Mid-Region Council of Governments 2013 Annual Report
Bernalillo County | Sandoval County | Torrance County | Valencia County
MRCOG: 45 Years of Regional Partnership What is now the Mid-Region Council of Governments had its earliest beginnings in June 1967, when the Metropolitan Planning Council was organized to coordinate development of the Metropolitan Area and to “promote the general welfare, health, convenience and prosperity of its people”. Under the authority of the Regional Planning Act and under the Joint Powers Act, the Council was established as part of an effort to regionalize municipalities. The thought was that coordination with local governments would then help eliminate duplication of efforts in programs that have similar objectives. In August 1967, the Council held its “First Organizational Meeting” with a total of 12 representatives and staff, including then Albuquerque City Commission Chairman (equivalent to what we now call the Mayor of Albuquerque) Pete V. Domenici. And in September of that same year, the name “Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments of New Mexico (MRGCOG)” was adopted. MRCOG’s early years were spent focusing on planning activities for transportation, water and sewer, open space and land use. Compliance with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provided the necessary eligibility for the MRCOG to receive federal funding for key infrastructure projects. We are now 28 Board Chairs later, and MRCOG still works to promote a regional perspective toward addressing the most pressing issues facing the region: transportation, MRCOG Region, 2013 agriculture, workforce development, employment growth, land use, water, and economic development. Today, all four counties of NMDOT State Planning District No. 3 are members of MRCOG, as well as 19 municipalities and six special units of government. Collaborative regional planning continues today for the 900,000 residents of the region and the 1.3 million people who will call the region home by 2035.
A Word from OutgoA Word from Outgoing MRCOG Board Chair, ing Debbie O’Malley MRCOG Board Chair, It goes without saying that the economic climate has been very challenging to our region, and as resources have become scarcer and federal dollars have dwindled, it’s been more important than ever for member governments to work cooperatively to insure that our limited resources are expended wisely. The Mid-Region Council of Governments plays an important role in helping its members—especially the smaller entities—accomplish their goals. We are fortunate to have an executive director who understands that MRCOG needs to be a
flexible, responsive agency in order to meet the changing needs of its member governments. It was my honor to serve as your board chair for the last two years. I whole-heartedly wish Mayor Gasteyer a productive and enjoyable term as incoming chair. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Chair.
About MRCOG’s About MRCOG’s Incoming Board Chair, Incoming Board Phillip Gasteyer Chair, Phillip Phil Gasteyer has been Mayor of the Village of Corrales since March of 2006. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Mid-Region Council of Governments, he has also chaired the Workforce Connection CEO Board. Mayor Gasteyer spent eight years on the Corrales Planning & Zoning Commission, and served on the Far Northwest Sector Task Force.
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He was also director and treasurer of “Rebuilding Together – Sandoval County.” To add to his career credits, he is an attorney, a trade executive, a journalist, and a science teacher. Phil Gasteyer and his wife clay artist Mariana Roumell-Gasteyer have been married for 53 years, have two children, Stephen and Ana, and three grandchildren.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
A Word of Welcome from MRCOG’s Executive Director This past year, we have had a number of success stories when it comes to providing vital resources to our member governments and communities. Whether it be transportation planning, economic development for the region, or local assistance — the COG played a vital role in working in partnership to address issues of regional significance. I am proud to say that we are ahead of the game with regard to implementing the requirements of Map 21 – the new Federal Transportation Bill requiring certain performance and evaluation measures. We have adopted a project prioritization process to focus on programming transportation projects for the region based on goals and priorities set forth in 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
Executive Director
Additionally, I am happy to report that the process for rural transportation planning is Dewey V. Cave now more squarely in the hands of the people who know best how to plan for their needs — the local elected officials. Due to changes in the way NMDOT is programming Transportation Alternatives Program funds local officials can now set their own transportation priorities. In the area of local planning assistance, MRCOG reached out to the Town of Peralta to help prepare its first Comprehensive Plan. We also assisted several communities in procuring Community Development Block Grants, including assisting the Village of Jemez Springs in bringing their 1950’s zoning ordinance up to compliance. Our New Mexico Workforce Connection Business and Career Centers continue to be the vehicle to obtain employment and occupational skills training, with many receiving critical skill assessments and job training services. Through the quality and valued resources used by the Business community, a skilled workforce continues to emerge lending to the successes of New Mexico’s Central Region. Rio Metro has made progress on many projects over the past year including the completion of a short and long-range plan which expands transit services in the rural areas, as well as provides capital improvements for transportation throughout the region. We now also have a new long-term contract with Herzog Transit Services, Inc. — the provider of maintenance and operations for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express, and a new Memorandum of Understanding with the NM Department of Transportation allowing Rio Metro to be the policysetting entity for the Rail Runner. In retrospect, we owe much gratitude to all who work tirelessly to guide and support the region through dedication and collaboration. Whether it is our elected officials, our member agencies, or our committed MRCOG staff — all have a part in the outcomes that we enjoy and the opportunities they provide for all who live and work here in the Central Region. Sincerely,
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Growth in the Region New Mexico has been slow to recover from the economic recession but experts are pointing to recent up-ticks in housing and employment as signs that the state has finally joined the nation in its recovery. As the recession was like nothing we have experienced in the past, it stands to reason that the recovery is likely to have some surprises in store. The question on everyone’s mind is, “what will the recovery hold for our region?� And while some are cautiously awaiting more signs of improvement in our future, others are actively trying to shape it. MRCOG is at the forefront; engaging the region in discussions about creating places, connecting destinations, and encouraging investment activity that will elevate our region to the next level.
7,982
During this past year, the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area has exhibited its fastest growth in four years, gaining 2,700 jobs. The public and private sectors both saw gains over the year and, most notably, the construction industry added 1,000 jobs. To be sure, the road to recovery will be long. The metro area was hit harder than New Mexico as a whole by the recession, and it still has a long way to go until it reaches pre-recession employment levels.
Residential Permits
8,225
Jobs
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2,000
2,790
The housing industry in the metropolitan area continues to lag behind the rest of the nation but has shown several signs of improvement. Construction of 344 homes was started in the first quarter of 2013, which is an increase of 16 percent compared to the first quarter of 2012, and over-theyear housing starts have been on the rise for five consecutive quarters.
