Rio Rancho Lawmaker Demands Release of NM 528 Traffic Study

Rep. Alan Martinez, a Republican lawmaker from Rio Rancho, formally pressed the New Mexico Department of Transportation on Dec. 11 for immediate transparency about a traffic study of the NM 528 corridor at the Pasilla and Rivers Edge intersection. Martinez wrote that he was inviting Secretary Ricky Serna and other NMDOT officials to a town hall held June 24 to hear resident suggestions and discuss a promised study that Serna had said would be complete by September.

Martinez told NMDOT that in October he had been informed there were "a limited set of preliminary findings" and that an "engineering review was underway," but he had not received subsequent updates. In his letter Martinez demanded "the swift completion and public release" of the study, and he warned that "This lack of communication undermines public trust and raises serious concerns about whether this issue is truly being treated as a priority," he wrote.

NMDOT Communications Director Kristine Bustos Mihelcic responded that the report is "in the evaluation stage" and that on Dec. 18 NMDOT would provide an overview to the State Transportation Commission of the measures that will be implemented based on the study's findings. The agency said it continues to coordinate with the city on the traffic study and other road safety evaluations. Martinez said he wants Serna and his team to come to Rio Rancho to discuss findings and hear from residents once the report is delivered to the commission.

For Rio Rancho residents and commuters who use NM 528, the dispute underscores persistent concerns about congestion and roadway safety at a critical arterial intersection. The timing and content of the study will inform any near term engineering fixes, traffic control changes, or funding priorities at both city and state levels. It will also shape public confidence in how transportation agencies respond to constituent concerns.

With the State Transportation Commission scheduled to receive an overview of proposed measures, local officials and residents will be watching whether the study yields actionable steps and a clear timeline for implementation. Martinez has signaled he will press for a public presentation and for NMDOT to follow through on both findings and communication.