Complex Transportation Dynamics Highlighted in Panel Discussions
Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) convened approximately 260 individuals including local and tribal partners, legislators, government leaders, community advocates, and business partners for a day-long symposium on November 18 to discuss the Future of Transportation in New Mexico. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke on the many dynamics that impact the transportation sector in New Mexico, including reliable funding, safety concerns, decarbonization, and the wide range of demands on NMDOT each day, including emergency response and litter control and cleanup.
They symposium topics ranged from grid modernization and resilience and fleet electrification to statewide electric vehicle adoption and charging infrastructure advancements and expanding transportation for sustainable communities throughout the state.
Panel discussions focused on how innovations in materials and technologies are utilized to ensure roads and bridges can withstand climate related challenges like extreme heat, drought, and flooding. Another noteworthy topic was transportation for sustainable communities, where panelists discussed how investments in transportation are made to build multimodal, walkable, and bikeable communities that lessen dependency on private vehicles and advance sustainability.
Additional Background Information
New Mexico adopted the Clean Car Rule in 2023, deepening our state’s commitment to ambitious climate goals and reducing air pollution, while encouraging more choices for New Mexicans with respect to makes and models of low and zero emission vehicles.
Federal initiatives have helped spearhead a push for cleaner transportation. Tax credits for electrical vehicle purchases, grants for EV charging infrastructure, and national programs promoting the use of alternative fuels throughout specific corridors all contribute to furthering efforts in New Mexico and other states.
This past January, New Mexico DOT received a $67.7 million grant from the Biden-Harris Administration, through the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) grant. Earlier this year NMDOT received $38.3 million in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Funding to distribute through 2026.
To incentivize the transition to fully electric and plug-in electric vehicles across the state, we’ve launched the New Mexico Clean Car Tax Credit. It’s a tax credit for New Mexico residents who purchase or lease lower-emitting cars, and we are building out EV charging infrastructure across the state to do away with range anxiety. Learn more at clean.energy.nm.gov.