2,356
Housing
2004 2006 2008 2010 2012
Individual Permit Issuing Entities, NM Construction Industries Division
Mid-Region Council of Governments
In the existing housing market, new listings, pending and closed sales are up by double digits across the metropolitan area in May of 2013. The biggest story may be the multi-family housing market where occupancy holds at a healthy 95.3 percent and average rents are as high as they have been. The number of multi-family permits has increased at a higher rate than single-family construction every year since 2008. In addition, New Mexico recently joined the nation with reductions in the percentage of homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth. It is anticipated that, accompanied by employment growth, these numbers will continue to improve.
Demographic Trends The Great Recession has had a marked impact on some key demographic indicators in the Middle Rio Grande Region. Since 2000, the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area has grown by 170,000 people (23 percent), and in 2012 it had a population of 901,700. Beginning in 2007, the region has exhibited a substantial decline in its pace of growth. Birth rates tend to be relatively stable. Most recently, however, the data show a notable drop in
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MRCOG is at the forefront; engaging the region in discussions about creating places, connecting destinations, and encouraging investment activity that will elevate our region to the next level.
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New Mexico birth rate from 15 births per 1,000 to 13.5. This decline is even steeper among the state’s Hispanic population, from 19.3 births per 1,000 to 16.9. At the same time, the state has experienced negative net migration for the first time in decades. Between July 2011 and July 2012, the Census estimates that New Mexico lost over 5,000 residents to migration. All but six counties in the state witnessed negative migration over that time. In the
Sawmill development north of Downtown Albuquerque
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Albuquerque Metropolitan Area, only Sandoval County exhibited positive migration. It has long been speculated that dwindling job prospects, particularly in the construction industry, have led workers out of state for employment opportunities. A new challenge will likely present itself as job opportunities begin to rise, only to be met by a limited pool of skilled labor in specific industries. Future Population Growth Despite recent demographic shifts that have slowed growth, the metropolitan area is still expected to expand considerably over the coming decades. By 2017, we are expected to hit the one million mark and over the next 30 years we are projected to gain 472,000 people (53 percent). The regional growth forecast will be of great interest as the Metropolitan Planning Organization embarks on the 2040 long-range transportation plan. It is expected that population growth will be accompanied by substantial increases in congestion, particularly during peak travel times. MRCOG is leading a regional Scenario Planning effort to analyze how different patterns of growth might affect key indicators related to transportation, land use, quality of life and development (see article on page 8). 1economic man = 50,000 people
+4,923 in 2008 +14,227 in 2006
-5,229 in 2012
New Mexico Net Migration NM Net Migration U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Branch
2040 2030 2020 2010
890,188 1,062,489 1,225,662 1,362,609 Geospatial Population Studies, UNM
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+3,223 in 2010
Mid-Region Council of Governments
Marketing the Region A unique idea was born at the 2012 MRCOG Board work session on economic development: why not work collectively to market our region? Neighboring regions such as Metro Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Ft. Worth do it, so why not us? MRCOG began to facilitate a group of public and private regional economic development partners to think about ways to foster job growth, private sector investment and economic activity. This has resulted in MRCOG serving as a catalyst for a regional marketing strategy. The hope is to bring all the players together to put our region back on the map. The effort has been significant in a number of ways. Not only have we made strides in getting the region to work together to support job growth and economic viability, but MRCOG has been able to build new-found trust among stakeholders. At a time when the regional economy is still not rebounding from the recession, this trust will go a long way in helping rebuild relationships, institutions and our communities.
NMSiteSearch: Same Site, New Tools MRCOG continues to partner with the Metro New Mexico Development Alliance to administer the website www.nmsitesearch.com. This year, the site’s usability improved dramatically thanks to the addition of new GIS mapping. A company or individual exploring properties in the region can now display additional data (such as schools, demographics, hospitals, unemployment rates, railroads, income, zoning, broadband footprint, home values, airports, traffic counts).
This screen shot from www.nmsitesearch.com illustrates some of the new selection criteria now available to companies or individuals exploring the region through this website.
The Metro New Mexico Development Alliance is made up of prominent economic development and commercial real estate organizations in the region, and was one of the first organizations to provide cutting edge property search information for site selectors online.
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Transportation Planning An effective and efficient transportation network is the foundation of a vital economy and a vibrant community. Good roads, highways, and convenient transit services such as the Rail Runner and a robust network of buses, as well as bike and walking trails, allow us to get to work, take our kids to school, go to the grocery store, and go visit grandma. Planning for future infrastructure improvements and transit services is crucial as the region grows. The Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO), which allocates federal transportation dollars for the region and plays an important role in the area’s transit planning, is right at the center of it all. Events such as the scenario planning workshop, and strategies such as integrating land use and transportation planning allow for fresh perspectives and solutions to regional challenges.
Scenario Planning The 2035 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) provided the region with a wake-up call in regards to the tremendous influence that development patterns have on traffic congestion and other quality of life issues. The purpose of the MTP is to help people in the metropolitan area determine how the area is growing, which way it is headed, and whether they want to continue going in that direction. There are two main required components of the MTP to help make this determination. The first component is producing a scenario of growth and resulting congestion. This involves distributing future population and employment growth throughout the region based on development trends and local plans and policies and then forecasting future traffic congestion based on this growth. The second component is generating a list of capital projects that member agencies anticipate to fund by the year 2035. These include expanding
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MRMPO
Mid-Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
capacity by adding new roadways and adding lanes to existing roadways. The 2035 MTP calls for 600 new miles of roadway and three billion dollars in capacity expansion. However, based on current trends of where homes and jobs will be located, even with the abovementioned investments in transportation, future roads will need to handle twice as many vehicle miles, and drivers will spend four times as long in traffic. This clearly shows that as a region, we simply cannot build our way out of congestion.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
Mid-Region Council of Governments Transportation Planning Boundaries
COCHITI PUEBLO
Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Area (AMPA)
N
SANTA ANA PUEBLO
16
US Highway
M
Interstate
N
SANTO DOMINGO PUEBLO
NMDOT District Boundary and Number
RioGr an
de
Previous AMPA Boundary
M
SANDOVAL COUNTY
Other Roads
22
SAN FELIPE PUEBLO
State Highway
§ ¦ ¨ I-25
Railroads
Jemez Resevoir
Incorporated Municipality Indian Reservation or Trust Lands Rio Rancho
Dept. of Defense
Bernalillo NM
US Forest Service
16 5
NORTHERN BLVD
National Park Service Valles Caldera Nat. Preserve
LAGUNA PUEBLO
SANDIA PUEBLO
Corrales
SO UTHERN BLVD.
