District 1
The District Engineer administers, coordinates, and generally supervises the direct work forces engaged in highway and bridge maintenance:
and, directs project inspection of contractors’ work for compliance with plans, specifications, and contract documents. He assures compliance by department personnel, and contractors, with policies and procedures of the Federal Highway Administration on projects involving federal aid funds. He prepares preliminary maintenance programs for the district and directs their execution.
The District Engineer maintains liaison with directors and division heads of the General Office, with Federal Highway Administration officials, elected officials, numerous agencies and with the general public on all matters affecting the state highway system within Socorro, Catron, Grant, Sierra, Dona Ana, Luna, and Hidalgo counties.
District 1 State Transportation Commissioner
Chandelle Sisneros
District 1 Executive Secretary
Lugarda “LuLu” Lopez
575-313-3860
lugarda.lopez@dot.nm.gov
District 1 Engineer
Aaron Chavarria, P.E.
District One Office:
Physical/Mailing Address
2912 E. Pine St.
Deming, NM 88030
Switchboard: 575-494-3227
Toll Free: 1-800-444-0745
Public Information Officer
Ami Evans
(575) 640-5981
District 1 - Press Releases
Weekly Traffic Report
Public Meeting
Federal regulations require the creation and management of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for every urban area having a population of more than 50,000. The MPO is responsible for the preparation of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP), and other documents as required by federal regulations. The MPO’s planning area is El Paso County, Texas, southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and a small portion of Otero County, New Mexico.
This organization consists of three different planning groups: Executive Committee (EC), Transportation Project Advisory Committee (TPAC) and the Transportation Policy Committee (TPB). As with all EPMPO Executive Committee meetings public comment is allowed. Members of the public wishing to provide comment must sign up prior to commencement of the meeting by emailing menriquez@elpasompo.org or by calling (915)212-0258. More information can be located at www.elpasompo.org.
Stamped Agendas for upcoming meeting can be located below:
District 1 - Business Management
Business Support provides daily support operations to ensure that the core public service providers have the necessary tools and resources. This section is focused on providing fiduciary oversight in budget, procurement, accounting services, radio room operations and information technology services. Additionally, they provide services in Buildings and Grounds, Fleet Maintenance Services, Safety Operations and Human Resources.
Adrian Apodaca, Business Manager
575-640-1241
adrian.apodaca@dot.nm.gov
Melissa Torres, District Administrator
575-640-8042
melissa.torres@dot.nm.gov
Brenda Leyba, Human Resources
575-545-1185
brendaj.leyba@dot.nm.gov
District 1 - Construction
The Assistant District Engineer for Construction is responsible for managing the District Construction Program. This entails the delivery of high-quality transportation infrastructure improvement projects. The program consists of several groups including four project management teams, one material testing laboratory and one construction audit group. Together, these groups participate in all aspects of project development, from design to construction. The group’s expertise in construction is a valuable resource to ensure the Department maintains industry standards. Road construction projects managed under this program are performed by independent contractors and are completed according to contract plans and specifications, by providing project inspection, materials testing, records auditing and contract payment for completed work.
Earl Franks, Assistant District Engineer-Construction
575-202-9406
earl.franks@dot.nm.gov
Shelly May, Administrative Assistant
575-640-4132
shellyD.may@dot.nm.gov
District 1 - Maintenance
The Assistant District Engineer for Maintenance is responsible for the management and oversight of 5,216 paved lane miles lane miles of roadway including 350 centerline miles of Interstate and the District Bridge Section. In addition, District One serves the public by providing 12 full service rest area sites, which includes the Welcome Center in Lordsburg, NM.
The Maintenance Section are broken up into 12 Maintenance Patrols, Bridge Crew, Heavy Maintenance Crew, Transporting Crew and is proud of its Chip Seal Crew. They were the recipients of the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2018, 2022 “Best Chip Sealing Award”.
Leandro Montoya III, P.E., Assistant District Engineer-Maintenance
575-640-6806
leandro.montoyaiii@dot.nm.gov
Jesus Sandoval, P.E., Maintenance Engineer
575-626-7964
jesus.sandoval@dot.nm.gov
Shelly May, Administrative Assistant
575-640-4132
shellyd.may@dot.nm.gov
District 1 - Engineering
Our section manages Highway Engineering related activities through three functional groups: Traffic Engineering, Technical Support and Surveying. Each respective section head is a New Mexico Licensed Professional Engineer. We provide Highway Engineering Tehnical support to the District Maintenance section, District Construction, District Design and Local Governments.
Harold Love, P.E., Engineer Support Manager
575-640-6811
harold.love@dot.nm.gov
Andreas Linnan, Technical Support Engineer
575-640-7077
andreas.linnan@dot.nm.gov
Debra Hudson, State Funding Programs Supervisor
575-640-2779
debraa.hudson@dot.nm.gov
International Programs
District One in southwest New Mexico shares 3 international border crossings with the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. The Office of International Programs establishes an active role in transportation planning along the New Mexico-Chihuahua border affecting cross-border mobility and economic development. We collaborate with multiple U.S. & Mexican government agencies (federal, state and municipal) as well as private entities to assure the safe and efficient movement of trade and traffic within the Border region.
Homerio Bernal, International Programs Planner
575-386-6604
homerio.bernal@dot.nm.gov