NMDOT awards nearly $47M; Los Lunas receives $3.44M for Sierra Vista Trail

The New Mexico Department of Transportation has allocated $46,841,251 to a slate of 27 local transportation projects, with the Village of Los Lunas awarded $3,439,400 for the Sierra Vista Trail Project. The funding, described by NMDOT as nearly $47 million, aims to support transit operations, build multiuse paths and trails, and expand Safe Routes to School efforts across the state.

NMDOT announced the awards in a Feb. 6, 2026 press release as part of its Planning Division Call for Projects covering federal fiscal years 2026–2028. The grants were distributed through four federal programs: the Carbon Reduction Program, Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, Recreational Trails Program, and the Transportation Alternatives Program. Officials said 15 agencies statewide will benefit from the awards.

Big-ticket recipients in the announced list include Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which received $9,730,305 for New Mexico Rail Runner Express operating assistance, and Bernalillo County, which landed two multimillion-dollar trail and corridor projects - Isleta Drain Trail Phase 1 at $4,000,000 and Bridge Boulevard Phase 3 at $4,272,000. Other notable awards in the provided table excerpt include the City of Clovis Liebelt Channel Multiuse Trail for $3,000,000, NMDOT grants for micro-transit and vanpool pilots totaling more than $1.9 million, and local Safe Routes to School grants for Albuquerque Public Schools, Las Cruces Public Schools, and Santa Fe Public Schools.

Robin Graham, Active Transportation Program coordinator, emphasized the broader aims of the funding: "These programs are critical for Tribal and local public agencies, funding projects from planning through construction and beyond state roadways. They make multimodal safety and quality-of-life improvements possible, particularly in smaller and rural communities where these projects might otherwise never move forward."

The materials provided with the announcement include a table showing 17 specific award entries that sum to the exact total of $46,841,251, but the full NMDOT press release lists all 27 awarded projects. The packaged excerpt does not specify which federal program funded each project, nor does it include construction timelines, local match requirements, or detailed project scopes.

For Valencia County residents, the Sierra Vista Trail award signals forthcoming investment in recreation and connectivity within Los Lunas. Trail projects typically expand options for walking, cycling, and outdoor access, and can influence local business activity and neighborhood linkages. The larger transit award to Rio Metro also suggests continued federal support for regional rail service, which affects commuters across the Corridor of the Rio Grande.

Next steps for readers include watching for local announcements from the Village of Los Lunas and NMDOT about project design, permitting, and construction schedules. Local officials will need to clarify matching requirements and phasing, and calendar updates will determine when residents begin to see construction, closures, or new amenities in the community.