The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is conducting a corridor study for the proposed extension of NM Highway 347, also known as Paseo del Volcán (PDV). This area is located on the northwestern side of Albuquerque and Rio Rancho in Sandoval County.

A portion of PDV already exists between US Highway 550 and Unser Boulevard. The study area for the proposed extension begins at Rainbow Boulevard, generally follows 28th Avenue west, then turns south after Vista Road, continuing along 20th Street to Southern Boulevard—a distance of about seven (7) miles. (See Exhibit 1 for a map of the study area.)

PDV has been underway for more than 25 years. Since 2002, it has been included in the Mid-Region Council of Governments’ Long Range Roadway System Plan as a key transportation route. PDV was originally envisioned as a northwest bypass for the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho metro areas, connecting I-40 (west of the Atrisco Vista Interchange) with US Highway 550 in north Rio Rancho (see Exhibit 2).

In the late 1990s, engineering and environmental studies helped define the general alignment of the corridor, leading to the approval of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by the Federal Highway Administration in 2002. This approval allowed for right-of-way acquisition and the construction of a two-lane road.

The northernmost 7-mile segment from US 550 to Unser Boulevard was built beginning in 2005. Since then, efforts to acquire land for the remaining portion have continued, and approximately 90% of the necessary property has now been secured.

The current study will help refine the next phase of development by evaluating roadway alignments, lane and shoulder configurations (called “typical sections”), intersection options, and potential pedestrian and bicycle facilities—all within the previously identified corridor.

Please share your input at the meeting, online, or by email, phone, or mail Olivia Tafoya by September 4, 2025.

MAIL:  4041 Jefferson Plaza NE, Ste 210, Albuquerque, NM 87109
EMAIL:  PDV@parametrix.com
PHONE:  (505) 998-5576

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Right-of-way is the land needed to construct public infrastructure such as roadways, trails, drainage facilities, and other similar types of facilities. For a roadway like Paseo del Volcan, it includes the area needed to construct the roadway and any related features such as sidewalks, trails, bridges, intersections with cross streets, bus stops, drainage structures that cross the roadway, fences, and walls, and other roadway elements. In some instances, construction maintenance easements (CME) are also acquired as part of the right-of-way acquisition process. A CME is the area needed to maintain roadway features that extend beyond the right-of-way. An example of a CME is the rock (riprap) placed on arroyo bottoms and banks to prevent erosion and stabilize an arroyo around a bridge or large drainage structure. This riprap may extend beyond the right-of-way and a CME is used to enable future maintenance.

Right-of-way is determined as part of the engineering and environmental studies performed during the roadway planning process. This effort includes a review of existing parcel boundaries and ownership, how access is provided to each parcel, property surveys, and property owner interviews. Property owners are notified when the need to acquire their land is identified. The land needed to construct a roadway includes the area adjacent to the traveled way to enable safe operations. For roadways, this “clear zone” varies depending on the anticipated speed of the roadway and the distance needed to provide a buffer between the roadway and adjacent properties.

Planning for Paseo del Volcan assumed a much larger highway than the proposed 2-lanes currently being evaluated. Acquiring all the right-of-way needed today prevents homes and other structures from being constructed if the roadway is widened in the future.

The County could not deny building permit requests until the land had been acquired. Unfortunately, due to the high number of parcels to be acquired and limited funding, the acquisition process has spanned many years and resulted in homes being constructed in some areas, in particular near the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 20^th Street. The planned right-of-way involves over one thousand parcels of property. Acquisition has been underway for the last 20 years but full funding to purchase the needed property has not been available. This situation limited the number of parcels that could be acquired in any given year. To date, about 90% of the needed property has been acquired.

Property acquisition follows State law and the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policy if federal funds are being used for the project. In general, a licensed real estate appraiser determines the property value. The appraised value will be the same as the fair cash market value, meaning the same value that could be obtained if it were sold by the owner on the open market. The property value is based on a site inspection to identify factors that could affect its value, as well as the selling price of other comparable properties recently sold in the area. The property owner can accompany the appraiser during an inspection and point out any unusual or hidden features that may affect value. The appraiser does not consider an increase or decrease in the value of your property that results from the highway project itself. Based on a review of the appraisals, the NMDOT will establish the amount it believes to be the just compensation to be offered for the property. Additional information about the right-of-way acquisition process can be found at this link Right-of-Way Brochure. A version in Spanish is available at Right-of-Way Brochure in Spanish.

After the appraisal is complete, the NMDOT must promptly make a written offer to purchase the property for the amount determined to be just compensation. The offer will include an explanation of how the value was determined. Property owners have the right to obtain their own appraisal.

If an agreement between NMDOT and the property owner cannot be reached, the NMDOT will provide written notice of their intent to file a condemnation action. After the notice of intent to pursue a condemnation action, the property owner has 25 days to request a separate appraisal by three different appraisers, one who represents the NMDOT, one to represent the property owner, and a third appraiser selected by the other two appraisers.

If the property acquired includes a home or other structures and improvements, the value of these improvements is included in the appraisal. The rules guiding relocations are lengthy and have numerous conditions. In general, persons displaced from their homes must have decent, safe, and sanitary (DSS) housing made available to them and the costs of moving are reimbursed. Further information about the rules NMDOT follows for relocations can be found at this link Relocation Assistance Brochure.