N.M
. 14
*Area outside of AMPA Boundary
PASEO DEL NO RTE
PASEO DEL VOLCAN
Albuquerque
TO'HAJIILEE NAVAJO RESERVATION
TRAMWAY
Los Ranchos
Petroglyph NM
Cibola National Forest
§ ¦ ¨ I-40
Tijeras
§ ¦ ¨ I-40
je r
rro as A
yo
KAFB
IS LE
COO RS
Ti
TA BL VD.
BERNALILLO COUNTY LAGUNA PUEBLO
N.M. 337
§ ¦ ¨ I-25
ISLETA PUEBLO
Bosque Farms
NM
Peralta
6
i o Gr an de
Los Lunas
O EXP
NM 47
R
TORRANCE COUNTY MANZAN
VALENCIA COUNTY
R io P u e r co
NM 109
Belen
NM 47
3
X 0
5
10
15
20 Miles
Source: MRCOG; NMDOT; BLM NM State Office.
With the release of the new US Census urbanized area (UZA) boundaries and the creation of the new Los Lunas UZA, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) was expanded to include all of Valencia County and southern Sandoval County north to San Felipe, Santo Domingo and Cochiti Pueblos.
Edited March 4, 2013 Signed by Governer February 27, 2013
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This clearly shows that, as a region, we simply cannot build our way out of congestion.
One of the more promising strategies to address long range growth and congestion is integrating land use and transportation. This involves making a concerted effort to synchronize future development with various transportation networks. The Mid Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MRMPO) began investigating what might happen if the region grew a bit more compactly along key transit corridors. Congestion improvements were far better than expected: growth in vehicle miles could be reduced by four percent and peak commute delay could be reduced by 25 percent. As we embark on the 2040 MTP, MRMPO has begun working closely with member governments and planners to develop a more robust framework for using alternative scenarios to uncover the hidden costs and benefits associated with different patterns of future growth.
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In June 2013, MRMPO partnered with the Federal Highway Administration and the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to hold a Scenario Planning Workshop. Representatives from Nashville Metropolitan Planning Organization and Fresno Council of Governments shared best practices as peer agencies who had conducted scenario planning in their region. A total of 71 people representing member governments throughout the region attended the full-day workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to introduce member governments to scenario planning and to discuss regional challenges. MRMPO will follow up on the input from the workshop and solicit future participation so that scenario planning can be a useful part of the 2040 MTP and available to complement to other local planning processes.
In June 2013, MRCOG held a Scenario Planning Workshop to introduce exercise of looking at the impacts of different growth patterns. In this image, challenges that were generated by the audience are being put into broader categories. These challenges will be used to provide a framework for considering different ways the region can grow.
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) This past year the MPO developed a new TIP for FFY 2014-2019. The Mid-Region MPO’s TIP is a document that programs federal funding for transportation projects for a six-year period. Each fiscal year must be financially constrained, meaning that the amount of funds programmed to projects in a given year must not exceed the amount of funds estimated to be available in that same year. Developing the TIP is a massive effort as all AMPA projects that are anticipated to be funded with federal dollars or are deemed to be regionally significant have to be included in the document. The New Mexico Department of Transportation, all local and tribal governments within the AMPA, the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, MRCOG, public transit operators, federal land management agencies, and federal government agencies are eligible to propose projects for the TIP. Project proposals include transit improvements and expansions, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, transportation demand management strategies, roadway improvements, park and ride facilities, intelligent transportation system improvements, and studies/data collection. Projects proposed for inclusion in the TIP must be consistent with the current, adopted MTP. Three main goals form the core of the 2035 MTP: preserve and improve regional quality of life, improve mobility of people and goods, and support economic activity and growth. In order to test whether proposed projects meet these regional goals, a “project prioritization process� is used. Due to the expansion of the AMPA boundary, small urban and rural areas were brought into the metropolitan planning process. A specific Project Prioritization Process Guidebook for Small Urban and Rural Areas was developed for evaluating these projects.
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Roadway Connectivity This past year, work continued on developing the Long Range Transportation System (LRTS) as part of the MTP. LRTS relates land use and transportation planning by recommending rightof-way requirements for roadways and conceptual roadway design based on adjacent land use. The LRTS is the new incarnation of the Future Albuquerque Area Bikeways and Streets (FAABS) document, which covered similar ground but was not part of the MTP. Roadway connectivity emerged as a critical factor in development of the LRTS. Good roadway connectivity gives people the option to make trips on low-volume, low-speed roads to reach destinations. This is critical for pedestrians and
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[...] areas with low levels of street connectivity will experience much more congestion in future years than areas with high levels of connectivity.
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bicyclists. Providing these modes of travel the option of using low-speed roads reduces their risk of crashes with severe injuries. It also allows for shorter, more direct trips, a more efficient transportation system and dispersed congestion.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
The effect of roadway connectivity on congestion is obvious when we compare the roadway network east of I-25 with the roadways network west of I-25. East of I-25, roadways are highly connected in a grid network, west of I-25 they are not. The map on the left-hand side shows that in 2008 there is relatively little congestion (shown in yellow and red) in the Albuquerque area. The map on the right-hand side shows that in 2035 the less connected roadway network west of I-25 is projected to become much more congested, while network on the east side does not experience nearly the same stress.
2035 Congested Lane Miles
The graph to the left illustrates this same point: areas with low levels of street connectivity will experience much more congestion in future years than areas with high levels of connectivity. 600
Severely Congested Roadway***
500
Congested Roadway**
400 Roadway over Capacity*
300
This walled off community has 430 homes and four street access points that do not lead to streets that make regional connections. However, good connectivity does not always have to be through streets: a fifth access point was created for pedestrians and bicyclists by making an opening in the wall around the community, allowing for direct access to a multi-purpose trail that makes regional connections. This break in the wall also helps increase the feasibility of any future transit service along the arterial.
200 100 0
Low
Medium
High
Street Connectvity * Volume to Capacity = 1.0 - 1.09, ** Volume to Capacity = 1.1 - 1.49, *** Volume to Capacity >1.5 A street connectivity measure was taken for each Census track and compared to the number of congested lane miles in the 2035 projected PM peak hour.
