0001|            HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
    |
0002|                            HOUSE BILL 986
    |
0003|     43rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 1997
    |
0004|                                   
    |
0005|     
    |
0006|     
    |
0007|     
    |
0008|     
    |
0009|     
    |
0010|     
    |
0011|                                AN ACT
    |
0012|     MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ACQUIRE RIGHTS OF WAY AND DESIGN AND
    |
0013|     CONSTRUCT IMPROVEMENTS TO UNITED STATES HIGHWAY 70 FROM THE
    |
0014|     INTERCHANGE WITH INTERSTATE 25 TO WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE IN
    |
0015|     DONA ANA COUNTY.
    |
0016|     
    |
0017|     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
    |
0018|          Section 1.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.--
    |
0019|               A.  The legislature finds that Las Cruces, its
    |
0020|     suburbs and neighboring communities have grown tremendously in
    |
0021|     the last few years with the highest growth rate occurring in
    |
0022|     the census tracts immediately adjacent to United States highway
    |
0023|     70.
    |
0024|               B.  The legislature further finds that United States
    |
0025|     highway 70, a major feeder highway that connects Las Cruces
    |
0001|     with Tucson, has the highest traffic count in the southern part
    |
0002|     of the state.
    |
0003|               C.  The legislature further finds that the accident
    |
0004|     rate along the fourteen-mile segment between the community of
    |
0005|     Organ and interstate 25 is unacceptably high.  An appropriation
    |
0006|     is necessary to make the improvements that will provide for the
    |
0007|     safety of the citizens and ensure the opportunity for
    |
0008|     development and expansion of space-related facilities.
    |
0009|          Section 2.  APPROPRIATION.--Contingent upon congressional
    |
0010|     appropriation of thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) and the
    |
0011|     city of Las Cruces allocating six million dollars ($6,000,000)
    |
0012|     in matching funds, thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) is
    |
0013|     appropriated from the general fund to the state highway and
    |
0014|     transportation department for expenditure in fiscal years 1998
    |
0015|     through 2005 for the purpose of acquiring rights of way and
    |
0016|     designing and constructing improvements to United States
    |
0017|     highway 70 between the interstate 25 interchange and White
    |
0018|     Sands missile range in Dona Ana county.  Any unexpended or
    |
0019|     unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2005
    |
0020|     shall revert to the general fund.
    |
0021|                              
    |