The residents and families of La Bajada Village urgently request that corrective maintenance be done on the Tetilla Peak Recreation Road, from intersection with State Highway NM 16 to the seasonal recreation area locked gate 2.3 miles NorthEast.

This is currently the only access available to residents and any emergency and necessary service providers to the Village of La Bajada.

The current state of the Tetilla Peak Recreation Road is severe disrepair with deteriorating pavement and many dangerous potholes.  Our safety is at risk when trying to navigate this road. Additional dangerous conditions exist due to overgrown vegetation (up to 5 feet in height) which has caused wildlife such as elk, deer, bear, mountain lion and coyotes to be narrowly missed by residents both at night and in the daytime.  This a life and death situation not just for human life,  but for the wildlife as well.  Residents and the general public who travel this road have had to pay for excessive damage to their vehicles on a continuous basis including flat tires, blow-outs, extensive front end damage, constant realignments. These damages are caused by the disrepair and lack of maintenance on the Tetilla Peak Recreation Road.  Other safety concerns include the need for maintenance of lineage (painting of outside yellow line, centerline and passing lines), replacement of signage (curve in road, speed limit,  stop signs, markers) which have been damaged by vandalism. 

Transporting our children to school and providing any services needed to the infirm and elderly in our village is at stake.  It is becoming increasingly dangerous for our residents and others to use this only access to NM State Road 16 to reach necessary services such as travel to the post office, shopping for food and necessary supplies and reaching employment destinations. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, and US Forest Service have blocked our right of way access to any other means of reaching state roads and highways.
( See Vicinity Map attached ) 

Given that this is such a serious and dangerous situation,  We the residents and friends of the Village of La Bajada respectfully request that the US Army Corps of Engineers pay immediate attention and take immediate action to remedy this unsafe condition and make necessary repairs to the Tetilla Peak Recreation Road.

We petition for your IMMEDIATE RESPONSE.  

This petition will also be forwarded to local county, state, and federal authorities to assess how to remedy this serious public safety issue.