Bernalillo County, along with Sandoval County and the Village of Los Lunas, has been designated as a Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the I-40 TradePort Corridor, according to a press release by Bernalillo County. The I-40 TradePort Corridor is an interconnected system of clean energy, logistics, and industrial hubs, and it involves collaboration with tri-state partners such as the Port of Los Angeles, California, Kingman, Arizona, and Winslow, Arizona.
"The partner group’s initial intention is to develop the project on the 805-mile-long stretch from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, and later collaborate with partners to extend the corridor into Texas and Midwest markets," stated Bernalillo County.
As part of this initiative, the Albuquerque region is planning to establish a Truck Mobility Complex that will cater to Class 8 electric and hydrogen trucks. This complex will act as a logistics center, attracting private investments and streamlining trade within New Mexico, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing costs, according to the press release.
Bernalillo County Commission Chair, Barbara Baca, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, "I am honored to be a part of Central New Mexico’s collaboration and leadership on this project, which I believe will be a catalyst that proactively prepares for future transportation needs throughout the I-40 system."
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (USDOT RIA) will provide support for project delivery, including planning, studies, and preliminary engineering efforts over the next year. An initial $974,000 in seed funding will be allocated for the planning phase of the I-40 TradePort Corridor. This funding will focus on the utilization of various agency financing programs in collaboration with the USDOT Build America Bureau for infrastructure investments at key corridor hubs.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed his satisfaction with the expansion of the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program, stating, "We are pleased to expand the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator program to 24 regions, helping communities build capacity and get much-needed transportation projects underway. DOT partners with these regions to help them secure financing and develop in-house expertise for the innovative delivery of regionally significant projects," according to the press release by Bernalillo County.
