Transportation Planning Process

The Legislature, the Department of Finance and Administration and NMDOT come to agreement during the legislative session on budget numbers and priorities. NMDOT then develops the states Long-Range Multi-Modal Transportation Plan and coordinates the process for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), with input from MPOs, tribes and other stakeholders. The State Transportation Commission provides advice and amends these plans as appropriate, given changing needs in the state. The Legislature has oversight of and can comment upon the commission's amendments, but cannot change the amendments. The governor provides input through the budget process and prior to State Transportation Commission meetings.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

The Legislature is one of the three critical actors in the planning process, along with NMDOT and the State Transportation Commission. The primary legislative role is to set budget priorities in cooperation with the Department of Finance and Administration and NMDOT and then to approve those priorities through committee action. The Legislature has oversight of and can comment upon the commissions amendments to the State Transportation Improvement Program, but cannot change the amendments.