[Music] Good morning chair and members of the board. So today we're be presenting the PM2 uh performance measure targets which are the infrastructure condition. Back in January we presented the safety performance targets. So now we are in the point where we show progress of the two-year and we reaffirm or adjust the four-year target that was u adopted at that time. Next slide. [Music] So what are the measures that are considered on the PM2? So it divides into measure areas are the payment and bridges and those encompass uh six performance measures which are payment in good and poor condition for interstate highways and also uh payment for good and per condition for non-interstate on national highway system roadways and for bridges we um uh the target focuses on the deck area of national highway uh system bridges in good and per condition. Next slide, please. Okay, so we're in the second performance period that was that started in 2022. At that time, uh the MO presented the targets that were proposed for the 2-year and four-year target right now and were adopted for by the TPB. Right now, we're in the midpoint where we present the progress of the two-year target and we are in the stage of reaffirming or adjusting the four-year target uh that was established at a time. So the states uh reported on the mid performance period progress report for uh FHWA and right now we are we had 180 days to either refer those targets um the support of those targets or um make our um set our new regional targets. Next slide. So uh since we have two choices either to support the statewide target or set our own regional target uh considering the coordination and the timeline the no is presenting the statewide targets and we tack uh support to reaffirm the the the targets that were uh presented by the states. Next slide. So right here on screen, you'll see the progress and the four-year target for New Mexico. As you can see, the two-year performance targets was met uh compared to the two-year target. The four-year target uh they're not doing any adjustment to it. They're referring the targets were that were set at that time on the 2022. Uh they set those um those targets following a modeling software where they considered the the payment distresses and also the funding projections for payment uh allocation. Next slide. On screen here you'll see the targets for breaches. So in the case of reaches uh the targets were met for the two-year target and for the four-year target New Mexico it's uh readjusting the targets that were set by increasing the good uh the percentage of good uh bridges in good condition and decreasing um the the trend for or poor condition. As you can see on the second column there's a desire improvement trend. So what they're doing they're increasing um the the percentage that we wanted to achieve for the good condition and decreasing the percentage uh that wants to be achieved for per condition. Next slide please. Okay. So right here on screen you'll see the targets for Texas. As you'll see, um, there are refering four of the three of the four-year targets for good condition on the interstate highway and also non um non-interstate highway on the national highway system. The only one that they're readjusting is the poor condition on noninstate national highways roadways and they're increasing it a bit a little bit to 2.5. They are making this this adjustments since they are considering the trends that were um followed through the years and they making um changes to make it more accurate to the target. Next slide. And for bridges, uh Texas is reaffirming the four-year target that was proposed on 2022. Next slide. Right here it's a summary of which targets are being reaffirmed and which targets are being adjusted by New Mexico and back Texas and the action will be to reaffirm and consider adoption of adjusted statewide targets with the recommendation from TPA as well. And that concludes my presentation if there's any question. Any questions? Thank you very much. [Music] Do we have a motion for it? Do we have a motion for adoption? We have a motion to adopt. Do we have a second? We have a second. Uh do we have anyone uh opposed? All in favor? Pass. All right. Item three is consider adoption of the re of the revised state system performance and freight performance measure PM3 midpoint targets. uh a for the state of Texas and B for the state of New Mexico. Again, similar to this, but this is a different performance measures um that we we're asking for adoption. We have Jennifer Moreno with a similar presentation. Similar to the PM2, we are presenting the system performance and performance measures. Uh next slide. So back in September, we presented for the PM, we presented the SEMAC um performance measures, but now we're presenting the realability uh performance measures that encompass the travel time relability on the national highway system for interstate and non-interstate national highway system and also freight movement on the interstate system which uh it's a track travel relability index. So for this one, the New Mexico and Texas have access to the regional integrated transportation information system where they get the information to calculate this performance based on the FHWA rolling. Next [Music] slide. So similarly, we are in the midpoint to either uh reaffirm or adjust the targets that were proposed in 2022 um for the second performance period when it began. Next slide. Similarly, we can agree to support the state target or establish our own uh regional target. But considering the coordination and timeline, um the NO is presenting the statewide targets and with the support of TPAC um consider the adoption of of this. Next slide. So on screen you will see the performance measure for national for New Mexico. So the desire trend for these are to increase. However, uh New Mexico is considering a adjustment on these performance measures since um they're making some construction projects along some interstate. So they're considering to decrease it a little bit by 5% only. The is it'll still keep on the 90% but considering those factors and the congestion that can be uh caused by those construction projects. So they're reducing a little bit the the target but still the target was met on the 2-year performance uh compared to the 2-year target. Next slide. So here you can observe the trends. So considering these trends and also the construction projects that are are um on on um process um they're adjusting the target for the travel time relability for interstate non-interstate high national highway system roadways. Next slide please. For freight movement uh also New Mexico is adjusting their targets to a revised target of 1.4 four compared to the four-year target that was uh proposed at a time. Next slide. For Texas, the target was met compared the comparing the two-year performance to the 2-year target. And for the four-year target, uh Texas is reaffirming the targets that were presented at the time. Next slide. Uh here's um some of the trends that are following the travel time relability that can be observed of actual data compared to the uh targets that were set. Next slide. And for freight movement also Texas is uh considering referring the target