Federal Transit Administration Senior Advisor Veronica McBeth and NCRTD Chair Dennis Tim Salazar Board cut the ribbon at Thursday’s event. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
NCRTD’s new new maintenance facility consists of 21,600 square feet of buildingsof five maintenance bays, fleet and facilities administrative offices, parts and inventory space, a bus wash facility and fueling area. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
NCRTD Executive Director Anthony Mortillaro welcomes the crowd and introduces dignitaries. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Local, state and national officials turned out for a special ribbon cutting celebration at the new maintenance facility, wash bay and fueling station Thursday morning at the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) at 1327 N. Riverside Dr. in Española. This ribbon cutting represents the culmination of a 9-year endeavor in achieving this milestone.
The completion of this facility would not have been possible were it not for the funding and support of the Federal Transit Administration federal grant programs, and New Mexico state legislative capital investment programs.
The event was attended by Federal Transit Administration Senior Advisor Veronica McBeth from from Washington, D.C. Senior Advisor McBeth represented FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez and manages several FTA initiatives, including transit-oriented development, climate and sustainability, equity and infrastructure.
She was among a handful of speakers including New Mexico Sen. Leo Jaramillo, NCRTD Chair and City of Española Councilor Dennis Tim Salazar and representatives for Sen. Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.
The remarks from these officials were followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony, lunch and tours of the facility.
The new facility is situated on 7 acres and encompasses an overall total of 21,600 square feet of buildings. It consists of five maintenance bays, fleet and facilities administrative offices, parts and inventory space, a bus wash facility and fueling area. Green building standards were employed and allowed for energy efficient design, water recycling and conservation in the recapture of runoff water. It also allows increased quality and safety control, cost savings and more efficient responsiveness by reducing reliance on off-site vendors and providing us with direct oversight on vehicle repairs and routine maintenance.
Federal Transit Administration Senior Advisor Veronica McBeth
Field Representative Carmela Quintana speaks on behalf of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
NMDOT Transit and Rail Director David Harris. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
NCRTD Chair and Española City Councilor Dennis Tim Salazar. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Interior view of the new facility. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand, NCRTD’s Jim Nagle and Gov. Michael Chavarria chat with staff. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Sen. Leo Jaramillo, Gov. Michael Chavarria and Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Mariachis entertain at the event. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Eight Northern Pueblos Chair and Santa Clara Pueblo Gov. Michael Chavarria leads a pray at the event. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
New Mexico Sen. Leo Jaramillo. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Governor’s Infrastructure Advisor and former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Field Representative Matt Miller speaks on behalf of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com