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Transit to the Rescue? Transit enhancements can help meet the region’s transportation challenges in a variety of ways – by more effectively moving people on already successful corridors, by providing transportation alternatives on the city’s congested river crossings, and by improving access to the region’s critical education and health care services. The ability of people to walk from transit service to their home, businesses and other destinations helps transit provide an attractive option for more day to day transportation needs – and also encourages wise land use and economic development. Recognizing the challenges the region’s land use patterns are creating for all types of transportation, MRCOG is examining how the potential enhanced transit systems can result in larger economic impacts. In February, MRCOG hosted a half day National Bus Rapid Transit Institute / Urban Land Institute workshop in Albuquerque to share transit and land use success stories from other cities across the country. More than 150 developers, transit professionals, elected officials and others attended the event. MRCOG and ULI followed this event with a “sleeves rolled up” workshop of 40 real estate, development, land use, and transit professionals.
National Bus Rapid Transit Institute / Urban Land Institute Workshop
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“Sleeves Rolled Up” Workshop
This workshop identified opportunities and challenges involved with creating economic benefits from transit investments - and created an essential dialogue between the public and private sector parties to help ensure success. MRCOG and ULI plan to continue partnering in similar event to ensure that MRCOG transit planning reflects the realities of the region’s land and development markets.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
Enhanced Transit Study Areas in the Albuquerque Metro Study Areas
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Enhanced Transit Study Areas MRCOG and ABQ RIDE (which is evaluating the Central Ave. corridor) are concurrently conducting three studies which all examine how “enhanced” transit can accomplish these goals while developing regional transit network (see map on previous page). The Paseo del Norte High Capacity Transit Study has identified a route that includes Unser and Paseo del Norte to link the northwestern portion of the metropolitan area with the Journal Center and other activity centers east of the Rio Grande. This will help address critical traffic congestion problems on the region’s river crossings, which are expected to worsen significantly over the next 25 years. The project team is now developing a phased implementation plan.
Eugene, OR
UNM / CNM / Sunport Transit Study Home to the University of New Mexico, UNM Hospital, Central New Mexico Community College and a variety of other destinations and neighborhoods, the study area for the UNM / CNM / Sunport Transit Study attracts more than 74,000 trips each day. The multi-agency team identifying how transit — including versions of a concept known as “bus rapid transit” — can meet the diverse travel needs associated with the area has narrowed down the list of potential “alternatives” to two potential routes. In addition, the team is considering how the service may contribute to economic and community development. A recommendation is expected by fall 2013. Depending on the outcome of the study, a funding request to the Federal Transit Administration is possible.
Flagstaff, AZ Enhanced transit includes buses that are modern, safe, and comfortable as well as quick and easy to board; stations that are strategically located, comfortable, and safe for use at night; systems where, when feasible, buses operate in dedicated bus-only lane to make travel fast and efficient.
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
The large medians along the corridor allow motor vehicles to queue up in various directions allowing turning movements from many directions and introducing more opportunities for conflict.
West Central Road Safety Audit In March 2013, a multidisciplinary team of staff from MRCOG, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) teamed up to conduct a Road Safety Audit along West Central Avenue from approximately Sunset Road to Coors Boulevard. Albuquerque qualifies for technical assistance to improve pedestrian safety from the FHWA due its high number of pedestrian crash fatalities. Neighborhoods and the Albuquerque Police Department expressed a high level of concern for safety along west Central in the process of developing the West Central Sector Development Plan Update. This concern, the update of the sector plan and the high number of pedestrian crashes in the area lead the team to choose this section of Central to study for a Road Safety Audit.
space in wide medians to make various turning movements. Federal Highway Administration Safety Specialists were impressed by many positive features in the corridor such the Esperanza Community Bicycle Shop, bicycle lanes and sidewalks. These specialists have recommended many small improvements to the corridor that include working with new development to consolidate driveways, improving safety measures at signalized intersections, and improving drivers’ ability to see oncoming traffic when making right turns at intersections. Recommendations include larger considerations that could be implemented with bus rapid transit plans for the corridor. An example of the many driveway cuts along West Central Ave.
West Central is a very active place. The corridor has many driveways, median cuts, as well as premium transit and many pedestrians and bicyclists (the percentage of households with no vehicle available ranges from 7 to 12 percent ). In general, roadway users are accustomed to taking advantage of the many opportunities to cross Central Ave. Pedestrian and transit users primarily cross mid-block and not at crosswalks, bicyclists travel against traffic and motor vehicles find ample
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Pedestrian and Bicycle Data Collection Regional Trail Monitoring System While planning a multi-use trail project that filled a large gap in the area’s trail network, Bernalillo County expressed an interest in establishing a Regional Trail Monitoring System that would collect data on the use of the trail. MRCOG entered into an agreement with Bernalillo County to collect data from the trail monitoring system, which consists of seven permanent counters in the Albuquerque area. The collected data has been shared with the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee, the Greater Albuquerque Bicycle Advisory Committee and researchers at the University of New Mexico and University of Washington.
Counter
Bicycle Travel Study This past May, MRCOG partnered with University of New Mexico’s Civil Engineering Department to conduct a Bicycle Travel Study at nine breakfast stop locations during National Bike to Work Day. This study will use continuous trail count data with survey information to evaluate the impact trails have on the number of vehicle miles traveled (amount of travel by car) and the region’s air quality. Paseo del Bosque Trail with count cameras on a busy Sunday in October 2012
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
Paseo del Bosque Trail Average Daily Bicyclists, by month August 2012 - June 2013 Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
Weekday Weekend
Jan Feb Mar April May June 0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
National Bike to Work Day Breakfast Stop Gathering
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Rio Metro
Regional Transit District Rio Metro is becoming an increasingly important public transportation service provider in the middle Rio Grande region. After assuming management of the new Mexico Rail Runner Express in 2009, the District also began providing bus service to Valencia County and Sandoval County residents, after consolidating several smaller transit agencies. In addition, a collaborative agreement with ABQ RIDE allowed the latter to extend its services to Rio Rancho and several Rail Runner stations, thus providing seamless connections between modes of transportation and across transit agencies. Rio Metro’s top priority is providing efficient, effective transit service to its customers, filling a critical transportation need since tens of thousands of trips occur each day between different towns, cities, Tribal areas, and counties in the service area.