that was established at a time to 1.55. Next slide. So on here in screen you'll see a table with the summary of the uh refering targets and the revised targets that were proposed for uh Texas and New Mexico at this at this point for the midpoint um performance. Uh so for the recommended action we are considering referuming or adopting the adjust the statewide targets. You have any questions to adopt the target motion to adopt the targets? Second. We have a second. Uh all in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. All right. Continuing with uh item number four, discussion and action to consider approval of an amendment to the regional mobility strategy RMS 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan MTP amended RMS 2050 MTP and the RMS 20252028 transportation improvement plan program TIP for the following New Mexico projects. A amenda New Mexico 213 404 interchange improvements CN322 Np B 608X project to update project limits. And item B, amend the New Mexico 273 airport road intersection lighting uh project to reduce National Highway Performance Program and HPP funds from $400,000 to zero and to add $600,000 of highway safety improvement program HSIP funds and 50,000 of surface transportation program flex funds for a revised total project cost of $650,000 in fiscal year 2025. Five. Um, these are separate items. You can um either take them both at at the same time or vote separately. It's up to you. Over here. He's in the room. So, [Music] I move to approve both. Mr. We have a motion to approve item number four. We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. All right. Item five is discussion and action to consider approval of amendments to the RMS 2050 MTP amended RMS 2050 MTP and the RMS 2025 2028 TIP to program the terminal bridge reconstruction PE phase project using $850,000 of category 10 community project funding program CPF funds in fiscal year 2026. And with that we have an here with a brief presentation. [Music] Good morning, chair and board members. An Gayante, El Paso MO. Um, so this project is being programmed into the MO documents uh as a result of a successful grant application that the city of El Paso submitted. Um, so what this project is going to do is that this is going to um complete the design phase for a project to reconstruct the terminal bridge at the airport. Uh, this is the main bridge into the facility. Uh so this background information slide kind of same as always explains uh what our documents are and what the specific action is that we're undertaking today. Um and so anytime we have a brand new project that uh that comes in after adoption of our documents, we amend our documents to program it. We not only amend our short range plan, but we also put it in our long range plan. So you're going to see both of those things in the item language. And the specific action requested is approval to add this item into our documents. Next slide, please. And so this has some specifics about the request. This is going to um describe the specific uh funding that was awarded. In this case, it's the community project fund, which is uh uh money that our local uh congress people can request for specific projects to be programmed into the next year's federal budget. And so this was a successful application for that. And then as previously stated, this is just to design the reconstruction of of the bridge. Staff is recommending approval of uh this amendment and when this item went before TAC uh TAC recommended the same. That is all I have on this item but I am happy to entertain any questions. Members, any questions? Move to approve. We have a motion to approve the amendments. Do we have a second? Second. Second. Uh all in favor. All right. Um, item number six is discussion and action to consider approval of a legal services agreement with Kemp Smith LLP. Uh, this is an item that the executive committee uh uh reviewed or discussed um earlier today. So, just the the the background, these are legal services that Chemmith uh provides to the El Paso MP and to the policy board of no. Uh we have a currently a 2-year contract that expires at the end of this month, March uh 31st, but we have the option to extend it. Uh there's an option for two one-year extensions. So the action that that we're recommending here and that the executive committee also recommended was uh to exercise the first one-year option and um as to keep Smith providing services here. Uh I should note that uh the the terms of the contract remain the same for the for this extension in terms of rates and in terms of the ceiling that we have of $50,000 per per year and and again staff recommends approval for for this. Just just for a matter of information as far as the budget goes is the 50,000 seem to be adequate for for what we requested. Yeah, if you remember, um, we had to increase it because, yeah, there's so much activity going on right now, which is a good thing. So, we were we were getting very close to the prior ceiling. So, 50,000 appears to be a good one so far. They haven't requested a not yet. Are we hurrying? Well, but the truth is and and Sio helped me here. We've had the the same rates for how long? For six years. And and and we're going to uh for this year again, we're going to keep them the same. He must really like the work. Members, do we have any questions? There's one question. The Do you have an idea of the actuals for last year in terms of what I know that 50,000 is a ceiling? What what we were actually built? I don't have him with me, but I can provide him. Move to approve. Motion to approve. We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. All right. So, that takes us to reports and discussion. Um item number seven is the presentation on the Santa. Um I entertain a motion. That's right. Uh chair, but my apologies. Um, instead of going to reports, I I think uh it's been recommended that we go into executive session to discuss uh the uh the contracts uh with the executive director. And I'll pull them up right now. Uh so what we need is um and I think they're the executive session items number executive items one and exe executive session items number one and number two. Um, we would need a motion to go into executive session to discuss both of those items and then once the motion is made, obviously a second a vote and then I will then put into the record the sections that we're using uh to go into executive session. Uh, do we have a motion to go into executive session to retire to exe? We have a motion. We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. And then just for the record, uh we're going into executive session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to government code section 551 074. [Music] Okay. Just fills it up here. says she's on her way. We're back on online. Uh so you can uh ask for a motion to come out of executive session to come back into open session. We have a motion to exe executive session. We have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Passes. And so, chair, uh, one of the items that was discussed in executive session was executive item number one, the executive director's annual performance assessment for year 2024. Um, uh, the motion on this item is going to be a motion to accept and approve the executive dire director's annual performance assessment for year 2024. So, moved. We have a motion. Second. Have a second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. And uh chair, the second item uh that was discussed in executive session was the executive director's employment agreement. And uh the motion uh the proposed motion for that item is going to be a motion to extend the executive uh director's employment agreement for one more year and to approve a 3% increase to his base salary. So moved. We have a motion. