Governor Bill Richardson
Announces Debut of Rail Runner Express in Santa Fe
SANTA FE – Governor
Bill Richardson today announced that after nearly a year-and-a-half
of construction the New Mexico Rail Runner Express is ready to ride
into
Santa Fe.
On Monday, December 15, 2008 the Governor will be joined by
state, local and tribal officials,
and several members of the public for the first inaugural train ride
from Albuquerque
into Santa Fe.
“This is
a historic event that will bring long-term economic benefits to New Mexico and change the way we travel along
the Middle Rio Grande Corridor,” Governor Richardson said. “During
these tough economic times, the Rail Runner Express will provide
thousands of commuters a much-needed savings while offering them a
safe, viable and efficient transportation alternative.”
Commuter service into
Santa Fe is scheduled to
officially
begin on Wednesday, December 17, 2008. On opening day,
the South Capitol Complex Station at the State Government Complex
north of Alta Vista
Street
and the Santa Fe Depot at the
Railyard north of Paseo de Peralta, will be open to the
public. Two additional stations, one at Zia Road and St. Francis Drive, and a stop in southern
Santa Fe at I-25
and N.M. 599 are scheduled to open in the future.
“The Rail Runner Express will change the face of transportation in
New Mexico,” said State Transportation
Secretary Rhonda Faught. “With initial estimates of nearly 4,500
commuters riding the train between Albuquerque
and Santa Fe on a daily basis, this will not only
take a lot of stress off our roads, but will also enhance safety.”
“Bringing the train to Santa Fe represents the
historic culmination of five years of hard work, and a
significant investment in the future of New Mexico,” says Lawrence
Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments.
“As a regional organization, the Council of Governments has been
proud to work with the Department of Transportation to make this
project a reality. This is about our children having an alternative
transportation system to work, play and travel in the region for
generations to come.”
The New Mexico Rail Runner Express will run on
zone-based fares, with a roundtrip fare from downtown
Albuquerque
to downtown Santa Fe
costing $8. Throughout the first three months of service Santa Fe County
residents will be able to ride the train free of charge by providing
proof of residency such as a driver’s license.
Finalized train fares and schedules are
available at
www.nmrailrunner.com.
On July 14, 2006, the New Mexico Rail Runner
Express began serving commuters between Albuquerque and Bernalillo.
Today, the 50-mile corridor between Bernalillo and Belen averages
3,000 commuters daily and has seen more than 1.3 million riders in
the last two years. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is part of
Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership, a $1.6 billion
transportation and infrastructure initiative that is improving
highways in New Mexico,
creating new modes of transportation like the commuter rail and
creating high-wage jobs.
Contacts:
- Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov
- S.U. Mahesh, NM Department of Transportation (505) 490-0976
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