People don’t usually wonder about how they are going to be getting to work or the store five years from now, but that is the job of the Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization. They have been seeking public input on their long term plan Transport 2040.
The Metropolitan Planning organization helps local government to plan out all forms of transportation from public transit to pedestrian walkways. Most of their revenue comes from the gas tax, which MPO Officer Tom Murphy says is a problem because less people are driving.
“The baby boomers starting to go into retirement they are driving less,” Murphy said. “Millennials as a generation so far we have observed they are not as big on driving as previous generations. All of this leads to an overall reduction in car travel.”
With dwindling funds, most of the plan is looking to maintain the existing transportation system.
“One of the hallmarks of the congressional language is that we preserve the existing system first and foremost,” Murphy said. “And I think in the last few years that is really hitting home with the people that are programming the money. And I think we want to talk to the public and find out if we are headed down the right track.”
After all of the public meetings in the last week, the one thing they have heard is that people are looking for more public transit especially from the rural areas into the city. Murphy says if the ballot question to fund the South Central Regional Transit District through taxes passes in November it could solve some of those issues.
“That would go a long ways towards providing that rural transit for Dona Ana County,” said Murphy. “It will also help augment the city of Las Cruces Transit System, so once those people get into town they can get around town a lot easier.”
Some of the projects they are hoping to complete over the next 5 years include widening and repaving roads, adding additional bike lanes, and improving drainage systems.
If you would like to add your input to the plan visit mvmpo.las-cruces.org