Planning Division

The Planning Division consists of three Bureaus: Statewide Planning, Data Management and Research. The Division Director is responsible for developing the Division's Annual Work Program and meets with FHWA-NM on a regular basis to review the status of each area and report on progress.

Planning Division Annual Work Program

Michael Sandoval, Acting - Planning Division Director Office:505-827-0427
Michael.Sandoval1@state.nm.us
Dorothy Shepherd, Staff Manager Office:505-228-5350
dorothy.shepherd@state.nm.us

Statewide Planning Bureau

The Statewide Planning Bureau insures compliance with federal and state planning regulations for Metropolitan Planning Organizations and, for the non-metropolitan consultation process, through working with Regional Planning Organizations. The Bureau is charged with developing the Statewide Long Range Multimodal Transportation Plan, the NMDOT’s Public Involvement Plan and the Comprehensive Transportation Safety Plan. The Bureau oversees the Scenic Byways Program, Safe Routes to Schools Program and Bicycle/Pedestrian/Equestrian Program.  The Bureau provides coordination and technical assistance and training to local and tribal governments for local project implementation. The Bureau develops agreements and monitors funding for local lead projects.

Anne McLaughlin, Bureau Chief Office:505-827-5508 Cell:505-699-7130 anne.mclaughlin@state.nm.us

Government-to-Government

The Statewide Planning Bureau’s Government to Government Unit (GTG) monitors state and federal legislation pertaining to transportation appropriations and policies; conducts research into national Best Practices related to state transportation planning programs; develops and oversees implementation of the Statewide Long Range Plan (LRP) and the Public Involvement Plan; provides technical assistance, including transportation modeling and analysis, to other planning efforts initiated by the Department; coordinates local involvement in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); manages the Safe Routes To School, Scenic Byways, Transportation Alternatives, Bicycle/Pedestrian and Equestrian and Tribal Outreach programs.

The GTG Unit administers contracts for seven RPOs and five MPOs, and works closely with NMDOT’s District Offices, STIP Unit, Design Regions and other Divisions to ensure proactive enforcement of state and federal laws.  

Local Government Agreement Unit

It is the mission of the Local Government Agreement Unit (LGAU) to provide agreements for Transportation projects using state capital outlay and federal monies developed and constructed by Tribal and Local Government Agencies across New Mexico.  LGAU tracks capital outlay appropriations, provides historical and background research and status evaluation of roads, bridges, and buildings.

Kimberly Wildharber, Contract Manager Office:505-827-5309 Cell:505-490-1121 kimberly.wildharber@state.nm.us

Tonantzin Roybal, Local & Capital Projects Coordinator Office:505-827-5182 Cell:505-660-9528 tonantzin.roybal@state.nm.us

RPO/MPO Liaison

Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)/Regional Planning Organization (RPO) Process

MPO
Section 112 of the Federal Highway Act of 1973 and subsequent federal transportation legislation require that Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO’s) conduct comprehensive transportation planning for metropolitan areas with populations of 50,000 or more. 

New Mexico has four MPO’s:

• Farmington
• Las Cruces
• Mid Region (Albuquerque area)
• Santa Fe
• In addition, the City of Sunland Park on the New Mexico/Texas/Mexico border is within the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Area. 

Federal law requires MPO’s to develop Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs) and long-range transportation plans. 

RPO
Regional Planning Organizations (RPO’s) are state-designated entities that orchestrate rural transportation planning

New Mexico has six RPO’s

• Mid-Region Rural Transportation Planning Organizations (MRRTPO)
• Northeast Regional Transporation Planning Organization (NERTPO)
• Northern Pueblos Regional Planning Organization (NPRPO)
• Northwest Regional Planning Organization (NWRPO)
• South Central Regional Planning Organization (SCRPO)
• Southeast Regional Planning Organization (SERPO)
• Southwest Regional Planning Organization (SWRPO)

Each RPO is comprised of a Policy Committee and a Technical Committee or a joint committee where appropriate.
RPO Policy Committee members represent the governmental entities that comprise the RPO and are authorized to make decisions on their behalf. Technical Committee members are professional staff who provide technical expertise to the transportation planning process.

Brian Degani, MPO/RPO Liaison (NPRPO, NWRPO, NERPO , and Farmington MPO)
Office: 505-827-5506
brian.degani@state.nm.us
Brian Degani and Ron Shutiva, MPO/RPO Liaison (NWRPO) 
Ron Shutiva Office: 505-827-5547
ron.shutiva@state.nm.us
Claude Morelli, MPO/RPO Liaison (Mid Region MPO, Mid Region RTPO, and Santa Fe MPO)
Office: 505-476-3117
claude.morelli@state.nm.us
Jolene Herrera, MPO/RPO Liaison (SCRPO, SERPO, SWRPO, Las Cruces MPO and El Paso MPO)
Office: 575-525-7358
jolenem.herrera@state.nm.us
Ron Shutiva and Rosa Kozub Liaison (NPRPO)
Rosa Kozub Office: 505- 476-3742
Rosa Kozub MPO/RPO Liaison (Santa Fe MPO)
Rosa Kozub Office: 505- 476-3742
rosa.kozub@state.nm.us
Paul Sittig, MPO/RPO Liaison (NERTPO, Mid Region MPO, Mid Region RTPO)
Office: 505-827-3271
paul.sittig@state.nm.us

Bicycle, Pedestrian and Equestrian (BPE) Program

The BPE program develops recommendations for program and policy actions by NMDOT and provide an opportunity for communities to exchange ideas on state BPE projects and planning efforts.  The Coordinator provides residents and visiting cyclists with information on New Mexico’s laws and bicycling environment.