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion passes. All right, chair. We now move on to reports. All right. So, moving on to reports and discussion. Item number seven. It's a presentation on the Santa Teresa strategic plan. And we have here some you may remember Heraldo Fiero who is now working for the New Mexico Border Authority. He learned a lot of stuff while he was here at the NO I hope. But anyway, so Herado, you want to start it up? Thank you, Dorado. Uh, good morning, chair, members of the board. My name is Gerardo Fiero. I'm the executive director of the New Mexico Border Authority, and I'm here to introduce Dr. uh Chris Ericson and we're here to present uh the SATA strategic plan, a strategic plan that was put put together by the state of New Mexico um CBE at NMSU Arrowhead Center um Donana County and the border authority and I will I will let uh Dr. Ericson to uh do the presentation. Thank you. We uh so I'm Chris Ericson, professor at NMSU. Uh I was talking to some of you some of you had me in class a few years ago. Um, I've uh been at MSU for about 40 years and most of that time I've specialized in border issues. I'm currently the director of the center for border economic development at NMSU College of Business. Uh, and I'm here to present about the um not sure if we're see to present about the San Teresa strategic plan. Also online, I'm not sure where the presentation is. I guess I get it right. Also online we have uh Noah Burke who is uh with Wilson and Company who's been one of the partners and and and in fact no Noah is the lead on the development of the strategic plan and he'll he'll help me if I have any um technical issues I can't uh answer Um [Music] this backward go ahead and go to the next slide. Uh here you see a a brief uh u uh outline of what our presentation is. So do uh introduction, growth opportunities, missed opportunities, why invest, planning for the future, uh what could um uh uh investment look like? We'll talk about water, wastewater, drainage, and then the economic um uh impacts. Next slide, please. Um and you see here that uh we're talking about the introduction here. We have um unfortunately I cannot read that. Um, and I was planning on using that for my notes, but anyhow, the the main point here, so I' I've I apologize for that. I was I was planning reading the slide for my notes, but I'll I I think I can wing it. Uh, the we have a number of different opportunities in San Traasa region. It's a very large um uh uh economic region, as you know, it's one of the largest uh uh industrial uh uh centers in in North America. Uh and uh because that large labor base, we're able to um we're able to um uh be a a place that can attract industry into the uh into the uh uh to our community. Next slide, please. Okay. Um so our key goals with this economic study is to accelerate economic development, create a phased investment strategy uh and moderate uh border uh assets. Um next slide please. Okay. So here you see uh the the growth and opportunities we have in our community. Um you'll notice here that uh there are a number of different program of companies we've brought into the area recently. Uh the um uh industrial manufacturing facility which will bring in 350 jobs which is expected to break ground in the near future. A number of other projects that have done well sorry that have come into the community. And what this illustrates is that we are that that the Santaasa region is a region which can attract business and has been attracting business uh including uh on an international basis. Um and there are about 4,000 jobs in Santa Teresa uh create uh directly employment in Santa Teresa right now associated with uh with the with the San Traa border crossing uh and the industrial parks near that u and um that is resulted in uh a large amount of growth. Currently in Doryana County, the border represents the third most important source of jobs behind White Sands Missile Range, including the contractors there, not just the military direct employment, White Sands Missile Range, NMSU, and then the border complex. And so, uh, and we've seen a a tremendous amount of growth in the region recently. Uh, over the last 5 years, we've been averaging 18% growth a year. Um and there's quite a bit of momentum right now in the region. Next slide, please. Okay. Um but we've had a lot of missed opportunities. I think this is one of the most important slides that illustrates why we need investment in the region. And what you see here is uh we've missed a a large number of opportunities that have cost thousands of jobs, billions of dollars of investment. And um uh you can see from this slide that the reason why we're losing these uh opportunities, why companies are saying they're not locating Santaa is because of infrastructure and lack of of uh of uh building inventory. Uh and uh and so um that's this clearly illustrates why we need the infrastructure in the sanitation. We are attracting people in. We are seeing growth, but we could have a lot more growth and continued growth if we had the infrastructure in place. Next slide, please. Can can I ask a question? Sure. And I should mention, you know, like I said, I've been a professor for a long time. I'm always happy to take a question. Going back to the infrastructure specifically, what is it? Wastewater infrastructure. Well, that's a good question. We'll talk about that some more in a couple slides, but to answer your question quickly right now, um there is a there is congestion that's slowing growth. There is a there's a lack of waste water and there's a lack of of of of potable water. So, we really have all three of those as problems in the in the area and and there's there's a need for quite a bit of investment. Um but yes, it's it's water, wastewater, and then also transportation needs that are that are a problem. Next slide. Uh I see for um um so these are the reasons why we need to invest because we have a lack of infrastructure needed to support continued economic growth. Can I see the next slide please? Here you see the um the map of the region. You'll notice that that uh it includes um uh Sland Park, although most of our emphasis is on the unincorporated region uh a part of the Santa Resa region. It includes the border crossing. Uh it includes the um um the uh industrial park near um uh near the airport and also down by the border itself. Um and the um uh there's a number of different projects going on right now. You can see that from the um uh from the map. And um uh we've actually had an update on uh this a little bit. I'm not going to read you the projects, but I'll say that there's even more projects than