Project Overview

The Upper Sudderth Revitalization Project is situated along Sudderth Drive from Mechem Drive (NM 48) to the traffic circle at the intersection of D Street, Vision Street, and Main Road in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The Project is a continuation of the Historic Upper Canyon Gateway and Streetscape Improvements, which was a study sponsored by the Village of Ruidoso (Village) in 2022. The goal of the current Project is to stimulate metropolitan redevelopment, regional job growth, and revitalization of the area. In 2023 and 2024, the Village submitted a proposal to and obtained a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to accomplish the above goals. The EDA grant specifically called for studies of drainage and traffic, surveys, and complete plan sets for improvements. These improvements could include lighting, drainage management features, curb and gutter, driveway aprons, sidewalks, and bump-outs for large gateway signage. To implement these improvements, the Village contracted with the engineering firm Stantec and convened a Project Study Team to complete the corridor study and design.

The Project Study Team consists of key Village staff, Stantec, and Barr Engineering Co. (Barr). The Village staff will manage the Project, ensure that it is consistent with the community’s policies and goals and the EDA grant obligations, and maintain communication with other Village staff and elected officials.  Stantec will provide overall engineering services, including the study and design elements; subconsultant management; and project coordination. Barr, one of the Project subconsultants, will be responsible for assisting with corridor planning, public involvement, and environmental documentation.

Village of Ruidoso

• • Ron Sena, Village Manager
  • Micheal Martinez, Deputy Village Manager
  • Alex Koenig, Community Development Director, Project Manager
  • Eddie Ryan, Manager of Strategic Partnerships
  • Mathew Baird, Parks and Recreation Director
  • Vyanca Vega, Capital Projects Coordinator
  • Chrysanti Jones, Community Development Assistant 

Stantec

• • Gene Paulk, P.E., Senior Project Manager 
  • Gabby Contreras-Apodaca, P.E., Senior Associate

Barr Engineering

• •  John Taschek, Environmental Scientist

In addition to the Study Team, a Stakeholder Committee has been formed to help guide the Project. The Stakeholder Committee includes members of the previous Steering Committee from the 2022 Historic Upper Canyon Gateway and Streetscape Improvements Project and local businesses in the Project corridor.

• • Josie Powell, Josie’s Framery
  • Tim Duckworth, Executive Director, Ruidoso Midtown Association
  • Bradshaw Lambert, Dandy Cabins
  • Robert Duncan, Upper Canyon Investment Properties
  • John Houghton, The Adobe Fine Art

• Scoping Report: The Scoping Report will include a road diet study, drainage study, traffic counts and analysis, and an inventory of existing conditions. It will establish a statement of purpose and need for the Project and identify and analyze alternative design concepts. Based on the evaluation of how well the alternatives address the purpose and need and factors such as traffic operations, engineering feasibility, drainage management, environmental issues, and public preferences, the Scoping Report will recommend a preferred alternative.
• Public Involvement Plan: The Public Involvement Plan will outline a strategy to engage stakeholders and the public in the Project. The key plan elements include a project-specific website to provide information and receive public input, two stakeholder meetings involving local businesses and interest groups, and three public involvement meetings to engage the community at large (link to PIP).
• Environmental Investigation and Documentation: Because the Project involves federal funds, it must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The work the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA’s) NEPA requirements and consist of an analysis of existing environmental conditions, cultural and biological resource surveys and reporting, and an environmental document (expected to be an Environmental Assessment).
• Engineering Design Support Studies: This element in the scope of work will include topographic surveying and mapping, geotechnical investigations, utility engineering and coordination, and landscape architecture. Stantec will utilize other subconsultants for some of these services.
• Preliminary Roadway Design Plans: The Preliminary Roadway Design Plans will include 30 percent and 60 percent plans for the preferred alternative. These will include typical sections, intersection layouts, plan and profile sheets traffic control plans, lighting plans, signing and striping details drainage plans, utility adjustments, quantities, and probable construction costs.
• Final Roadway Design Plans: The Final Roadway Design Plans will include the 90 percent plans and 100 percent PS&E (Plans, Specifications, and Estimates) design plans. The final plans will update, modify, detail, and refine the preliminary plans, and provide the basis for bid documents.