In April, the city of Española sent out applications for a total of just over $29 million in stimulus funds for a variety of water, sewer, streets and building projects. Only one of those projects (Industrial Park Road project, see story) has been awarded funds. The city has made the following progress toward completing the others by alternate means. Though it is possible for the city to apply for further stimulus money to fund these projects as it becomes available, there are no current plans to do so.
Building Projects
• Design and construct an incubator building for start-up businesses across the Española Valley
Amount Applied for — $2 million
Status: no significant progress made
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Design and construct gateways at four locations entering Española
Amount Applied For — $1 million
Status — In design phase, plans to construct at least two in the near future
Alternate Funding — $75,000 legislative appropriation
Design/Construction Plans — design plans either exist or are being drawn up for all four
• Railroad Museum
Amount Applied For — $468,000
Status — In preliminary design
Alternate Funding — $399,000 Surface Transportation Project match
Design/Construction Plans — early drafts of design plans complete
Water/Wastewater Projects
• Repair or replace city water storage Tank 1A
Amount Applied For — $1 million
Status — the city will decommission the tank instead
Alternate Funding — not applicable
Design/Construction Plans — not applicable
• Extend wastewater lines to septic tank users in the city
Amount Applied For — $1 million
Status — Accepting design proposals
Alternate Funding — around $7 million from various sources, including a $3.8 million bond on the city’s three-eighths gross receipts tax and a $1.4 million loan from the state Finance Administration
Design/Construction Plans — city began accepting design proposals in June
• Increase production of Well 9
Amount Applied For — $1 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Install uranium treatment system for Wells 5 and 6
Amount Applied For — $1.2 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Extend and replace wastewater lines on the west side of town
Amount Applied For — $5 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
Road Projects
• Construct a signalized intersection at State Road 291 (El Llano Road) and State Road 68
Amount Applied For — $1 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Improve traffic signals at intersection of Riverside Drive and La Joya Street
Amount Applied For — $500,000
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Improve road design and drainage on North McCurdy Road
Amount Applied For — $4.75 million
Status — design complete
Alternate Funding — $200,000 grant from the Department of Transportation
Design/Construction Plans — both are complete
• Improvements to Oñate Bridge
Amount Applied For — $3.5 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Pedestrian Bridge across Paseo de Oñate at Vietnam Veterans Parkway
Amount Applied For — $500,000
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Re-align Railroad Avenue
Amount Applied For — $1.5 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding — none
Design/Construction Plans — none
• Improve design and drainage for South McCurdy Road
Amount Applied For — $4.75 million
Status — no significant progress
Alternate Funding— none
Design/Construction Plans — none