ABQ Times

Bernalillo County in New Mexico has secured a $1.94 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. This funding is earmarked for the development of the I-40 TradePort Corridor Intelligent Data Platform, a key project aimed at enhancing transportation infrastructure in the region.

The I-40 TradePort Corridor initiative seeks to establish a highly efficient logistics system over 805 miles, stretching from the Port of Los Angeles to Albuquerque. It will integrate various modes of cargo movement—ocean, road, rail, and air—into a unified logistics network. The project aims to boost supply chain resilience, increase competitiveness, and improve environmental conditions across California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Bernalillo County will act as the fiscal agent for this grant. The county will oversee Stage 1 of the SMART grant implementation, which involves developing an intelligent data platform that will form the basis for a digital twin in Stage 2. This platform is expected to enable real-time monitoring of truck movements and continuous simulation of infrastructure and environmental conditions along I-40 from Los Angeles to Albuquerque. It will also facilitate precise planning to reduce development timelines significantly.

"This SMART grant represents a significant step forward in our efforts to revolutionize transportation infrastructure along the I-40 corridor," stated BernCo Executive Development Officer Marcos Gonzales. "By developing an intelligent data platform, we are laying the groundwork for a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient logistics network that will benefit our community and the broader region."