By Vanessa Dabovich
Las Cruces, NM – IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO BRING IT INTO AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE.
THIS WEEK THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSED WAYS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND HOW TO FUND SUCH A PROJECT. THE LIST OF POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCES INCLUDES THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE TAX INCREMENT DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MIKE JOHNSON SAYS ADA COMPLIANT SIDEWALKS AND WALKWAYS ARE IMPROVED AS NEW PROJECTS COME UP, BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT OLDER STRUCTURES AND AREAS.
Johnson-"The biggest source that we have is anytime we do a construction project in Las Cruces the entire project limits will be ADA compliant when it is complete with that project. In addition anytime we do an asphalt overlay on a particular street we make every effort funds permitting to come in behind that overlay and provide ADA components."
JOHNSON SAYS AROUND $900,000 WILL BE NEEDED OVERALL TO MAKE THE NECESSARY UPGRADES AND CHANGES.
COUNCILORS DELORES CONNOR AND OLGA PEDROZA SAY THEY ARE LEARY TO PUT SO MUCH EFFORT AND FUNDING INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA ALONE WHEN THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS IN NEED AS WELL.
Connor-"If there is a funding source through TIDD for downtown, I cannot look at using funds for downtown when district two three and four have absolutely no funding sources and trying to delegate that we use funds in an area that already has a funding source. We have to be fair here, there are other parts of the city that are missing these type of amenities that have dirt walking sidewalks."
THE CITY COUNCIL NOW PLANS TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE LIST AND TALK ABOUT PROIRTIES FOR ADA COMPLIANCE IN THE CITY.