The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded Doña Ana County a $2 million grant to make its roads and transportation systems stronger against weather-related events. The grant funds local projects that will make the County more prepared for environmental challenges and improve residents’ ability to travel during inclement weather.
Source: Doña Ana County
The grant will fund a study to identify short-term activities that can be implemented within 3-5 years, as well as longer-term projects. These projects will include land use policy revisions, integration of climate-friendly approaches to infrastructure design and operations, and updates to road construction practices.
“This funding will help the County create a roads master plan which will guide us in creating roads with better connectivity,” County Engineer Mo Moabed said. “The new system will identify existing roads and propose new roads, to help provide better access to and from all communities in the county, in case of evacuation, emergency response and for increased economic opportunities.”
Situated in an area where droughts, floods, and wildfires occur, Doña Ana County faces challenges made worse by natural hazards such as dam failures, severe wind events, and thunderstorms. The study will mainly focus on many unincorporated communities and colonias, which often have limited road access and are vulnerable during emergencies.
The County has experienced three rare, large flood events since 2006, and in each case, the flooding impacted roads and prevented evacuations. In preparation for possible events like this in the future, the study will help the County develop a plan to make roads more passable during severe weather events and improve infrastructure in communities with single-entry access.
“We appreciate USDOT for this $2 million grant, which will help us identify how to best enhance our roads during floods and adverse weather conditions,” County Commission Chair Schlajo-Hernandez said. “The study will guide us in constructing roads that are safer and easier to navigate for our residents during challenging weather, and also improve our emergency response capabilities.”
The study will bring forward over 20 partnering offices and departments and is expected to be finalized within two years, followed by its implementation. Doña Ana County will continue to seek funding for more road improvements, making County roads better equipped to handle changes in weather.
More information about the grant can be found here: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-nearly-830-million-grants-make-transportation.