what we have listed there going on. One of the biggest ones that's being considered right now, that's being considered by the legislature right now um in in Santa Fe is uh a U reverse osmosis desolization plant. If that were to go through, that technically is not in uh the Santa Teresa study area. It would be just outside the Santa Teresa study area. And uh but if that were to go through, that would go a long ways towards solving the water issues that we that you just that we just mentioned. Um uh uh I I I I think it's a nailbiter whether it'll get through the legislature this time. Um uh yeah. [Music] Yeah, another important uh uh item is the uh border connector highway that's being uh uh undertaken right now. It's a project that's an ongoing project right now that will improve uh transportation between El Paso and uh the border border region. One of the reasons that's important is because an issue that comes up when we're trying to attract people is is um workforce and a lot of the employees of course come from El Paso. It is this is an area that will support regional development both in New Mexico and and in Texas. Uh next slide please. Um here you see phase one uh that we we have uh completed our planning for phase one the first five years. And you see the area that we're going to be including on phase one um and uh particularly up near the airport and um uh and the interotal um um uh rail hub. Next next slide please. Um there's approximately 247,000 linear feet uh of of water line that is needed. Um uh and um uh we need multiple storage water storage facilities. Uh one item that I believe is uh likely to go through the legislature in Santa Fe this year is a new water tank for Santa Teresa. And uh that uh uh will help mitigate this problem, but we need more. And that that's a that's the theme I think that comes out of this is that there's a there's a need for infrastructure uh development in in the area. Uh you see down at the bottom uh that we total needed uh water uh is um uh $57 million worth of u infrastructure investment. Next slide please. Wastewater. Again, we were just mentioning that that this is a this is a um uh an issue for the region. And you'll see that the needed uh uh investment here is something like is uh about $160 million a year for the next four years. Again, that's a lot of money uh but it's what's needed to to support the development um in the in the region. Next slide, please. Um uh drainage. Um actually the the drainage here is not as much of an issue as it as some of the other things we have, but we do need work on drainage also in the area to make sure that we don't have uh flooding. And the number there is u 34 u million. Next slide. Um transportation. You can see here there's a number of projects that are being proposed. Um uh there is a lot of problems with congestion in the area. Um uh particularly as you uh come into Santa Teresa itself, but also through the region as a as a whole. Um some of these projects are ongoing. Uh you notice that the um uh and and uh we're we're hoping to get funding uh for for the ones that have not been undertaken at this point. Next slide, please. So, here we come to the uh part that um that I'm uh working on in particular, which is the economic impact. And I'm going to have to bring up the numbers on my on my cell phone to be able to read these. And I I actually emailed these to myself so I would have them available if I needed them. And I wasn't expecting to need them, but um this doesn't come off. I again I I well um the uh um thing to notice here is that we're talking about increasing jobs. Great. Thank you. Perfect. that is that we're planning on increasing jobs uh from uh 4,000 to about 10,000 if we get the needed investment we're talking about. And that will create 16,000 jobs in total, direct and indirect um and generate uh an increase of about uh $2.4 billion in economic activity per year. Um and um uh that'll increase uh that would be an increment to uh GD to GDP of uh of about uh a billion dollars to Donana Countyy's GDP or actually should say state of New Mexico's GDP. Um and um a key point on this that um uh to to mention is if you look at the next slide [Music] please is if you look at the this uh uh bottom here we calculated the internal rate of return to the investment and this I think is a key point uh but if you look at the internal rate of return to this investment it comes out to 196%. % uh that is the amount of economic activity generated from the project discounted to the present is 190 uh 96%. And a lot of people say that seems that seems like a number that couldn't possibly be true. Remember we're not talking about financial return. We're talking about the return to the economy as a whole which includes wages, includes rents, includes um includes interest payments to financial institutions and of course also includes profit. Whereas the typical rate of return you see is only talking about profit. We're talking about the social rate of return. social a return to this over the first five years of the project would be 196 uh um 196% uh would be 196%. Okay, next slide please. Thank you. I could read that one. All right. Any questions? I'm I'm ready for questions. Uh, okay. You kind of outlined what your investment needs are. Yeah. What's your strategy for where's the money coming from? Well, we we're looking for the money from the state primarily. From the state of New Mexico primarily. That's that's where we're looking for the money. So, this was this study was sponsored by the state of New Mexico. Uh we're using this study to convince the legislature uh that the that there's a need for economic development along the border that there's an opportunity for the state on the border. Um we uh that uh there's the the Ultima uh uh residential development is in this in our study area that that would provide a workforce for this development and there there's there's an opportunity for development on the border and you know all this this rumor from that Paso Delote region we all know the potential of this region and we all know that a lot of it depends on infrastructure availability and support from our from our from our state governments. and our federal governments. And that's something we had to convince the legislators. I'm not sure you guys have as much problems here in Texas. Maybe you do. Um but in but in Santa Fe, we have a lot of problems convincing people up there that they that they need to invest in the border. And we're trying with this study to get past that problem. And Heraldo here is working hard on that too um to convince the legislature to do this. And I think we have a lot of support with the governor. Um um but there's always we need the legislature too. Yeah. So that's we're looking for the money is from the state primarily. So there's not much opportunity for public private there. There's some opportunity of course and of course this is the public part of the public private investment because what you because what we expect then is we expect for there to be expansion and we we expect there to be you know substantial expansion of the industrial parks that would be serviced by this infrastructure. And so, uh, as you probably aware, there already