11/17/03-Gov. Bill Richardson signed legislation Nov. 14 to finance $1.6 billion in highway construction and repairs. The roads package includes $60 million a year in fee and tax increases.
The new law will raise the state’s diesel tax from 18 cents a gallon to 21 cents. HB15 increases vehicle registration fees by 33 percent and imposes a 38 percent increase in the weight-distance tax.
About 40 road projects are included in the plan, funded by additional dollars the new law will generate. Those include:

• Improvements on I-25 between Santa Fe and Bernalillo;
• Reconstruction of the Coors Interchange along I-40 in Albuquerque;
• Adding a third lane to I-25 in both directions between Albuquerque and Santa Fe; and
• Stretching to four lanes U.S. 64 from Raton to Clayton.

An amendment that would have required the state Transportation Department to respond to requests for oversize vehicle permits within 24 hours was vetoed.

11/12/03-A bill to finance $1.6 billion in highway construction and repairs is heading to Gov. Bill Richardson for approval. The plan includes $60 million a year in fee and tax increases.
The plan won final approval Nov. 5 when the House voted 39-29 to accept a Senate-passed version of the highway-financing package.
HB15 will raise the state’s diesel tax from 18 cents a gallon to 21 cents. The proposal increases vehicle registration fees by 33 percent and imposes a 38 percent increase in the weight-distance tax. It also would require the state to process overweight permits for truck drivers within 24 hours.
Thirty-nine road projects are proposed in the plan, funded by additional dollars the bill would generate. Those include:

• Improvements on I-25 between Santa Fe and Bernalillo;
• Reconstruction of the Coors Interchange along I-40 in Albuquerque;
• Adding a third lane to I-25 in both directions between Albuquerque and Santa Fe; and
• Stretching to four lanes U.S. 64 from Raton to Clayton.

11/5/03-The Senate approved Gov. Bill Richardson’s $1.6 billion highway construction and repair package on Nov. 5. The plan includes $60 million a year in fee and tax increases.
The 22-18 vote sent the bill back to the House for approval of Senate amendments before it heads to the governor.
HB15 includes a hike in the state’s diesel fuel tax from 18 cents a gallon to 21 cents. The proposal increases vehicle registration fees by an average of $12.50 per vehicle and a 38 percent increase in the weight-distance tax. It also would require the state to process overweight permits for truck drivers within 24 hours.
Thirty-nine road projects are proposed in the plan, funded by additional dollars the bill would create. They include:

• Improvements on I-25 between Santa Fe and Bernalillo;
• Reconstruction of the Coors Interchange along I-40 in Albuquerque;
• Adding a third lane to I-25 in both directions between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and;
• Stretching to four lanes U.S. 64 from Raton to Clayton.

For bill status, call (505) 986-4351.