46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

REQUESTING THE STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO COOPERATE IN PRESERVING THE GLORIETA BATTLEFIELD BY REALIGNING NEW MEXICO STATE ROAD 50.

WHEREAS, on November 8, 1990, the president of the United States signed Public Law 101-536 to protect the six hundred eighty-two acres of historically and culturally significant land on which the battle of Glorieta pass was fought by creating the Glorieta unit of Pecos national historical park; and

WHEREAS, on May 8, 1997, congress amended the National Trails System Act to authorize and establish the Santa Fe national historic trail, extending from Old Franklin, Missouri, to Santa Fe, as a component of the national trails system to promote the preservation of and public access to this historically significant national resource; and

WHEREAS, the battle of Glorieta pass occurred along the Santa Fe trail and proved to be the turning point in the Civil War in the far west by preventing confederate acquisition of the Colorado and California gold fields and any acquisitions further west; and

WHEREAS, Glorieta battlefield and the Santa Fe trail are important to New Mexico and the nation; and

WHEREAS, Glorieta battlefield is hallowed ground, yet is not safe for the public to visit because it is bisected by New Mexico state road 50; and

WHEREAS, Glorieta battlefield has been listed by the Civil War preservation trust as one of America's most endangered battlefields; and

WHEREAS, addressing the future of New Mexico state road 50 is the key to opening the battlefield for public visitation and education regarding the Santa Fe trail and the Civil War in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the restoration of Glorieta battlefield could, within ten years, result in more than three million dollars ($3,000,000) of additional tourism-related revenue each year and the creation of more than one hundred eighty jobs; and

WHEREAS, the state highway and transportation department and the federal highway administration in 1996 discontinued their study of alternative alignments for New Mexico state road 50, citing a lack of funds to undertake any realignment;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state highway and transportation department, the national park service and the federal highway administration be requested to resume a study of alternative alignments for New Mexico state road 50 through Glorieta battlefield; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agencies be requested to seek funding for the study from sources beyond the state's allocation of federal highway funds; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the New Mexico congressional delegation, the state highway and transportation department, the national park service, the federal highway administration and the office of cultural affairs.