are several industrial parks in the region and those are are ready to expand, um, but they're limited by the availability of infrastructure. Also, of course, we there's a I didn't put this in the study because this is aimed, as I said, at the state legislature primarily, but we did not have um there is a shortage of electric capacity, too. That's a private that's a private um um partnership there, too. So this is the states part of the public private. Um, [Music] if if I may add uh something probably the best thing uh thing that I learned from the MO and El is real region and the MO chose that uh we bring together two states. Uh we have uh the state of Chihuahua also as partners and we need to collaborate on on infrastructure, economic development Um sometimes we see each other, each individual city or municipality, the counties, the cities, both date, both states as competitors for new investments to to be brought to our to if we represent the county or the city or either state. But I think that if we work together, uh what what is happening in New Mexico affects Texas. What's happening in Texas affects New Mexico as well. Donana County, El Paso County, what happens in Sakoro, what happens in Sunland Park. We're all part of the same family here. And and I think that the state of New Mexico wants to be a better partner to to the state of Texas, a better partner to to El Paso and the state of El Paso and El Paso County and all the other municipalities and as well as Zana County and and Sunland Park and Anthony, New Mexico. We we we want to be good partners to Texas and I this is part of what we're doing and we we want to show to the the other part of the state or the state of Texas what we're doing and get guidance and work together uh as we as as you always showing on the no. I think the NO is it's a great organization that that shows that working together we can get great things for our region. Any any questions or comments? Representative Or I I had a quick question and and thank you so much for your comments. The senator and I this is what we're constantly dealing with at the state of Texas. We're constantly trying to promote our region as a whole. Um that we're more than just a border wall, more than just border security. There's a lot of opportunity here for prosperity, our culture, so many selling points for our community. And so we're constantly we're constantly fighting especially for those critical funds to support those infrastructure needs. I had a good question. You said that when was this uh report? This this report was finished uh this phase one report was finished in December. Okay. And um uh there's uh there is a white paper that I can make available to people if they'd like to see it that we distributed to the legislature for this legislative session. Um and then we are now in the process of doing phase two which I think the deliverable is due at the end of April and and that will go out that will go out 20 years. This only goes out five. Are there specific requests that are happening right now as far as appropriations? I know you mentioned a few projects, but are there specific ones that you all are Well, we we you're waiting for phase two to be completed. Well, we we we the the specific requests we made this time were for uh was for the uh the the water uh the water tank uh in um Santaa. Um, and I'm not sure what you have a couple from the border authority. Um, and I I'll let you say those. And then we they're trying to get the desolization plant, but I'm not sure where that is in the process. It is a big ask. It's a like I said, it's 250 more north of $250 million. Um, and I'm not sure that's gonna I mean, it has not gone through yet, but it's I don't know if it's in the bill right now or not because Right. Well, if there's anything that we can do Sure. to support those efforts as as you mentioned, when when you all are successful, so are we. We are a borderlex region and it's it's hard because we have these jurisdictional lines, but we're more than just that, right? So, if there's anything that we can do as far as letters of support, um, contacting the members of the legislature in New Mexico, happy to help assist in any way. Thank you so much. Any other any projects you want to add? Yes. No, basically most of of what we requested uh this session, the session is wrapping up today. Yes. As you know, New Mexico sessions one year for 30 days and then the next year for 60 days, and we have to get everything done through those days. um we get reauthorizations on on most of our projects. So to extend the the time of of the appropriation. One of them is actually the the the the funding agreement we have with with the no for the border highway connector phase 2. So that one was extended all the way to fiscal year 2027. So we have actually more time to do the study. We we want to stand from what it's already approved by by the board so we can do a a large uh extend the time of the of the study. Um and among other projects that we have on on on the region. Um but yes, like like you mentioned, basically right now we're already late because the session ends today, but for the future, count me in. I uh I'll reach out to to all of you and and and and do more things together, be more uh collaborative and and and and I'm open to to meet with any of you for other questions. Any other questions? Thank you, board. Thank you, chair. Very much. Appreciate it. Mr. Chair, if if I could add before the we wrap up this item, uh the MO was one of the stakeholders that participated in the development of this this plan. So, we were very active in in terms of that. And like Herardo said, you know, our message was we are the region. We have we're the ones that are coming in and bringing the regional aspect. This is not a New Mexico only um um you know program or project. It's it has to be at the regional level and uh well I'm jumping ahead to the to the other item. The border highway connector that we're going to be discussing later on is one of those examples. So that border highway connector is a very important project that the MO support. But at the at the same time, you know, we realize that uh that some of the the the impacts of this project are going to spill over on onto the Texas side, right? So, you know, it was important to to state that and uh and for the state of New Mexico to understand also that that you know, the traffic doesn't doesn't stop at the state line, right? you know, we need to identify the the impacts, which is what we're doing with the with that project. But it's really an example of the collaboration that we need to continue doing between, you know, the two states. And yes, you know, there is jurisdictional um, you know, lines and funding restrictions and all that, but it has it's upon us to work together and make sure that that we make the the region and and the same thing with Sudatuis as well. It's not just a Texas New Mexico thing. It's Huades. I mean what happens in in affects us you know tremendously as well. So just wanted to give that editorial. All right. So we have now item number eight. It's introduction to the congestion management process. Uh we have uh Robbie Guthard from WSP with a brief presentation on