ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined leaders from the University of New Mexico on November 7, to formalize a new partnership focused on improving transportation safety, data integration, and community well-being across the Navajo Nation.
The agreement with UNM’s Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC) and the Navajo Nation Division of Transportation (Navajo DOT) will lead to the creation of a new, user-friendly online portal designed to collect, analyze, and share transportation data in real time. This interactive system will combine key information on roads, bridges, traffic conditions, and safety reports, helping both officials and the public make informed decisions about transportation needs and priorities.
President Nygren emphasized the importance of using technology to stretch limited infrastructure resources and to address the $9 billion in road repairs needed across the Nation. The web portal will promote transparency by providing live updates on Navajo DOT projects, while also supporting data-driven planning and improved public engagement.
Development of the system is set to begin later this year and is expected to be completed by mid-2026. Once launched, it will give community members, chapter officials, and Navajo DOT staff new tools for analyzing transportation safety and planning improvements that directly benefit families and local economies.
UNM officials expressed pride in working alongside the Navajo Nation on a long-term vision to combine scientific expertise with Indigenous knowledge, helping to tackle complex challenges such as drainage analysis, data-driven planning, and inter-departmental coordination.
President Nygren described the initiative as part of his administration’s broader effort to strengthen tribal sovereignty through partnerships that bring new opportunities for innovation, workforce development, and infrastructure investment.
The event concluded with the signing of the partnership agreement, underscoring a shared commitment to use technology and collaboration to build safer, more connected Navajo communities for generations to come.
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