HOUSE MEMORIAL 63

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Patricia A. Lundstrom

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS FROM ALBUQUERQUE TO GALLUP.

     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 Gallup would like to see the Rail Runner Express extended even farther to provide rail service for commuters and others to the west of Albuquerque; 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; and

     WHEREAS, Gallup is the gateway from the west into New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Gallup was built around being a railroad town and has a long history with Amtrak and the Harvey houses;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of transportation be requested to conduct a feasibility study to determine possible routes, optimum frequency of trips and potential costs of extending the Rail Runner Express from Albuquerque to Gallup; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study 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 the study will not commence until sufficient funds have been allocated from local public and private sources to pay for the study, such that the department of transportation will provide technical and administrative support for the study, but that the department's financial contribution, if any, will be negligible; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study, when complete, be presented to the appropriate legislative interim committees by October 31, 2011 and that a copy of the study 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 of transportation and the governor.

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