this. Robbie. Hey everyone. Can you all hear me? Okay. Just wanted to check we can hear you. Okay. Thank you. Um I'll share my [Music] [Music] screen. All right. Thanks you all for having me today. Um um thanks Eduardo for the introduction. Um my name is Robbie Gutart and I'm a transportation planner for WSP and I'm supporting the NO on updating their congestion management process. Um, and today I'm just going to go over an introduction of, and this might just be a refresher for most of y'all, but um, just going an overview, an introduction to what the congestion management process is, and why we're updating it. Um, so here's my agenda. So, I'll just go over what is a CMP, what the CMP provides, how is it useful, um the history of the CMP and how it's been utilized in the El Paso region in the past, um and why we're updating it right now. Um and then we'll talk about how it's integrated with the MTP process, the RMS 2052. Um and then I'll wrap up with showing our framework of how we're updating the CMP. um and our schedule and just some next steps. Um so on screen I have our objectives that hopefully you'll have these takeaways. So really just introducing the CMP and eightstep framework that we're taking to update the CMP and then go over some next steps where we'll be engaging the TAC and then um you all as well. Um so what is a CMP? Well, first we have to understand what congestion management is. And that's the application of strategies to improve transportation system performance and reliability by reducing the adverse impacts of congestion on the movement and people uh of people and goods. So the CMP itself is um it stands for congestion management process. It's really that systematic and regional approach um for congestion management um providing accurate and up-to-date information on transportation system performance um and to assess alternative strategies um or projects really um to for congestion management. Um there's a picture on screen. The current CMP was approved in by the TPB um in 2019. So it's just a few years old. So, why is the CMP useful? Well, the CMP provides a structured process for analyzing congestion issues, which I'll go over that framework in just a few slides. It's objectives driven and performance-based. Um, it increases collaboration and coordination. Um, and it offers a more effective resource allocation. And there's a linkage to project development and environmental review. And I'll this will be a little bit more clear on the slide when we go over the eightstep framework as [Music] well. There's a timeline of um the history of the CMP in the El Paso region. So I'll just go over this a little briefly, but it goes back to um 1991. So the surface transportation funding bill at the time was IT, so the intermotal surface transportation efficiency act. It was the first time that um the bill required a congestion management system. At the time that was the name of the CMP, so the CMS um in response to that bill in 1997 um the first CMS was adopted by um the TPB. um 2008 it was updated um so sorry the um the naming convention was updated with the 2008 surface transportation funding bills that was so that's when we first got um the term CMP congestion management process and in response to that surface funding transportation bill um the TPP um approved a 2013 update Um, in 2015, FHWA released some guidance um, documentation on how to properly um, update a CMP process. Um, and that's the guidance that we're still following today. Um, and like I mentioned before, 2019, that's the most current um, CMP that was adopted by this board. Um so historically we currently have our third CMP and we're working on the fourth um update of its time. So why are we updating the CMP? Uh well first of all it is federally required. So per the CFR on screen the congestion management process um shall be developed established and implemented as part of the metropolitan transportation planning process. Um, and the CMP is really an integral part of that 3C metropolitan transportation planning process. Um, and those three C's just in that little diagram to the right on the screen are um comprehensive cooperative and continuing. And the CMP is a living document. So really, it's embodying that continuing um, C of the 3C process. CMPS are also required for regions with populations of um 200,000 or more. And these areas are referred to as transportation management areas or um CMAs. Um so really these CMPS within that um metropolitan transportation process really have to um be continually updated um on a regular basis. um and that happens during um the four-year um MTP update cycle typically. So that's what we're doing. So we're also updating the MTP. So we're also updating the CMP as well as part of this 3C [Music] process. Um slide just to kind of going off that how the MTP and the CMP are interrelated and integrated. Um here are some key um items and how they're related. So for goals and objectives, the CMP has its own goals and objectives, but these goals and objectives are derived from the MTP vision statement and from the goals um of the MTP which um we've talked about before with the TAC and the TPP as well. Um it's also related by strategies or projects. So the CMP is um you know it's integral to this MTP process. the CMP in informs MTP programs and projects um and especially in all ozone um non-attainment TMAs like the El Paso MO all single occupancy vehicle capacity adding projects must be included in the M or that are included in the MTP must be recommended by the CMP. So there's a heavy interrelation between these two documents. So this slide um it's a lot but this shows the eightstep framework. Um so essentially we're climbing um a set of stairs essentially starting with step one on the bottom. Um and I'll kind of go through this and talk through some of these annotations. So step one of the framework is developing regional objectives. So these are very specific to congestion management and we'll derive these goals from the MTP vision and goals. So to think of the MTP being um that umbrella document that the CMP um is underneath. Um step two is defining the CMP network. So really that's establishing the study area of where we're looking at um congestion across the region. And so for CMPS data is coming from the national performance management research data set which is a federally available um data set. And that data is not available on every single roadway within the MO area, but it's um the data is on, you know, major regionally significant roadways across the region. So we'll be defining that network based on um data that's available um from this federal data source. Um step three um is develop multimodal performance measures. Um so these then there are a set of um federally mandated performance measures and also some that are suggested um based on some federal guidelines on what performance measures should be assessed in a congestion management process. So what we'll do is we'll look at what those federally mandated con uh um performance measures are and then align those with the objectives that were determined in step one. Um so these first three steps are really set out the framework um for um you know processing the data that's available out