The Next Generation of Riders Even if you don’t ride the train today, think about how important it will be for the next generation. That’s the message six-year old Mateo Burgos was touting to the public in the Rio Metro marketing campaign that ran last fall and winter. According to Rio Metro Transit Director Terry Doyle, the goal of this campaign was to educate non-riders about the long-term benefits of a commuter rail system in our region. “Average commute times over the next 20-years will be twice as long as they are today,” says Doyle. “Even if a third lane is added someday on I-25, there aren’t any plans to expand roadways like St. Francis, Cerrillos or Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe. The Rail Runner allows continued economic development in the capital without having to accommodate more vehicle lanes and added parking.” Rio Metro partnered with the Phoenix Agency for a casting call to recruit a dozen children to be part of the television, print and outdoor advertisements.
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The kids range in age from three to 10 years old and are dressed in outfits that reflect the profession they want to be as adults. “From a police officer, to a firefighter, an airline pilot, a chef and business woman these kids really represent our current passengers well,” said Rio Metro Marketing Manager Jay Faught. “We strongly feel that these kids can help bring our message home better than anyone else. After all, these children are our future riders.”
Mid-Region Council of Governments
In the television ad, young Mateo is waiting for the Rail Runner at the Downtown Albuquerque station when his father leans over to him and says, “You know son, this train was built for you. When you grow up, you’ll want to take this train to work everyday because traffic is going to be much worse.” Then Mateo imagines himself as an Air Force pilot using the train to get to work in the future. When he boards the train he sees all of his friends dressed in the outfits that reflect their desired professions. While on the train, the kids have a conversation crediting their parents for having the foresight to support the Rail Runner back in the day.
While the main target audience for the campaign is adults who don’t currently ride the train, there is also a secondary target audience aimed at kids. “We hope these ads encourage children and families to think about the future and how public transportation might factor into their plans,” says Doyle. “Sure, it’s food for thought for what’s ahead, but that kind of thinking begins with giving the train a try today.”
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Rio Metro Budget On May 17, the Rio Metro board of directors approved bus and rail budgets for Fiscal Year 2014, which runs from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. The bus budget projects total revenues and expenditures of $15.6 million, which includes commuter bus routes, fixed routes, para-transit, demand response services, and long-range planning, as well as $4.7 million for ABQ RIDE to support its transit services. The budget also includes an expansion of transit services in Sandoval and Valencia counties. The rail budget projects revenues and expenditures of $40.2 million, a significant increase from FY 2013 due to an anticipated increase in federal funds. The
budget preserves the existing Rail Runner service levels, and the additional revenue will pay for maintenance of the tracks, locomotives, passenger cars, and other rail facilities and begins a capital reserve fund for locomotive and passenger car mid-life refurbishment. Both budgets were presented as part of an addendum to the five-year Short Range Plan, which was adopted in December. The addendum assesses Rio Metro’s progress on projects over the past year, provides budget projections through FY 2020, and lays out the annual planning cycle, which includes the budget, transit performance reviews, and capital improvement planning.
Rail Capital $6.34 Rail Operations $25.
Rail Reserve $8.60 Bus Capital $1.82 Bus Operations $13.79
FY14 Rio Metro Budget (millions)
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
Rio Metro Bus Service In FY 2013, more than 144,000 passengers rode Rio Metro buses in Valencia and Sandoval counties. In addition, Rio Metro helped fund several ABQ RIDE bus routes, which had record ridership numbers in FY13. Rio Metro operates or funds several fixed-route buses in the region. In Sandoval County, Rio Metro bus service connects passengers as far away as Jemez Springs, Cuba, Santo Domingo Pueblo and Cochiti to Rio Rancho and the Town of Bernalillo. In Valencia County, fixed-route buses operate within the Village of Los Lunas and the City of Belen. Rio Metro also operates two types of demand response bus service: Dial-a-Ride and Para-transit. Dail-a-Ride service is open to anyone living in or visiting Valencia County. Passengers need to make a reservation by noon the day before service is needed. More than 50,000 passenger trips were made in FY 2013 on Dial-a-Ride service in Valencia County. Rio Metro bus service at the Harvey House in Belen
Rio Metro’s para-transit service is available to seniors and people with disabilities living in Rio Rancho. This service registered nearly 20,000 boardings in FY 2013.
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New Mexico Rail Runner Express by the Numbers*
95%
Nearly 95% of passengers are satisfied with service
81.5%
81.5% of passengers believe the pricing structure is good or excellent and another 16% believe it is fair
93%
Over 93% of passengers rank customer service as good or excellent and 95% rank staff courtesy as good or excellent
27%
Nearly 27% of passengers use the train for leisure travel, while 68.4% uses the train to get to work or school (In 2011, those numbers were 86% versus 13% )
* Based on a passenger survey conducted earlier in 2013.
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
57.5%
98.8%
Boardings
Exits
If the Rail Runner Express did not exist, 57.5% of passengers would drive alone in their car, 18.3% would carpool, and 12.5% would not have made the trip
**
The busiest station for boardings is the Downtown Albuquerque Station (22%), followed by the Santa Fe Depot (14%).
98.8% of passengers feel safe on the train, over 95% feel safe at the stations, and over 89% feel safe in the parking lots.
**
The busiest station for exiting the train is Downtown Albuquerque (25% ) followed by the Santa Fe Depot Station (16%).
**Based on official Rio Metro Ridership Data
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Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico
The Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico oversees four Business and Career Centers throughout the region. These centers provide quality resources for people exploring career opportunities, and assist employers in their search for skilled and productive workers. Employers can access pre-screened applicants at the business center, take advantage of employee on-the-job training, access resumes online, and obtain support setting up job fairs or recruiting events. Job Seekers can register at a New Mexico Workforce Connection Business and Career Centers and get their skills assessed, get help receiving specialized job training, obtain assistance with resume writing, job searching, and interview techniques, or learn about apprenticeships and educational opportunities.
State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) Grant The State Energy Sector Partnership Program (SESP) was a three year grant awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant’s intent was to help New Mexico invest in workforce training for the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. New Mexico’s SESP grant identified four priority industries for training workers to meet the needs of the state’s green energy sector: • Solar • Wind • Green Building/Energy Efficiency • Biofuels The SESP in the Central Area focused on solar energy, investing in many training opportunities to ensure that business and individuals seeking advancement acquired the necessary skills and training.
