PINON HILLS BOULEVARD EXTENSION PROJECT

See the notes from the Public Meeting held on October 13, 2022 at City Hall below: 

• Pinon Hills Public Meeting Summary 10/13/2022

NOISE STUDY

The noise study is a part of the the NEPA (i.e. National Environmental Policy Act) Environmental Re-evaluation of the project. Engineering consultant company NV5 is completing the NEPA Environmental Re-evaluation for the project. The noise analysis shows noise walls do not meet warrant. After completion, the noise study will need to be submitted to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) for review and approval. NMDOT’s approval will need to be received prior to posting the noise study for the public to review. Tentatively, the noise study will be sent to NMDOT by the end of November 2022 for review. Post NMDOT’s approval, the noise study will tentatively be available online on December 15, 2022.

• Pinon Hills Noise Report Dec. 2022

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY

The NEPA Environmental Re-evaluation of the project will include discussions of the project purpose and need, build alternative, existing environmental, environmental impacts, and mitigation measures. Environmental topics include natural resources, cultural resources, hazardous materials, land use, noise, socio-economics and air. NV5 is completing the NEPA Environmental Re-evaluation for the project. 

The NEPA Environmental Re-evaluation consists of five studies: 

1. Noise study 
2. Biological evaluation
3. Cultural resources study
4. Wetland study
5. Initial site assessment for hazardous materials. 

The studies are completed and approved by NMDOT and are now posted on this website for review, see links below. 

• Pinon Hills Biological Evaluation Ph 1
• Pinon Hills Biological Evaluation Ph 2
• Pinon Hills Cultural Resources Study
• Pinon Hills Final Wetland Report 
• Pinon Hills Initial Site Assessment

OVERVIEW & HISTORY OF THE PINON HILLS EXTENSION 

The City of Farmington and San Juan County identified a need to construct a roadway and bridge that will provide a secondary traffic connection across the Animas River. 

The need for this connection has been studied for over 20 years.

The Pinon Hills Boulevard Extension and Bridge project will satisfy this need by providing a new roadway from New Mexico 516/East Main Street to the intersection of County Road 390/Wildflower Parkway and County Road 3900. 

The project originally was divided into three phases. Phases 1 and 2 were within the city, and Phase 3 was within the county. Per a discussion on October 13^th, 2022 between the City of Farmington and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) it was determined by NMDOT that the city’s two phases could now be combined into one single phase. Consequently, NMDOT no longer requires access points at both Paseo Del Rancho and Hubbard Road. Therefore, it is now the City of Farmington’s decision to keep or forego these two access points. 

On Tuesday November 15^th, 2022 a special city council meeting was held to provide direction to city staff on keeping or forgoing the Paseo Del Rancho and Hubbard Road access points. During this special meeting, city council unanimously voted to forego both access points, Paseo Del Rancho and Hubbard Road respectively. 

TIMELINE

1.    City of Farmington

         NM 516/Main Street to CR3000/Morning Star Drive

         Projected for construction: December 2023

BENEFITS

Adding an additional connection from north Farmington to south Farmington will provide several benefits to the community:

• Quicker response times for emergency services

• Help reduce traffic congestion  

• Reduced commute times

• Creates new areas for residential and commercial development and encourages expansion of existing areas

The Farmington Metropolitan Planning Organization has also identified the Pinon Hills extension as a possible future freight corridor, further alleviating traffic congestion and mixed traffic in the heavily traveled business areas of Farmington.

COST

City’s total cost: $38,543,341.40

County’s total cost: $11,393,010

FUNDING

All phases will be funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money in FY23 & FY24. San Juan County was also the recipient of a Congressional Directed Funding award in the amount of $1.5 million for the extensive right-of-way acquisition required for their phase. 

***The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is a $1.7 trillion package signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, providing direct and indirect assistance to individuals, businesses, and tribal and local governments.  

New Mexico is receiving $2.5 billion, which includes funding for county and municipal governments.

For more information about ARPA Funds in New Mexico, click HERE.