there. Um so steps four through six um take together. So really it's step four is collecting that data um along the network. Step five is then analyzing the data. So really determining what those congestion needs are, what those challenges are. And then step six is identifying and assessing those strategies. So based off the data we've collected in step four, um based off what we're seeing those challenges and needs are, step six is really about um identifying well how do we solve congestion or try to solve congestion by implementing strategies or projects um excuse me. And then step seven then is then um you know this is that key step where the CMP and the MTP are very interrelated. So step seven is program and implement strategies. So from what our analysis is telling us these um what strategies and projects we've identified um we need to create an implementation plan. Um and one key um point of that is making sure that um those strategies are implemented through the MTP as well. And then step eight, evaluate strategy effectiveness. So that's really then um again thinking back to that 3C process and how the CMP is a living document that um um that we want need to update regularly. It's really developing a framework so that at a regular interval um we assess um how the CMP is operating um how those strategies are being implemented are strategies successful. Are they achieving what we expected them to achieve? Um so step eight will um kind of leave a road map um for us to take going into the future to um project So this slide just shows some key next steps and schedule. Um we have some pack meetings highlighted in um teal and some TPB meetings highlighted in beige. Um and as you can see just in in between um March and April, so the rest of this month and going into April is really those um first key steps um in um starting this process. And if you notice I do have step eight first because we have a living CMP. Um we will also start by um or we have started by assessing the performance of the 2019 CMP um and how those strategies have been implemented so that when we once we start um refining defining CMP objectives we can go in um with that um information um form those um objectives as well. Um so our next key milestone um as we start with these key first steps in um the CMP process is to return to the TAC um at the May meeting to share some updated information on some proposed or draft CMP objectives um what the CMP network is um and show how um performance measures um will be aligned with the proposed CNP. objectives. Um and then it's looking like in um return with um to the TAC with um identification of key problems and needs um some proposed strategies and a framework on how to implement those strategies. Um and then ultimately we're looking at a um hopefully a request for an approval of the 2025 CMP um in September. Um so that's just a really brief overview and introduction of the CMP and some of the next steps that we're taking to um update and prepare the document. Any questions, let me know. All right. Thank you, Robbie. Um just uh quickly to one of the the big takeaways on this is that uh again like Robbie stated projects that that uh in order for the project to be moving forward uh if it's an added capacity project it has to be identified in the CMP um and in the MTP of course. So that's it is very important that that we do this uh collectively and make sure that that all of the projects that that you're looking at for implementation that are not in the current CMP that we that we get them in there and you know as part of the analysis. So um well we're going to be working not only with TPAC and the TPV of course but with with all of you all of the the implementation agencies and uh to make sure that that projects are included in there and that that are part of the analysis. So with that, any other questions or comments? All right. Thank you, Robbie. We do we do have a question. Oh, sorry. I know it's on the schedule and I know we rely heavily on our advisory committee, but I would like to ask if the policy board can see it prior to approval in September. There is a lot to digest and having just a posting and then trying to understand all the work that they've done for March to September. It'd be really great just even in brevity that we could get update. I I think we can and Robbie so yeah you know work it into the schedule so that we can you know prepare like a draft document or you know like something work in progress that can give them a a good idea. Yeah absolutely. Yeah, we can definitely put that in. Yes, sir. Thank you. Any other questions? [Music] All right. Um, item number nine, the quarterly reports. A, no administrative amendments report. B, project completion report. C, project readiness report, and D, RMS 2020 project uh report. Um, all those reports are in your backup. Um, I recommend that that we just uh skip these unless somebody really wants to to hear the the presentations. Uh but it's in your backup and in general I think the things are moving well. Members, any questions? Thank you. All right. Item number 10 is an update on procurement for the border highway connector phase 2 traffic impact and improvements feasibility study project. Just briefly to let you know that uh if you can pull up the the the dates and there you go. So, as we were mentioning before, um we uh well, the the state of New Mexico legislature uh awarded $2 million for this study. So, this study, as Heraldo mentioned earlier, and you know, you we've taken the the agreement and adding the projects of the MTP. So, so that $2 million is coming into the MO. We are beginning the the we are looking at starting the procurement process and follow that schedule there. Uh we're anticipating releasing the RFQ on the 31st. I know it's a holiday but that that week if it's not Monday it'll be on on Tuesday or or that week and follow that that's scheduled for the procurement itself leading to the selection of a consultant um the week of uh June the 6th. So just FYI, you're going to be seeing that that RFQ and we're going to go through the procurement process and and so on so that we can start that order highway connector phase 2 study as soon as possible questions comments. All right, then moving on to item number 11, New Mexico DOT Transportation Project Fund, TPF call for projects and Good morning once again and Garante El Paso MO. Uh this is a project call that is currently open for the New Mexico portion of our MO boundaries. Um this is for uh transportation projects. I believe we have a draft application in currently from uh from Anthony for this project call. Um what we don't have a formal presentation for this item, but what we do have is the timeline that we're using to advise folks who are interested in applying uh of when to do what. Uh we are accepting uh draft uh uh project feasibility forms and maps through the end of this month. And then midmon next month, we will be meeting with the applicants and NMDOT go over the draft applications. And then finally, um we are going to be needing the final applications back uh the last week of May so that we can put them all into a nice little packet and send it to the state. So if you are interested in applying