Governor Extends His GRIP in New Mexico

摘要

Governor Bill Richardson announced a 200 million dollars package of road construction projects for the upcoming special session of the Legislature. The projects are targeted in rural New Mexico and will substantially move the state toward completion of the GRIP program. The proposal calls for using 100 million dollars in surplus monies and 100 million dollars in severance tax bonds for 13 highway projects throughout the state. The new funding will be able to complete nearly 90 percent of the GRIP program that was started in 2004.' "The cost of inflation has hit the Transportation Department hard over the last several years," says Secretary Rhonda Faught. "in the last five years, the price of asphalt alone has increased by nearly 300 percent. With the money the Governor has provided, we can complete several projects around the state, especially those in rural communities where public transportation is not always readily available."