Transportation officials urge state lawmakers to fund deteriorating roads as federal funding expires

SOURCE NM

By Matthew Mondschein September 11, 2026

National transportation analysts, joined by a state transportation department official and contractors, told lawmakers this week that while they have identified improvements for the state’s substandard roads, they lack sufficient funding to make the repairs.

According to a 2026 report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, 56% of all major locally and state-maintained roads in New Mexico are in “poor or mediocre condition.” Driving on rough roads costs the average New Mexico driver $1,043 annually in additional vehicle operating costs — a total of $1.6 billion statewide, according to the report.

National analysts told state lawmakers during the Legislature’s interim Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee on Thursday that the New Mexico Department of Transportation identified $7.5 billion in needed projects to address the problem.

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