WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1.29 million grant to New Mexico to fund improvements to the North Central Regional Transit District (RTD) in Española. The award, which comes through the Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grants program, will enable North Central RTD to build a maintenance facility, standalone vehicle wash bay, and fueling station.
“The North Central Regional Transit District is indispensable to northern New Mexico, connecting communities, businesses, and essential services from Santa Fe to Ghost Ranch and Española to Taos,” said Udall, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding is critical to revitalizing our public infrastructure and supporting rural areas that are linked to schools, hospitals, and jobs through our public transit system. I’ll continue fighting to secure funding to improve North Central RTD for those who travel on it every day, and for strong investment in public transportation that will encourage economic development in communities across New Mexico.”
“North Central Regional Transit District ‘Blue Buses’ provide critical transportation for northern New Mexico residents,” said Heinrich . “I’m proud to help secure this major federal investment in the bus system that allows people across the Northern Pueblos and Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, San Juan, and Taos Counties to access school, work opportunities, and health care. This mobility is especially important for veterans, students, seniors, and those living with disabilities. I will continue fighting for transportation investments that connect our state’s rural communities and support long-term economic development.”
“This funding will bolster vital transportation options in our region,” said Luján . “The North Central Regional Transit District has long connected rural communities in New Mexico with educational and professional opportunities, while bettering our environment. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Udall and Senator Heinrich to ensure public transportation systems in New Mexico are getting the funding they need to provide essential services to New Mexicans.”
The BUILD Grant program, which replaces the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program, will fund investments in surface transportation infrastructure. Grants are awarded to projects that will have a significant local or regional impact.