Rosa Kozub, Acting Bicycle Pedestrian Equestrain Programs Coordinator
Office:505-476-3742
rosa.kozub@state.nm.us

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program helps communities make walking and bicycling to school a safe and routine activity through engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation. In compliance with the current federal transportation bill, MAP-21, the SRTS program is now under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). Eligible entities can submit applications for projects that qualify as SRTS projects and improve the safety of students walking between home and K-8 grade schools. For more information, please see TAP.

To learn more about funded projects and programs in NM visit the national SRTS database.

Learn more about how to start a SRTS program by visiting the National Center for SRTS website.

Find out what's new with NM SRTS –

• Read the latest newsletter and/or join the NM SRTS email list to stay up-to-date on NM SRTS activities.
• Participate in the annual SRTS events--Bike to School Day in May and Walk and Roll to School Day in October. To learn more, visit www.walkbiketoschool.org.
• The NMDOT Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, in collaboration with University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center, is now accepting applications for up to ten (10) honoraria of $1,000 each. These honoraria support the goal of SRTS programs, which is to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bicycle to school. SRTS programs are implemented nationwide by parents, students, schools, community leaders, and local, state, and tribal governments. Applications are due Monday, September 10 by midnight. Download the application and guidelines here.

Jessica Griffin, AICP NM SRTS Coordinator Office:505-476-2155 jessica.Griffin@state.nm.us

Native American Transportation Liaison Program

The purpose of Native American Transportation Liaison Program at NMDOT is to maintain the Government-to-Government relationships outlined in the New Mexico State Tribal Relations Act and to assure compliance with the federal tribal coordination requirements.  The NMDOT has increased its participation and partnership with tribal governments significantly since 2004 through completing Memoranda of Agreement (MOA)s and Joint Powers Agreement (JPA)s with all of the pueblos and tribal nations in the State. In addition, New Mexico is one of a small number of states that support and encourage tribal participation in the MPO and RPO State transportation planning processes. The NMDOT Tribal Liaison has been proactive in conducting outreach, mediating misunderstandings between tribal entities and the NMDOT and building close relationships based on experience and accountability.

Ron D. Shutiva, Native American Tribal Liaison Office:505- 827-5547 Cell:505-670-5465 ron.shutiva@state.nm.us

Scenic Byway Program

In September of 2011, the administration of the Scenic Byways Program was transferred from the New Mexico Department of Tourism to the New Mexico Department of Transportation.  The Government-to-Government Unit of the Statewide Planning Bureau is currently administering the overall program for the Department of Transportation.

The Local Government Agreement Unit (LGAU) administers the contractual and financial aspect of the Scenic Byways Program.

Kimberly Wildharber, LGAU Contract Manager Office:505-827-5309 Cell:505-490-1121 Kimberly.Wildharber@state.nm.us

Local Technical Assistance Program

NMLTAP a Program that solves problems
It is through personalized assistance that NMLTAP is able to adapt its program to address the unique challenges faced by our customers.  The Center provides local and tribal agencies with a variety of adaptable tools—training events, technology transfer resources, and personalized on-site heavy equipment training—for improving their transportation operations. 
NM LTAP does not provide engineering services; we do offer proven solutions to many transportation problems. If you have any questions regarding eligibility or need additional information please call your NMLTAP Center at (800) 523-3028.

What Services does NMLTAP Provide?

• Publish a quarterly newsletter
• Maintain the Lending, Multi-Media, and Resource Libraries
• Provide information regarding transportation issues
• Conduct Training based on local or tribal needs; Worker/Work Place Safety, Workforce Development, Highway Safety, and Infrastructure Management
• Provide assistance, referrals, or information through on-site, telephone, or email consultation 

Every Day Counts
EDC is designed to identify and deploy innovation aimed at shortening project delivery, enhancing the safety of our roadways, and protecting the environment.  Click here for more information.
Adaptive Signal Control
Warm-Mix Asphalt
Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System

www.nmltap.com      nmltap@state.nm.us

Lee Cabeza de Vaca, Program Director Office:505-827-5267 Fax (505) 988-7283 lee.cabezadevaca@state.nm.us
Eric Garcia, Staff Development Office:505-827-5563 Cell:505-249-1282 Fax:505-988-7283 eric.garcia@state.nm.us
Barbara Valencia, Program Assistant Office:505-827-5519 Fax:505-988-7283 barbara.valencia@state.nm.us

Data Management Bureau

The Data Management Bureau provides planning and engineering data to NMDOT staff, FHWA, government, businesses, and the public. The Data Management Bureau oversees:

• Traffic Data Reporting which processes all traffic count data, reports monthly to FHWA, provides traffic forecasts to PDEs.
  
• Traffic Data Collection that collects short term traffic counts and maintains permanent count network of 120 sites.
  
• Weigh In Motion which maintains 16 sites, plans for new sites and upgrades.
  
• TIMS/Field Verification maintains road inventory database, produces HPMS report.

Posted Routes - Legal Discription

• Business Loops
• FL Routes
• Frontage Routes
• Interstate
• NM Routes
• US Routes

Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) listings for the Interstate, NM, and US Routes are listed.  Please reference the Cover Page for the TIMS Database Listings for interpretation and use of the data. Call 827-5529, 827-5553, or 827-5545 for questions and inquires on any other routes.

Antonio Abeyta, Data Management Bureau Chief Office:505-827-5543 antonio.abeyta@state.state.us
Elizer Pena, Traffic Data Reporting Supervisor Office:505-827-5529 elizer.pena@state.nm.us
Billy Larranaga, Traffic Data Collection Supervisor Office:505-827-5380 billy.Larranaga@state.nm.us
Joshua McClenahan, Weigh in Motion Supervisor Office:505-827-5137 josh.McClenahan@state.nm.us
Titus Ispirescu, Tims/Field Verification Section Manager Office:505-827-5299 titus.ispirescu@state.nm.us