HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 22

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS FROM SANTA FE TO TAOS.

     WHEREAS, the "Rail Runner Express" is a commuter rail service that runs between Belen and Santa Fe carrying people to work, stores, entertainment and tourist attractions; and

     WHEREAS, to date, two phases of the Rail Runner Express have been completed, and the availability of this commuter option has reduced the burden on commuters of skyrocketing gasoline prices; and

     WHEREAS, phase one extended commuter rail service from Belen to the town of Bernalillo in July 2006; and

     WHEREAS, phase two extended commuter rail service from Bernalillo to Santa Fe, completing the entire route from Belen to Santa Fe in December 2008; and

     WHEREAS, the residents of Taos would like to see the Rail Runner Express extended even farther north to provide commuter rail service to Taos and the towns in between; and

     WHEREAS, the Rail Runner Express has met with great enthusiasm and has been heavily patronized by commuters who work in Albuquerque but live in outlying communities and by commuters who work in Santa Fe and live in other communities;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be requested to complete a feasibility study to determine possible routes, optimum frequency of trips and potential costs of extending the Rail Runner Express from Santa Fe to Taos; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study should create plans that can be set into action to maximize the use of possible funds that the federal government may make available in the future for public transit systems; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that those plans should also consider the need to ease the congestion on state highways running from Taos in northern New Mexico to Las Cruces in southern New Mexico to reduce the need for expansion of highways and the costs of maintaining those highways; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study, when complete, be presented to appropriate legislative interim committees by November 2010 and that a copy be submitted to the library of the legislative council service; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary-designate of transportation and the governor.

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