SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 42

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

John Pinto

A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO IDENTIFY AND DEDICATE FUNDS TO FINISHING THE UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 491 PROJECT.

     WHEREAS, in recent years, New Mexico has made a generous contribution to finishing United States highway 491, which runs from Gallup to Shiprock; and

     WHEREAS, the highway is the primary artery for travel through many of the chapters of the Navajo Nation and the only highway for those going from Gallup to the Four Corners area; and

     WHEREAS, the highway has been used for the transport of uranium and, therefore, may have high concentrations of radioactive residue along its shoulders, and the highway probably has more pedestrian traffic than any other in the state; and

     WHEREAS, the Navajo Nation has dedicated large sums of money for completion of the highway; and

     WHEREAS, managing to piece together the funding for construction of the highway has been a difficult and complicated process, particularly because easements and rights of way are held by many separate people, as well as by states, tribes and the federal government; and

     WHEREAS, finding and dedicating the funding is especially important because the highway, despite the fact that it carries heavy and slow truck traffic across the state, is only two lanes wide in places; and

     WHEREAS, through dedication and persistence, New Mexico and the Navajo Nation have acquired approximately one-third of the funding needed to broaden the highway to four lanes;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be urged to help identify funds that can be used to complete the United States highway 491 project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be urged to stay in close touch with legislative leadership so that a funding strategy can be developed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico congressional delegation be assured that the legislature is prepared to help in the efforts to find funding for completion of the United States highway 491 project; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of New Mexico's congressional delegation, to the president and speaker of the council of the Navajo Nation, to the secretary of transportation, to members of the state transportation commission, to the governor and to the co-chairs of the New Mexico legislative council.

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