I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, Mayor Martin Chavez isn’t completely happy with the way that the stimulus is being spent in Albuquerque.
“We’ve been disappointed in the speed with which Washington has acted,” Chavez told the Journal last week according to a story by Dan McKay in today’s Journal.
Chavez cited one example:
The Interstate 25-Paseo del Norte interchange ought to be a top priority, he said. Yet, it’s another freeway intersection — I-40 and Paseo del Volcan — that’s been funded. That’s apparently because Paseo del Norte didn’t qualify because a final design isn’t finished, he said.
In January, before the passing of the stimulus bill, the U.S. Department of Transportation described “shovel ready” as this:
- The project meets the normal eligibility requirements under the existing Federal highway, transit, or other grant program.
- The project has completed all necessary design work and right-of-way acquisition.
- The project has completed all environmental reviews. If the project would result in significant environmental effects, the Federal agency must have issued an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Record of Decision determining that the project complies with environmental laws. As part of this environmental review process, project sponsors must have had public hearings to consider the transportation, environmental, community, and other effects of proposed projects. As part of the EIS Record of Decision, project sponsors must also have environmental mitigation plans ready to incorporate into the project design.
- The project is on the State plan (“State Transportation Improvement Program”) and, if applicable, Metropolitan plan (“Transportation Improvement Program”).
- The project is ready to be put out to bid, and contracts can be awarded and work underway within 90 days of enactment.
