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Transportation Secretary Faught Selects Rail Runner Route to Santa Fe (2-14-07) SANTA FE – State Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught announced today that Interstate 25 median will be used to bring Rail Runner Express Commuter Train from Bernalillo to Santa Fe, concurring with the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization recommendation. "This route was selected after extensive public comment and community input,” Faught said. “This route will have the least impact on communities while serving a majority of residents in and around Santa Fe area.” The Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization last week recommended building tracks for Rail Runner in the Interstate median over a second alternative route that goes through the Santa Fe Community College District east of I-25. “We will work closely with city, county and planning officials on identifying train stations along the I-25 corridor as we move forward on this project,” Faught said. “This decision is a critical step in the development of passenger rail service for citizens of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “This helps us continue to move the project forward in a timely manner so that we can stay on course to get Rail Runner service into Santa Fe by the end of 2008.” The New Mexico Rail Runner Express began serving commuters between Albuquerque and Bernalillo July 14 last year. The 50-mile corridor between Bernalillo and Belen is now fully open with five stations operating: the Town of Bernalillo, Los Ranchos/Journal Center, Downtown Albuquerque, the Village of Los Lunas, and most recently – the City of Belen. Currently there is an average of approximately 1,800 people a day riding the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. Rail Runner is part of Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership (GRIP). GRIP is a $1.6 billion transportation and infrastructure initiative that is improving highways in New Mexico, creating new modes of transportation like commuter rail and creating high-wage jobs. Contacts:
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