Javier Ortiz musters impressive facts about the need for and affordability of Regional Transit in Dona Ana County: The US Government Census Bureau, in its 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates annotates that in Doña Ana County, out of a total 85,890 workers, 16 years and over, an amazing 405 commuted to work using public transportation, excluding taxis. Hidden in this enlightening statistic is the urgent need for Doña Ana County to have a comprehensive, county-wide public transportation system capable of appropriately servicing not only the present population of the county, but the residents that will live in Doña Ana County in 10 to 20 years. Presently, the citizens of Doña Ana county will vote on November 4th to approve or not a meager ONE FOURTH OF ONE PERCENT - TWENTY FIVE CENTS FOR EVERY HUNDRED DOLLARS increase in the gross-receipts tax to be allotted for the establishment and sustainability of a transit district from which - in time and through the great effort that characterizes the citizens of Doña Ana County - shall grow the best public transportation system to make sure that the residents of Doña Ana County count themselves among the communities of the world in which proper public transportation is a working, efficient component of community integration and economic growth. It behooves not only Doña Ana County but all of our binational, transborder, three-state region for the voters to support this extraordinary effort. At a cost of less than 10 cents a day per family. 13.33% of the cost of a newspaper 00.03% of the cost of a gallon of milk 00.003% of the cost of a pair of work boots 00.015% of the cost of a six pack of beer The economic engine represented by Doña Ana Countys border with Mexico and Texas - regional neighbors who in 2013 had a gross regional product close to $72 billion dollars - in which American and global industries established in the Ciudad Juárez area accounted for the creation of 10 jobs on the US side for every 100 jobs created in Juarez - is poised to share its benefits with the New Mexico portion of our tri-state, binational, cross-border region. The opening of the Union Pacific Rail Terminal in Santa Teresa The Mexican announcement of a rail bypass from Juarez to Doña Ana County, NM The disclosure by Chihuahua Governor Cesar Duarte of a deep sea port to be built by Chinese capital in the State of Nayarit and to connect to the US through a rail line to Chihuahua/New Mexico, via Doña Ana County The extraordinary industrial growth in the Santa Teresa area, which undoubtedly will overflow to the rest of Doña Ana County in the mid term The exponential growth of the city of Las Cruces as a regional trade center The start of space operations at the Spaceport The sustained rate of demographic growth in Doña Ana County The 2.7 million people living in El Paso and Ciudad Juarez at arms length from Doña Ana County The strategic international importance of Doña Ana Countys institutions of higher learning The attractive cultural, artistic and historical footprint of the County All of the above, and more, constitute the writing on the wall for Doña Ana County to be fully prepared to deploy all the infrastructure and services needed - above all public transportation - to receive and enjoy the benefits of the expected population and economic growth without the downside of traffic congestion, road network undue wear and tear, lost job opportunities for lack of appropriate public transportation, loss of tourism and trade from and to neighboring Texas and Chihuahua communities. Most importantly, the nurturing of a sense of county community spirit through the facilitation offered by affordable public transportation for the mingling of the residents of the county throughout all the existing and future communities in it. The relative isolation of the incorporated and unincorporated communities of Doña Ana County, in terms of adequate public transportation, limits the growth of intra-county trade and increases a sense of isolation instead of a sense of community. A respectful invitation for all voters in Doña Ana County to consider voting in favor of funding for a transit district and making sure that all possible invitations for other to do likewise are extended and followed-through. A respectful suggestion to those opposed to analyze that this funding is not an expense but an investment. An investment that will yield great economic expansion which will pay-over many times any local amounts dedicated for this purpose. And to top it off, an investment that in time will be matched or over-matched by the federal system which funds commuter, transit and public transportation in the United States of America. factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=bkmk SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates COMMUTING TO WORK N e w M e x i c o D o ñ a A n a C o u n t y Estimate Margin of Error % % Margin of Error Estimate Margin of Error % Workers 16 years and over 873,552 +/-4,523 873,552 (X) 85,890 +/-1,340 85,890 (X) Car, truck, or van -- drove alone 684,995 +/-4,359 78.4% +/-0.3 69,388 +/-1,628 80.8% +/-1.1 Car, truck, or van -- carpooled 99,038 +/-2,564 11.3% +/-0.3 8,722 +/-753 10.2% +/-0.9 Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 9,379 +/-699 1.1% +/-0.1 405 +/-154 0.5% +/-0.2 Walked 20,559 +/-954 2.4% +/-0.1 2,474 +/-330 2.9% +/-0.4 Other means 16,465 +/-918 1.9% +/-0.1 1,390 +/-338 1.6% +/-0.4 Worked at home 43,116 +/-1,522 4.9% +/-0.2 3,511 +/-443 4.1% +/-0.5 Mean travel time to work (minutes) 21.7 +/-0.1 (X) (X) 19.5 +/-0.4 (X) (X) quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/35/35013.html Doña Ana County, New Mexico Want more? Browse data sets for Doña Ana County People QuickFacts Dona Ana County New Mexico Population, 2013 estimate 213,460 2,085,287 Population, 2010 (April 1) estimates base 209,234 2,059,183 Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 2.0% 1.3% Population, 2010 209,233 2,059,179 Persons under 5 years, percent, 2013 7.4% 6.7% Persons under 18 years, percent, 2013 25.9% 24.3% Persons 65 years and over, percent, 2013 13.6% 14.7% Female persons, percent, 2013 50.7% 50.4% Land area in square miles, 2010 3,807.51 121,298.15
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:01:38 +0000
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