N.M. Rail Plan Raises Questions; Track Upkeep Expenses, Fares Not Made Public

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | January 8, 2006 | Colleen Heild

[CedarDave]

Gov. Bill Richardson's $300 million commuter rail project has a name, a sleek design, two locomotives, 10 bi-level cars, a computer screensaver and a Web site.

But no business plan has been released outlining expected yearly operating revenues, costs, ridership estimates or fares.

No public estimates have been issued as to how much it will ultimately cost to maintain the 300 miles of state track.

And while the administration is poised to spend $50 million for track in the first phase from Belen to Bernalillo, legislative staff are still asking questions— including whether the state has fully investigated environmental problems along the rail line.

The answers will go a long way toward showing whether the state did its homework and got a good deal, or compromised too much in [striking] a bargain with a railroad that was holding most of the cards.

In a 2004-2005 strategic report, the state Department of Transportation identified the Belen to Raton line as a candidate for freight service discontinuation.

Former state Rep. Max Coll, a Santa Fe Democrat who retired in 2004, said he's all for commuter rail and rapid transit alternatives.

But Coll, the former head of the Legislative Finance Committee, said lawmakers back in 2003 had no idea the state would buy the line.

That's when the legislature authorized funding a commuter rail service to Santa Fe as part of a massive transportation bill.

"I don't think anyone contemplated that when that bill was passed," Coll said. "They said we're going to try to see if we can get something going."

Coll said he believes rapid rail should someday extend south to Las Cruces. "But I'm not sure Las Vegas and Raton carry enough population to buy that extra stretch."

[CedarDave]

Companion article to one I posted earlier today. It contains a lot of background information, but you must be a paid Journal subscriber to access.

Former legislator Max Coll is one of the most rabid of Santa Fe environmentalists. However, he has always looked critically at the State's financial balance sheets. If it made sense to him, it was likely to pass the LFC and the full House and Senate. His questioning of the purchase says a lot about how Richardson is able to pull the wool over the sheeple's eyes.

[Rakkasan1]

did you ping willie g?

[CedarDave]

An investigative article with comments by a NM legislator here:

Senator not on board with RailRunner: Carraro says transportation money could be better spent (NM) ^

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

how many miles of fence would $300 milliom build?

[CedarDave]

Any others?

[Wally_Kalbacken]

A good Swag on MOW (Maintenance of Way) is probably about 15k/mile/yr. Depends a bit on who else uses the track, how many bridges there are, if there are rock slide areas, etc.