The city of Socorro, Texas, just to the south of El Paso, is now the recipient of some $1.7 million in federal funding to improve a two-mile stretch of a busy throughway.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that funding for the project is coming in the form of a grant through its Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Infrastructure program.
The work will focus on Moon Road, a two-lane road that slices through the city in a general east to west direction. The grant will also fund engineering and design work, as well as an environmental and cost-benefit analysis.
In announcing the grant, Texas Democrat Representative Veronica Escobar said the funding is part of a larger effort to “repair and invest in America’s infrastructure.”
A press release issued from the Congresswoman’s office noted that RAISE grants in recent years have allowed the Transportation Department to “invest in road, rail, transit, and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives.”
According to a separate release issued by the City of Socorro, planning for what is officially called the Moon Road Complete Streets Planning Project will focus on “connecting neighborhoods to schools, commercial centers, and historic sites, by introducing first-time pedestrian, bicyclist, and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant infrastructure to address longstanding gaps in connectivity.”
As preliminary planning for the project gets underway, the City of Socorro is expected to soon host meetings to solicit public input.
January 24, 2025
By Garry Boulard