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
In addition to solar-related training, the Central Area has engaged building industries to support training in green building and energy efficiency. For example, the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Academy offered an after-hours school program to re-engage high school dropouts. In partnership with the Association of General Contractors, many of the students from the ACE Academy have since enrolled into advanced green building training programs. The Central Area also targeted Engineering Firms and Architectural studios to develop Building Information Modeling or “BIM training”. This training — called AIA+2030 — provides a comprehensive, groundbreaking curriculum that teaches design strategies aimed at reaching a 60 percent reduction in fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions. AIA+2030 gives design professionals the knowledge to create next-generation, superefficient buildings and provide firms with the skills that will set them apart in the marketplace. “My company learned important new techniques to improve the services we provide,” said Robert Calitirone, of Robert Calitirone Design, LLC. “It brought the company up-to-date on where the profession is headed, and stimulated new ways of thinking about solving the problems we face in the future.”
DeWindt. ”Most importantly, my clients will benefit from these new associations, and from the education and information which will improve my own work.” Through the SESP grant, the Central Region trained 598 individuals in green energy sector industry practices, exceeding all performance measures setforth by the state and the federal government.
“
“The AIA+2030 program gave me the benefit of meeting engineers and architects with experience and expertise in areas in which I lacked”, said Lila DeWindt of DeWindt Architecture.
”
Lila DeWindt of DeWindt Architecture added that the funds received from WCCNM allowed her to access professionals with whom she could not have afforded to consult with on her own. “The AIA+2030 program gave me the benefit of meeting engineers and architects with experience and expertise in areas in which I lacked”, said
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Job Fair and Employer Recruitment Two large job fairs were held at the Bernalillo County Business and Career Center during the past year. During the first event, held last October, 45 employers recruited for more than 700 full-time and part-time positions. Of the more than 900 job seekers who attended the event, 400 were put to work. In April, a second large job fair was held, in which 34 employers recruited for more than 800 positions. 1135 job seekers showed up to apply. In addition to these two job fairs, Workforce staff assisted with the coordination of job fairs in Sandoval and Valencia Counties as well. Four hundred job seekers came out to Independence High School to check out 40 participating employers at Sandoval County’s job fair. The Valencia County job fair was conducted in May, where more than 23 employers participated with 150 job seekers attending the event. Employer reviews of these services and events continue to be favorable, with many explaining that the events exceeded their expectations and were crucial to developing their growing workforce needs.
National Emergency Grant Funding from a National Emergency Grant — a grant that provides benefits for dislocated workers through On-the-Job training opportunities — was awarded to the Central New Mexico Region for clients who are considered “prolonged unemployed.” The funds are provided for skill building training for in-demand occupations, with opportunities for sustainability and self-sufficiency.
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In addition, the grant provides an incentive for employers apprehensive about expanding or hiring during uncertain economic conditions. Through this effort, staff at the Business and Career centers conduct specialized outreach to individuals, to act as a catalyst for those long-term unemployed who may have felt lost and unable to find viable employment opportunities.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
Youth Initiatives 2012 was an amazing year for the WCCNM Youth Program and its participants: 340 youth took advantage of WCCNM services from getting work experience or occupational skills training, to receiving mentorship opportunities. Other programs aimed at youth in our region include:
Occupational skills training within the Dental Assistant Career Pathway
•
C-Core mentoring, through the National Home Builders Institute, for those interested in the construction and home building industries. The goal of this career-focused mentoring program is to prepare youth for employment while being mentored by a professional.
•
The Career Pathways Initiative began last May to assist Workforce Investment Act (WIA) participants in need of attaining their GED, and, for those who are interested in the healthcare field, to help them acquire the necessary certifications for employment in this sector.
• A collaborative effort with Junior Achievement provided comprehensive financial literacy classes to WIA youth participants. The pilot training took place in Bernalillo and Valencia Counties.
Veterans’ Services The Gold Card Initiative provides unemployed post-9/11 era veterans with the intensive follow-up services they need to succeed in today’s job market. The Central Region has helped more than 30 veterans participate in the Gold Card program to date, with the average time to employment being three months. The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program or “VRAP”, began last July and offers veterans an additional year of Veteran-funded education. The program is available to New Mexico veterans
through next March, and upon completion, veterans receive follow-up and employment assistance through NMVOSS – the statewide database system that lists training programs and job openings. Workforce Connection staff members have also been implementing monthly workshops and informational sessions at Laguna Pueblo. This type of outreach promotes Workforce Connection employment services to Native American Veteran populations.
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Local Government Assistance In New Mexico, the authority to plan and manage land use is vested in local governments. Within MRCOG’s planning area, comprehensive and special purpose plans for local communities are adopted and updated continuously as communities change and grow. MRCOG provides professional planning assistance and technical services to smaller member communities, who often lack these resources. Comprehensive plans are adopted by local councils and used as a policy guide for making decisions about their community’s future. They also help communities budget financial resources and guide the development of local ordinances. In addition to planning assistance, MRCOG also offers regular planning commissioner workshops on topics such as zoning, Robert’s Rules, and federal grant applications.
Town of Peralta Adopts First Comprehensive Plan Following its incorporation back in 2007, the Town of Peralta has been growing into a successful Valencia County community. In 2012, Peralta contracted with MRCOG to prepare its first Comprehensive Plan in order to help the Town manage its future growth. Being a new community in New Mexico, the main purpose of this plan was to establish a process for guiding and managing the Town’s future development. As with any comprehensive plan, the primary emphasis was on land use activities to increase community wellbeing, character, and municipal functions. However, due to Peralta’s geographic location, this plan took on aspects of community development priorities we do not typically see in plans for other rural communities. Peralta is located in very close proximity to Albuquerque, making it possible for its residents to access facilities and enjoy amenities (such as recreational
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amenities, health care facilities, senior centers) offered there. Therefore, rather than focus on adding certain amenities to the Town, residents focused on issues pertaining to the rural/ agricultural character of the town, water quality, road development and maintenance, as well as stormwater management as priorities for the Town.
Mid-Region Council of Governments
Welcome to a New Municipality: Rio Communities
A New Zoning Ordinance for Jemez Springs
The City of Rio Communities was incorporated in January 2013, and became the 105th incorporated community in New Mexico. MRCOG planning staff has been providing technical assistance to this community since the very beginning of its incorporation, and looks forward to gaining Rio Communities representatives on the various boards, and providing assistance in obtaining planning and infrastructure grants to help shape Rio Communities’ future development.
