For a copy of a proposed resolution amending a cooperative project agreement between the city of Las Cruces and New Mexico Department of Transportation, for reconstruction of south Main Street, from Griggs Avenue to Lohman Avenue, click here.

For a copy of a proposed resolution allowing city Transit Department officials to apply for federal funds to build a transit intermodal center, click here.

For a copy of a proposed resolution that would allow city Transit Department administrators to apply for federal funds that would pay for architectural and engineering design of a proposed transit maintenance and operations facility, click here.

For a copy of a proposed resolution approving a lighting agreement between the city and New Mexico Department of Transportation for a lighting system to be installed at the Interstate 25 and University Avenue interchange, click here.

Sun-News report

LAS CRUCES -

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"Transportation" is the byword that best describes the theme of Monday's 1 p.m. city council meeting at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.

The council's agenda is filled with issues affecting transportation. Even the consent agenda, which is approved by a single motion and vote from the council, includes a proposed resolution seeking approval of a lighting agreement between the city and the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) that authorize $3,000 in city funds for annual maintenance of a major lighting project at the Interstate 25 and University Avenue interchange, just east of New Mexico State University's Pan American Center.

Council action items include amendments to a cooperative project agreement between the city and NMDOT for planned reconstruction of a three-block portion of south Main Street, from Griggs Avenue south to Lohman Avenue.

The council will also consider two resolutions involving the city and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA): one that would allow city transit administrators to apply for $394,000 in federal funds that would be used in the construction of a transportation intermodal center at the southwest corner of Alameda Boulevard and Lohman. Another resolution would allow city transit administrators to apply for $617,500 in FTA funds that would be used for the architectural and engineering design of a proposed city transit maintenance and operations facility, that would be build on Motel Boulevard.

Both of the FTA grants would require the city to provide a combined $252,875 in matching funds, a $98,500 match for the intermodal center and $154,375 for the maintenance and operations facility.

The proposed amendments to the city's cooperative project agreement with NMDOT would add $489,060 to the project, and bring the city's total grant award to $1.66 million. In turn, the city would have to provide $122,265 in matching funds, bringing the total project funding amount to $1.78 million.

The funding would be used to pay for right-of-way acquisition and construction. The changes would also extend the agreement between the city and NMDOT for an additional year, to Sept. 30, 2015.

Dan Soriano, city traffic engineer, said the lighting project at I-25 and University Avenue will be similar to projects that have been done at the I-25 and Lohman Avenue and I-25 and north Main Street interchanges. The project would include the installation of 25 light poles that would be 40 feet tall, and three more poles that would be 150 feet high.

"It'll light up that interchange pretty well," Soriano said. "The time is now to start addressing those improvements."

For years, numerous Las Cruces residents have voiced concerns about how dark the I-25 and University Avenue interchange becomes at night. The maintenance costs would pay for yearly costs of electricity and upkeep needed for the lighting system.

If you go

What: Las Cruces City Council meeting

When: 1 p.m. Monday

Where: Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.

TV/Internet: The meeting will be televised live at 1 p.m. Monday on CLC-TV, Comcast Cable channel 20 and webcast live at www.clctv.com. People watching the webcast should click on the "Meetings" link to access the web page that has the link to watch the meeting.