLIFE-VEHICLE COLLISIONS.

     WHEREAS, the first session of the forty-sixth legislature passed House Joint Memorial 3, requesting that state and federal officials take action to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on state roads; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of House Joint Memorial 3, state and federal highway and wildlife experts met in June 2003 and identified four highway segments that are priority areas for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions to make New Mexico's roads safer for people and wildlife; and

     WHEREAS, the identified priority areas are interstate 40 in Tijeras canyon, interstate 25 over Raton pass, United States highway 70 through San Augustine pass and state highway 90 through the Burro mountains; and

     WHEREAS, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions will increase driver, passenger and wildlife safety, which may consequently lessen insurance costs; and

     WHEREAS, state and federal highway and wildlife experts should continue to study the identified priority areas to determine the most effective methods for reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions; and

     WHEREAS, the technology for linking habitats and facilitating animal crossings, including constructing overpasses, underpasses and fences, is being successfully used by other states and by many European countries; and

     WHEREAS, because New Mexico is home to numerous roads that run through wildlife habitats, the state should design safe passageways, including enlarged underpasses and landscaped overpasses, for wildlife on the roads; and

     WHEREAS, creating wildlife crossings in the four identified priority areas is an essential step in linking wildlife habitats that are currently fragmented by roads; and

     WHEREAS, as a result of House Joint Memorial 3, the department of game and fish and the department of transportation have initiated development on a memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation in the long-term planning of road projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be asked to request the appropriation of federal funds for feasibility studies for wildlife crossings to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on interstate 40 in Tijeras canyon, interstate 25 over Raton pass, United States highway 70 through San Augustine pass and state highway 90 through the Burro mountains; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of game and fish and the department of transportation be requested to complete the memorandum of understanding for cooperation on long-term projects to reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions by December 31, 2004; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of game and fish and the department of transportation be requested to report their progress to the interim water and natural resources committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the secretary of transportation, the director of the department of game and fish and the chair of the state game commission.

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