Working closely with the Jemez Springs Planning and Zoning Commission, MRCOG planning staff developed a new zoning ordinance that not only clarified land use controls, but also simplified the development process. This effort took an archaic type of zoning based on 1950’s-era ideas of growth and development within the Village that had long since become obsolete, and turned it into a more concise performance-based code that better reflects current land use and takes into account controls for future development.
The Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway Committee adopted this ‘brand’ for the Torrance County Byway to better publicize its attractions. This image will be used in promotional materials, and on local governments’ websites to link to the Salt Missions Trail website at saltmissionstrail. wordpress.com.
A major addition to this code is the Steep Slope Overlay Zone which was created to address development in the Jemez Mountains surrounding the Village. The intent of this newly added overlay zone is to regulate development activity in areas containing steep terrain, and to provide the means for additional review and protection to limit soil erosion, minimize the extent of land disturbance, control stormwater runoff, limit the removal of vegetation, and maintain the natural topography.
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City of Moriarty Planning Efforts Comprehensive Plan Update With the help of a grant from the New Mexico Finance Authority, the City of Moriarty was able to contract with MRCOG to update its 10-year old Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The update was necessitated by the availability of new census data and a changing economic environment, and includes changes to the original goals and objectives to reflect the changing conditions of the City. Included in the Plan are updates to the strategic action recommendations as well as updates to demographic and forecast data. The primary emphasis of this Plan is on land use activities as an indicator of community wellbeing, character, and municipal functions, and how these indicators can be managed for effective future growth. Water Conservation Water resources of the City of Moriarty are becoming more and more limited. The consequences of urbanizing growth and periodic
Moriarty Main Street landscaping
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drought conditions, as well as the resulting declining water table and increasing vulnerability to groundwater contamination have affected Moriarty’s ability to provide adequate and potable water for the community. A Water Conservation Plan was prepared by MRCOG for the City of Moriarty as part of its comprehensive plan update. The primary purpose of the Conservation Plan is to present a blueprint for encouraging the most efficient use of water and to preserve water resources. Specifically, the Plan calls for ensuring a sustainable water supply; increasing the efficiency of water use; preventing contamination of the water supply; eliminating water waste; reducing per capita water consumption; preparing for water shortage emergencies; and preserving natural resources and local habitat. Additionally, the plan is designed to meet the conservation requirements of various state and federal agencies which provide funding assistance to local governments for water infrastructure and other related improvement projects.
Local Food Festival 2012 Once again, the 2012 Local Food Festival was a celebration of food from the ground up! From apple quince pie to chile pepper pizza, local food was in abundance. As an official “Centennial” event, the 2012 Local Food Festival focused on telling the story of local food and agriculture from 1912 to 2012, including demonstrations of tilling with draft horses, tales of farming through the dust bowl years, poems about land, food and families, and, of course, traditional foods and recipes. The one-day festival drew a record 6,000 participants to the beautiful historic Gutierrez Hubbell House. The festival continues to gain popularity and continues to raise awareness of local food and agriculture in our region. This year’s festival will be held on October 13th.
MRCOG Board of Directors Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, Chair Commissioner Wayne Johnson County Manager Tom Zdunek Sandoval County Commissioner Nora M. Scherzinger Commissioner Glen Walters Torrance County Commissioner Lonnie Freyburger Valencia County Commissioner Mary Andersen Commissioner Lawrence Romero City of Albuquerque Robert Perry, Chief Administrative Officer Albuquerque City Council Councilor Rey Garduño Councilor Isaac Benton Councilor Janice Arnold-Jones Councilor Don Harris Councilor Ken Sanchez Councilor Roxanne Meyers City of Belen Mayor Rudy Jaramillo City of Moriarty Mayor Ted Hart Councilor M. Steven Anaya City of Rio Rancho Mayor Thomas Swisstack Councilor Tamara Gutierrez
Village of Corrales Mayor Phillip Gasteyer, Vice Chair Village of Cuba Mayor Rick Velarde Vandora Casados, Clerk/Treasurer Village of Encino Mayor John G. Phillips III Village of Jemez Mayor Edmond Temple Village of Los Lunas Mayor Robert Vialpando Christina Ainsworth, Dir. of Community Development Village of Los Rancho de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham Trustee Donald Lopez Village of Tijeras Mayor Gloria Chavez Village of Willard Mayor Robert Chavez Emily Sanchez, Clerk Albuquerque Public Schools Kathy Korte Los Lunas Public Schools Ron Williams Rio Rancho Public Schools Richard Bruce University of New Mexico Marc Saavedra, Director of Government Relations
Town of Bernalillo Mayor Jack Torres
Pueblo of Laguna Wilbur Lockwood
Town of Edgewood Mayor Brad Hill
Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) Senator Tim Eichenberg
Town of Estancia Mayor Theodore Barela Town of Peralta Councilor Leon Otero
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) Adrian Oglesby
Village of Bosque Farms Mayor Robert Knowlton Councilor Wayne Ake
Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SSCAFCA) Dr. Donald Rudy
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
Metropolitan Transportation Board Mayor Larry Abraham Councilor Rey Garduño Councilor Janice Arnold-Jones Councilor Roxanne Meyers Councilor Ken Sanchez Councilor Don Harris Councilor Isaac Benton, Chair Mayor Richard Berry Robert Perry Ron Brown Kathy Korte Mayor Jack Torres Commissioner Debbie O’Malley Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Vice-Chair Commissioner Art De La Cruz Ennio Garcia-Miera Richard Lovato Karen Dunning Timothy Parker Kathryn Bender Rudy Jaramillo Councilor Tamara Gutierrez Councilor Lonnie Clayton Terry Doyle Commissioner Don Chapman Charles Thomas Merrill J. Yazzie Councilman Marvin Trujillo Malcolm Montoya