um we can give you uh the information that we have about it and um otherwise we will be closing the window to accept the initial draft applications uh the last day of this month that's not mine and any questions I'm happy to answer. Thank you. All right. Uh item number 12 is development of the El Paso NPO 2026 2027 unified planning work program UPWP Harrison. [Music] Good morning chair committee members. Harrison with El Paso MPL. Uh so this is an announcement for the board that we are getting started on the development of our new 2-year UPWP. The unified planning work program is the document that includes all of the uh work tasks that uh the MO undertakes over that two fiscal year period uh identifying all of the uh uh budget uh per task and the sources of that funding. So it's a guide for uh the public as well as the board and uh anybody interested in learning what the MO is uh doing. um uh to it's the one-stop shop for finding out what we're doing. Um can you bring up the presentation? [Music] So, we utilize a uh template that's developed by uh Texot um their transportation planning and programming division. Um and it's vetted through uh the FHWA and FTA Texas offices. Um so, our UPWP looks very similar to all of the other NPOS in Texas. And uh that's really helpful for us both from a structural standpoint and from a approval standpoint getting it through review quickly. Uh we're going to be following a uh timeline that uh text has uh laid out for all of the nos and the um uh creation and review for the uh the new UPWP. Go ahead and skip forward. Uh one more. So these are the five uh general tasks that are uh laid out in that template by text. So every NO in uh Texas has these five tasks. All the detail uh kind of comes in the subtasks and those are at uh our discretion um to be very specific to certain uh types of work. Next slide. This is the timeline that Texot has provided. Um, the most important thing on here for us at the moment is May 1st. That's our deadline to submit our draft UPWP for review by Texot. Um, they do their uh review at the state level and then come back to us with any uh uh changes that need to be done. After that, we finalize the draft and we proceed with uh the 30-day public comment period which is required. Then we'll come to uh TAC and then the board for approval of the document. Next slide. This is our draft internal timeline. So we will be uh again submitting that uh initial draft EPWT to Texa and NMD dot uh on May 1st. Um we'll conduct the 30-day public comment period from miday to mid June and as part of that we'll have two uh formal public input meetings. um dates are uh approximate on there at this point and then we'll be coming to uh both the TAC and then finally uh the policy board for uh final approval in June. Uh after that we'll submit back to uh the state DOS they move on to the uh federal review and once they're approved uh hopefully they're ready to be uh put in place and we can proceed with them starting on uh a uh October 1st the beginning of the 2026 fiscal [Music] year. And I believe that's all I have for this. So any questions uh please ask Mr. Chair. We have one question just a recommendation Harrison uh if you could email the board the UPWP before you send it over to text dot maybe just a couple weeks give any member a chance to provide any input so we have eyes on what you've submitted to text dot and if there's any major feedback we can provide that we can do that. Thank you. Any other comments or questions Mr. in terms of the on the UPWP. Um yeah, the MO takes the lead on developing the document, but it we really need the input for you know from several agencies like Sun Metro is really important. Uh the the planning funds that they use for overall planning needs to be included in there. Uh South Central Regional Transit District as well will we'll be asking them for for input. So again, this is another example of yeah, the MO takes a lead on developing these documents, but it's it really covers and and it's the responsibility of of other agencies as well to to provide the the information and to to follow, you know, the the idea or the the UPWP on on the tasks that they uh that that need to be done. So with that, uh any other questions on UPWP? [Music] Thank you. All right. Okay. Finally, item 13, executive director's report. Um, so last week we had the tempo meeting, which is the the Texas um all the Texas NPOS's uh get together. Uh we have Philip Tindle from Texas from TPN. He's also one of the the uh the main um u you know sponsors and participants on on this. uh a lot of really good information, exchange of of information, best practices and so on between NPOS's uh TPMP text that is doing a really good time and I mean a a good job I'm sorry in in leading these and putting together these these meetings. But one thing that I really wanted to focus on is that um it was it is time for us to uh execute a new three-party agreement between Texot uh the city of El Paso and the MO. Again, it's uh the planning agreement that that uh is going to expire. Well, it actually expired last year, but tax has the ability to extend it uh one year. So, we need to get this done before the end of the state fiscal year. So, it has to be fully executed by August. Uh we received a template a couple weeks ago. We're we're going through it and of course, we're going to share it with with the city of El Paso and just to make sure that uh that everybody is okay with this. Again, it's a three-party agreement and this is in addition to the more detailed operational agreement that the MPO has with the city of El Paso as a fiscal agent. So, um I don't anticipate, Philip, any any major changes. I mean, there's clearly some updates in terms of the of code and and so on, but I don't believe that there are any any major, you know, substantial changes to the agreement itself. So, but we're we're going to circulate it. We'll review it and then circulate it, of course, to to the city. and uh so that we can move forward and and get it fully executed, you know, by the before the deadline. And um that's it as far as the uh my report. There is one additional thing that that that uh came it was brought to our attention. The next policy board meeting is scheduled for April 18th, which uh happens to be uh Good Friday. So, um, we wanted to do a an informal poll here to see if it's if it's a good idea, Mr. Chair, if it's a to maybe, uh, reschedu it for the following Friday or if if you all can feel that that you will be able to attend, that's not an issue on having it on on Friday the 18th. So, should we uh is show of hands of those that would prefer to reschedu uh to rec to uh to be able to um spend Good Friday right? You recognize Good Friday. So, show of hands of folks who want to reschedu. All right. So, looks like we we will reschedu uh tentatively a April the following Friday, which would be April 25th. Uh we'll send out an email and and hopefully uh your schedules are are clear for that day to have the April TPB meeting. Thank you. All right, that's all we have, Mr. Chair. Do we um entertain a motion to adjourn? Motion to make a motion. We have a second. Second. Uh all in favor say I. I any opposed motion passes. Thank you very