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Very nice. Did anyone read the comments? This one shows that corruption is everywhere, not just here in NM.
alta
December 31, 2008, 1:21 am Re: Open for Business: Rail Runner comes to Santa Fe
All city funds which could have been allocated to fund a quality transit system have been spent on the courthouse and illegal contracts to my best friends. We have spent $62 million on a courthouse that hasn't broken ground even though we received funding in 2001 under the Better Jacksonville Plan. We apologize that cities that are equal population or less have superior mass transit networks in place. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Great News, Just In!
The Rail Runner Train may be soon headed to Española and maybe Taos in the near future due to its popularity from people in the commuinty and surrounding areas. The idea was brought to the NMDOT from Española Mayor Joe Maestas, the mayor said it would be great, it would also solve the traffic problems between Santa Fe and Española on US Highway 285.
The wild popularity of the Rail Runner's Santa Fe extension has caused other New Mexico cities to want to hop on board. Espanola’s mayor is now pushing for an extension to his city.
Espanola's mayor says his town has always been a railroad town since the Chile Line passed through in the 1800s.
Now, he says it’s time to bring the Rail Runner through Espanola and he hopes it will help revitalizing the area's economy.
Mayor Joseph Maestas says right now is the best time to look at the issue, especially since there's still a lot of excitement about the opening of the Santa Fe extension.
Maestas says extending the line would make sense, not only because it could bring in out-of-town dollars like it has in Santa Fe, but also because of the huge commuter base between Santa Fe and Espanola.
Rail Runner officials agree. They say corridor between the two cities is very congested and they say it would benefit from some kind of rail project.
"The amount of cars going from Santa Fe to Espanola that service that area of northern New Mexico is very high, it’s probably even higher than the market between Albuquerque and Belen and we're getting great success between Albuquerque and Belen," said Lawrence Rael of the Rail Runner.
For right now, it is simply an idea and Maestas says he realizes funding would be a big issue. State leaders in Taos are also trying to launch a study to see how feasible it would be to extend the rail runner to their city.
This would certainly improve and re-build Espanola's Old Town/Downtown area.. since the East side of town is the Business Central now..
Espanola is also currently in the very early planning stages a huge river walk along the Rio Grande River that runs threw Espanola, It would include dozens of shops and restaurants and other Businesses (It is still in early early planning stages, I dont think anything will happen till late 2012) This also includes a couple buildings over 7+ stories and the Big rock Casino's New Hotel with a 10+ story building, this would in fact be the new downtown area of the city. Also planned in the near future a Target, Smiths, and A health foods store(not yet determined).
Rail Runner stops at Sandia Pueblo and Lobo/Isotopes games
On a recent Rail Runner trip to Santa Fe I was told by a train official that new stations at the Sandia Pueblo and a "Lobo Stop" for Lobo and Isotopes games could be completed in a few months. He said plans are completed for the Sandia stop and close to completion for the "Lobo Stop." Does anyone else have any information on this?
Opening date to be determined
The Sandia Pueblo Rail Runner station is uniquely located at the southern edge of pueblo lands near the wooded area known as “the Bosque”.
This "Lobo Stop" sounds interesting. I seem to recall a fair amount of space available at the corner of Bridge & the tracks. Perhaps what would make that train service take off even more is more "non-express" stops.
Even more important than Bridge, though, is a stop at Montaño. I'd imagine a good 50% of would-be-riders of that service tend to avoid it because it's so far to a station.
Having one at Menaul also would be a big help. The trains don't have to stop at them every time.
Let's consider this:
Santa Fe, pop. 62k, has 4 stops in place or planned.
Albuquerque, pop. 448k, has 3 stops (4 if you count the Sandia rez).
Doesn't sound very balanced to me.
Last edited by Zoidberg; 04-24-2009 at 09:52 AM..
Reason: New thought.
How many more stops can they add before the train becomes useless as a commuting tool?
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Rail Runner may soon be headed to Española.
Rail Runner stops at Sandia Pueblo and Lobo/Isotopes games
