OPINION: NM can't afford to stall on road funding

New Mexico’s roads are in crisis — and so is the workforce that builds and maintains them.

Despite urgent needs across the state, much-needed funding for road construction across New Mexico did not materialize during the past legislative session. This missed opportunity for road construction and adequate maintenance funding will add to the backlog of critical roadway construction and maintenance projects. The result? Unsafe roads, delayed projects, pending layoffs in the construction industry and a missed opportunity to invest in our state’s economic future.

It’s no secret that New Mexico’s roads are aging and in dire need of repair. From crumbling rural highways to congested urban corridors, the condition of our transportation infrastructure directly impacts public safety, commerce and quality of life. Every day we delay investment, we increase the risk to New Mexico families, school buses, first responders and commuters traveling roads that simply aren’t built to handle current demand.

The human cost is matched by an economic one. Construction jobs — well-paying, family-supporting positions — are on the line. Contractors across New Mexico could be forced to cut hours, reduce crews, or even lay off workers as scheduled projects are paused or canceled due to lack of funding. Without a predictable and sustainable source of revenue, our construction industry cannot plan, hire or deliver on the infrastructure needs of our communities.

The uncertainty is also straining our industry partners — engineers, suppliers and subcontractors — who rely on a consistent pipeline of work to keep their doors open and payrolls met. Even the state’s own highway maintenance crews are left wondering which repairs will get funded and which will be pushed off indefinitely. Why does the New Mexico Department of Transportation have to negotiate funding every year when we have a clear picture of our infrastructure needs? Without a real commitment from the Legislature, everyone is left asking the same question: How are we supposed to keep New Mexico moving forward when the road ahead is this unclear?

Making matters worse, large economic development projects through the NMDOT are not fully funded. We are now gambling with millions of dollars in federal matching grants that require timely state spending before the end of the year. Failing to act puts this critical federal investment at risk — funds that will simply go to other states if New Mexico doesn’t move. Meanwhile, our state sits on a surplus of cash. We need the Legislature to act with a meaningful cash infusion into roadway construction and maintenance before it’s too late.

A bipartisan bonding bill was sponsored by NMDOT and negotiated with Legislative leadership for new road revenue that nearly made it across the finish line in March. However, it died on the last day of the legislative session. Fortunately, there’s still time to act. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signaled that a special session will be held this fall. Lawmakers must seize this opportunity to approve the bipartisan bonding package and consider a significant general fund allocation to road construction. With the state sitting on historic revenue surpluses, there is no excuse for failing to invest in the very backbone of our economy.

The 2024 TRIP Report — an independent, nonprofit organization that researches, evaluates and distributes economic and technical data on surface transportation issues — stated that New Mexico has $5.6 billion in needed but unfunded projects. The need is urgent. The resources exist. The time to act is now.

The Legislature has an Interim Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Sub Committee made up of both the House and Senate members that travels the state each year, dedicated to evaluating infrastructure and maintaining New Mexico roads. This bipartisan collaboration has done great work in identifying the need and the necessary budget requirements.

If the Legislature does not act, families across New Mexico will pay the price — through job losses, longer commutes, unsafe road conditions and a stalled economy. We cannot grow as a state without a strong, modern transportation system. We cannot lift people out of poverty without access to opportunity — opportunity that begins with safe, reliable roads connecting rural towns to urban centers, small businesses to customers, and workers to jobs.

Transportation is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. If we are serious about building a safer, stronger, more prosperous New Mexico, then road funding must be a top priority — not next year, not down the line, but now.