NMPRC’s Transportation Division to transfer to the New Mexico Department of Transportation on July 1

SANTA FE – Effective July 1, 2024, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s (NMPRC) Transportation Division operations (apart from the Pipeline Safety Bureau) will transfer to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). The transfer will impact all functions performed by the Applications Section, Ambulance and Railroad Bureau, and Compliance/Investigation Bureau of the Transportation Division.

“A significant amount of work has been dedicated to preparing for this transition and ways to make the program stronger moving forward. NMDOT will maintain a strong level of customer service and support to our new stakeholders. We will ensure a more robust compliance and enforcement presence in communities across the state,” said Ricky Serna, NMDOT Cabinet Secretary. He continued, “By focusing on driver, vehicle and road safety, the Transportation Regulation Bureau is one more component of DOT’s Target Zero strategy.”

“While we’ll miss our amazing Transportation Division staff and the great work they’ve done at the Public Regulation Commission, we’re excited for the opportunities they’ll have and know that they’ll continue to do great things with the NMDOT,” said NMPRC Chief of Staff Cholla Khoury.

At the NMDOT, the program responsible for the regulation and enforcement of motor carriers, including ambulance services, will be organized into three units – Applications, Compliance, and Inspections & Investigations – and placed under the new Transportation Regulation Bureau (TRB), which will be managed by the agency’s Modal Division. The NMDOT Ports of Entry operations will also be placed under the new TRB.

Railroad safety enforcement components of the program will be administered by the NMDOT’s Transit & Rail Division, which is also a part of the Modal Division.

Further, changes related to the state’s Motor Carrier Act and regulations pertaining to motor carrier operations will also go into effect on July 1.

The NMPRC’s contractual obligations related to motor carrier regulation, railroad safety enforcement, and ambulance standards will remain valid. Additionally, any rules or orders the NMPRC issued in the oversight areas will remain in place, until repealed or amended.

A list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the transfer of the Transportation Division is available here, including those related to annual reports, applications, certification, financial responsibility documents, and complaints.

The transfer of the Transportation Division to NMDOT is the result of the requirements of Senate Bill 160, which was approved by the state Legislature and signed into law in 2023. A transition group consisting of staff from NMDOT and NMPRC have been meeting regularly to prepare for and facilitate a smooth transition.

The transfer does not include the NMPRC’s Pipeline Safety Bureau, which oversees the audit and inspection of statewide natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.