New Train Deserves Own Novel (NM-barf alert)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | December 1, 2008 | Gene Grant

[CedarDave]

And so it begins. The end of next week, the Rail Runner Express commuter rail to Santa Fe pulls out of the station for its inaugural run. Quite properly, it'll be a celebration loaded with meaning. By the time the one hour and 30 minute ride chugs into Santa Fe, we'll not only have taken a giant leap to the future, we'll honor the past as well.

For the moment, let's take that leap forward. Say two decades. Is there anyone left who opposed this project who cannot acknowledge that, in one fell swoop, we have looked the future in the mug and winked at it?

~~snip~~

What if those departed [killed on the highway] had the Rail Runner Express as a choice back then? How is this a bad thing? Look, $400 million is a lot of money, but what price a life?

Here's the thing. It's been a tough slog to get a lot of us on board with the idea of a commuter train in a car-crazy culture like New Mexico, but you have to appreciate what the fates have unfolded for us in the last year. A fundamental reconstruction on the relationship with the car. The timing could not have been better. Yes, the price of fuel has dropped again, but is there any doubt the spike in fuel we recently suffered will not return?

I'm not saying there shouldn't have been opposition. It's what we do.

~~snip~~

For Gov. Bill Richardson, riding in that engineer's cab for the first leg will be a well-earned triumph worthy of a novel. Editors, radio talk show callers, or anyone else be damned.

[Rogle]

Cedar Dave I am sorry but I must disagree with you. Under the original Richardson’s Investment Partnership (GRIP) program submitted by Richardson to the Legislature in a special secession Oct 2003 there was to be a 50, 50 split between the State and the Feds. The funding from the Fed was to come from the Federal Railroad Administration. The Federal Railroad Administration took a look at the Rail Runner and concluded it was not economically feasible. Bill Richardson decided to continue the project with only state money while NM appealed the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision going even to the extent of trying to drag Senator Domenici into the ruckus. The Federal Railroad Administration held their ground and eventually NM divert Federal road dollars to the Rail Runner.

[greyfoxx39]

Those liberals you are speaking to probably go around bragging that NM is as sophisticated and forward-thinking as, say, NY or MA.

The Taosenos and Santa Feans from the east would like to see the sleepy little state they now call home join with the elite so they won't have to apologize for us crackers.

[greyfoxx39]

I remember seeing that, Rogle.

Thank God that King Bill will be departing before he can come up with more grandiose schemes to bill to the NM taxpayers and their descendants.

What is this "education legacy" he is trying to foist off on us now? My remote is working overtime dodging Richardson and Obama praise stories on TV.

Speaking of praises, get a load of

THIS!

I betcha they don't have THIS picture in their album!