Rio Metro Board Mayor Larry Abraham, Chair Councilor Rey Garduño, Vice Chair Councilor Janice Arnold-Jones Councilor Roxanne Meyers Councilor Don Harris Councilor Isaac Benton Mayor Richard Berry Mayor Rudy Jaramillo Mayor Jack Torres Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins Commissioner Debbie O’Malley Commissioner Lonnie Talbert Councilor Wayne Ake Councilor John Alsobrook Mayor Robert Vialpando Councilor Tamara Gutierrez Councilor Lonnie Clayton Commissioner Darryl Madalena Commissioner Mary Andersen
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Rural Transportation Planning Organization
New Mexico Workforce Connection of Central NM
Mayor Ted Hart Mayor Richard R. Velarde Kay Davis Mayor John G. Phillips III Mayor Ted Barela Governor Vincent Toya Sr. Mayor Edmond Temple David Deutsawe Councilor Frank Anaya Tommy Mora Erick Aune Leanne Tapia Juliet Pino
William Alberti M. Steven Anaya Odes Armijo-Caster, Chair-Elect Paul Baca Diane Burke Celina Bussey Doug Calderwood Linda Callaghan Marni Goodrich Reyes Gonzales Stephanie Hanosh, Chair Michelle Jones Mindy Koch Samuel Kopalo Paul Kress Diane M. Lacen Kyle Lee Patricia Lincoln Rita Gallegos Logan Kathy McCormick Anotonio Medina Virginia Murphy Debbie Ortiz Norman Ration Eric Renz-Whitmor Alex O. Romero Paul Sanchez Randy Sanchez Senator John Sapien Mike Swisher Sherry TenClay Mayor Jack Torres Carolyn VandeGiesen Bob Walton
Water Resources Board Mark Sanchez Bruce Thomson Billy Gallegos Mayor Rudy Jaramillo Mayor Jack Torres Commissioner Wayne Johnson Councilor Patricia Clauser Rita-Loy Simmons Mayor Ted Barela Mayor Larry Abraham Adrian Oglesby Art Swenka, Vice-Chair Larry Webb Stuart McRae Darryl Madalena Donald Rudy Jacobo R. Martinez Steve Glass Lynn Montgomery
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Mid-Region Council of Governments
MRCOG Staff 2012/2013 Yoshiro Akutagawa, Facility Maintenance Joe Aragon, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Lloyd Aragon, Community Transportation Services Administrator Jim Armijo, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Susan Armijo, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Arthur Baca, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Michael Baca, WCCNM Computer Specialist Wilfred “JR� Barela, Facilities Maintenance Kelly Benavidez, Customer Service, NMRX Gerald Bowe, Transit Services Surveyor James Breiterman, Train Dispatcher Veronica Campbell, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Wendy Candelaria, Human Resource Manager Isaac Castle, Traffic Counter Dewey Cave, Executive Director Ramona Chavez, Administrator, WCCNM Lou Cimalore, Planner, WCCNM Allyne Clark, RTD Sales Manager Tara Cok, Transportation Planner Janice Convery, Train Dispatcher Gary Cowles, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Shohreh Day, GIS/Systems Analyst Pearl Delgado, Accountant Terry Doyle, Rio Metro RTD Director Danny Duran, Facility Maintenance Kirk Estrada, Train Dispatcher Jay Faught, Marketing Manager Carol Fowkes, Train Dispatcher Sandra Gaiser, Regional Planning Manager Frank Gallegos, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Kenneth Garcia, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Samuel Garcia, Traffic Counter Martha Garley, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Ted Gaudette, Information Systems Officer Andrew Gingerich, GIS / Data Analyst Susann Griego, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho
Robert Gonzales, Operations Manager NMRX Esteban Gonzalez, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Christy Greenwood, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Eric Gutierrez, Accountant Tom Gutierrez, Facility Maintenance Manager Scott Gwatkin, IT Specialist Stephen Hawley, Special Projects Planner Larry Horan, Attorney Amber Isselhard, Train Dispatcher Caroline Jaramillo, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Charlene Jaramillo, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Daniel Jimenez, Transportation Planner Jennifer Jimenez Traylor, Planner, TANF Michael Jiron, Graphic Designer Candice Johnson, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Daniel Krow, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Denise Kurtz, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Thaddeus Lucero, Transportation Director Julie Luna, Transportation Planner Sylvia Maestas, Accountant Lupe Maltos, RTD Dispatcher, Los Lunas John Mares, Accountant Virginia Marquez, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Arthur Martinez, Workforce Site Manager Jocelyn Martinez, Receptionist Nathan Masek, Transportation Planner Carol Mathews, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Connie Meadowcroft, Contract and Grants Manager Martha Mendoza, Office Manager Augusta Meyers, Communications Manager Garrett Moise, Transportation Intern Adrienne Molinar, Program Support Coordinator, TANF Anthony Moncayo, Facilities Maintenance Steven Montiel, Transportation Planner Ernest Montoya, One Stop Maintenance Raymond Montoya, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Marie Morra, Marketing Coordinator
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Eric Murphy, Customer Service, Rail Runner Amy Myer, Finance Manager Nicole Ortiz, Workforce Secretary Stephanie Paiz, Community Outreach/Safety Coordinator Jenna Paulson, Customer Service Manager, NMRX Phillip Pena, RTD Driver Los Lunas Dave Pennella, Transportation Program Manager David Rankin, Transit Rail Manager, Rio Metro RTD Maida Rubin, Transportation Intern Irma Ruiz, Transit Rail Manager, Rio Metro RTD Jerilynn Sans, Planner, WCCNM Bayard Scadden, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Marla Segura, Special Projects Coordinator Carl Seif, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Ann Simon, Economic Development Program Manager Joel Steinhauser, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Ronald Stillman, RTD Driver, Rio Rancho Matthew Stone, Operations Supervisor
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Aaron Sussman, Data Analyst Anthony Sylvester, Special Projects Manager Socorro Telles, RTD Dispatcher, Los Lunas Sheila ter Bruggen, Communications Coordinator Tiffany Terry, Agriculture Collaborative Coordinator Barbara Thomas, Program Support Coordinator, Transportation Caerllion Thomas, Transportation Planner Winifred Tinney, Dispatcher, RTD, Rio Rancho Loretta Tollefson, Special Projects Manager, RTPO Ramona Torres, RTD Driver, Los Lunas Nicole Trujillo, Customer Service NMRX Jesse Turley, WCCNM Accounting Manager Josephine Vigil, RTD Accounting Manager Paul Wacek, Train Dispatcher Kendra Watkins, Senior Socio Economic Program Manager Derrick Webb, Regional Planner Eric Webster, Transportation Planner Matthew Wylie, Quality Assurances Coordinator
Mid-Region Council of Governments 809 Copper Ave. NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Ph: (505) 247-1750 www.mrcog-nm.gov