(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Felicia Fonseca on December 5.)
BELEN, N.M. — The state has signed an agreement to buy nearly 300 miles of railroad track that extends from Belen to Trinidad, Colo.
Gov. Bill Richardson has been pushing for a commuter rain service since unveiling plans in 2003 for the Rail Runner Express. The first leg from Belen to Bernalillo is expected to begin service in January. Service to Santa Fe is expected to begin by late 2008.
The system will ease traffic congestion, attract new businesses and revitalize rural businesses, Richardson has said.
The $76 million purchase from BNSF Railway includes 51 miles of mainline track between Belen, 48 miles of track between Bernalillo and Lamy and 200 miles of track between Lamy and Trinidad. The purchase also includes 13 acres of rail yard property near downtown Albuquerque.
New Mexico Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught said the purchase of the extra 200 miles was necessary to close the deal with BNSF.
“They didn’t want to piecemeal this thing,” she said.
The Mid-Region Council of Governments, which is spearheading the commuter rail effort, estimates it will cost $8 million to $12 million a year to run the commuter service from Belen to Bernalillo. Federal funds will pay for the operation and maintenance of the track for the first three years. Communities that make up the transit district eventually will pick up some costs.
The Legislature authorized the rail project as part of the 2003 transportation plan. That plan — called GRIP for Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership — authorized up to $1.6 billion in bond financing. Faught also has said $75 million in federal transportation money could be used.
BNSF suggested in June that the state buy, rather than lease, the line. For the past few months, the state has been discussing the purchase.
State ownership gives the commuter service priority on the track, which isn’t considered a main line for BNSF.
“We control our own destiny on the line,” Faught said.
As part of the agreement, BNSF will be allowed to continue running freight trains on the track and will maintain the track from Lamy, near Santa Fe, into Colorado until 2008 when the states takes over ownership. Amtrak passenger service also would use the line, though an agreement hasn’t been signed.
The state’s commuter rail will be the dominant user of the Belen to Bernalillo stretch. Maintenance fees will be divided between the users, depending on each user’s impact on the track. Although the state will use the track more often, BNSF likely will pay more in maintenance fees because freight trains are heavier than the Rail Runner system, said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Council of Governments.
Critics have expressed concern that the commuter rail project will cut funds needed for future road projects, but Faught said those projects will not suffer.