(The following article by Ruth Campbell was posted on the Odessa American website on December 20.)
ODESSA, Texas — Permian Basin Railways plans to rehabilitate 107 miles of track from Lovington, N.M., to Monahans and might start carrying passengers as well as freight.
Permian Basin Railways hauls freight through the area six days a week for customers in Lea County, N.M., plus some in Monahans and Kermit, company President Ed Ellis said.
Economic Development Corporation of Lea County Executive Director Ben Kendrick said the project would cost $4.465 million. The economic development corporation plans to apply for
60 percent of that amount through the Economic Development Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Kendrick said local officials hope to get 20 percent — $800,000 to $900,000 — through the New Mexico Legislature. They will try to get the remaining $800,000 to $900,000 from the private sector.
“We’d love to get a little bit from Texas,” Kendrick said. Kendrick said he plans to contact Texas Rep. Pete Gallego and Rep. Buddy West.
Trains can currently run 5 to 10 mph, but officials hope the refurbished track will speed trains up to 25 to 35 mph, Kendrick said.
About 79 miles of track is in New Mexico and 39 in Texas. Kendrick said the economic development corporation wants to get letters of support from the surrounding communities and is planning a presentation to Monahans economic development officials.
Once funds are obtained, Ellis said the project would take three to four months to finish. Along with being able to haul freight faster, Ellis said there is discussion of having passenger rides to Hobbs, Eunice and Jal, N.M., possibly including Monahans.
Hobbs Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Stan Rounds said 1.2 million visitors per year are expected at the racetrack and casino, so all the options are being explored to get people there.
Lea County and surrounding areas have seen growth in recent times with the opening of the Black Gold Casino in Hobbs, N.M., Waste Control Specialists, a low-level radioactive waste storage site in Andrews County and the proposed National Enrichment Facility near Eunice, N.M., a uranium enrichment plant.
“This part of New Mexico is definitely going to grow over the next 10 to 15 years. We know there’s going to be significant economic development,” Ellis said.
Ellis’s company, Iowa-Pacific Railroad in Chicago, Ill., also has lines from Lubbock to Seagraves and Whiteface and from Bowie to Globe, Ariz.
Ellis said the company purchased the line in Eastern New Mexico from a company called RailTex in 2002.