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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Boitano

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/11/2006

HB

SHORT TITLE

Commuter Rail Oversight Task Force

SJM 67

ANALYST Moser

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

NM Department of Transportation (NMDOT)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 67 requests the legislative council form a commuter rail oversight task

force comprised of representatives from the counties, municipalities and pueblos affected by the

commuter rail system; persons experienced in commuter rail and other modes of public mass

transportation and other modes of public mass transportation; and other persons who are poten-

tial users of the commuter rail system or alternatives to the commuter rail system. The task force

will be charged with conducting a thorough assessment of a number of issues enumerated within

the bill regarding commuter rail, the capability of both the NMDOT and the mid-region council

of government’s to perform their duties regarding the commuter rail agreements.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

•

NMDOT indicates that such a task force already exists and has performed a majority of

the duties requested in the memorial. NMDOT points out that the committee was formed

by MRCOG in the spring of 2004 to provide oversight, guidance and comment for the

commuter rail system and has met regularly throughout the development of the project.

Representatives from the counties and municipalities affected by the commuter rail ser-

vice serve on this committee. The NMDOT indicates that representatives from the Pueb-

los along the line were invited to participate in meetings but chose to not attend instead

choosing to work directly with the NMDOT and the MRCOG on project development is-

sues.

•

NMDOT points out that the task force monitored the progress of the commuter rail pro-

ject and was briefed on the Alternative Analysis study for commuter rail performed under

MRCOG’s direction for the Albuquerque to Santa Fe segment.

•

NMDOT points out that the Metropolitan Planning Organizations for the Santa Fe and

Albuquerque areas separately passed resolutions supporting the community district com-

muter rail alternative as the locally preferred alternative for their jurisdictions.

•

NMDOT indicates that because the commuter rail project was part of the GRIP approved

Senate Joint Memorial 67 – Page 2

by the New Mexico State Legislature and signed by Governor Bill Richardson in 2003 it

is clearly identified as a project and service designed to meet the transportation needs of

the citizens of this state.

•

The memorial requests the task force to assess the liabilities the state will assume with

commuter rail. NMDOT indicates that the department has already assessed all liability is-

sues associated with commuter rail.

•

The memorial requests the task force to assess the environmental laws invoked by the

project. NMDOT states that as with all transportation projects it has already assessed

what state and federal environmental laws are invoked by the commuter rail project.

•

The memorial requests that the task force review and assess business and financial plans

for the commuter rail system. The NMDOT indicates that the existing task force has re-

viewed almost every element of the commuter rail project, including capital and operat-

ing costs, the BNSF agreement, marketing, planning and demographic analysis, survey

findings and connecting transit services. Yet, despite repeated requests the department

has not been able to produce to the LFC or the Legislature any comprehensive business

plans.

•

The memorial requests that the task force review the capabilities of the NMDOT and

MRCOG to perform their duties under commuter rail system agreements. The NMDOT

is unclear what the task force would do under this directive. Analysis indicates some con-

cern with the state being able to assume responsibilities for managing and operating a rail

system.

•

The memorial requests that the task force identify future funding sources for the com-

muter rail system. The NMDOT indicates that future funding sources for the commuter

rail system have been discussed with the task force including the possibility of utilizing

voter approved tax dollars from Regional Transit Districts. No decisions have been

reached regarding future funding. These discussions are ongoing.

•

The memorial requests that the task force report its findings to the NM legislative Coun-

cil and the LFC no later than October 15, 2006. The staff resources for the existing task

force and the one described in the memorial is likely to be the NMDOT and MRCOG.

GM/mt