Governor Bill Richardson Celebrates Inaugural Train Ride into Santa Fe
Press Release
Governor Bill Richardson Celebrates Inaugural Train Ride into Santa Fe
Governor Bill Richardson was joined today by state, local and tribal officials,
along with several hundred members of the public for the historic, inaugural ride into Santa Fe on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.
"This is a truly historic day for New Mexico - after almost six years of planning, promoting, and hard work, I am very proud Santa Fe," said Governor Richardson. "The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is a long-term
investment in New Mexico, our people, our communities and in our transportation system that will pay growing dividends well into the future."
Two trains made the nearly 100-mile journey starting in Belen this morning, working their way into the state's capitol. Both trains stopped at the two new "City Different" stops, first at the South Capitol Complex, where several thousand state employees work, and finally at the Santa Fe Depot at the multimillion-dollar Railyard development.
"With the Rail Runner we have successfully and seamlessly connected communities from Belen to the City Different. We are creating new opportunities and injecting new life into the towns, cities, and pueblos along the way," Governor Richardson said.
"This truly is a day for the history books," said Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught.
"During the last two years, we've taken thousands of vehicles off the road, decreased highway maintenance, reduced wear and tear on commuters' vehicles and put some much needed money back into New Mexican's pockets. Now, with the train's arrival in Santa Fe, these benefits are
only going to spread."
The inaugural run into the Capitol was the culmination of a year-and-a-half construction effort of the Santa Fe extension project, which will provide service to an estimated 4,500 commuters.
Service is scheduled to officially begin on Wednesday, December 17th and will be free to Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico counties until March 2009.
"Over the last five years, upon the approval of Governor Richardson's Investment Partnership, the State Transportation Commissionalong with Secretary Faught, Lawrence Rael with the Mid-Region Council of Governments, and the entire Transportation Departmenthave been
working tirelessly to make this train a reality, and today it is," said Transportation Commission Chair Johnny Cope.
"This project represents an investment in the future of New Mexico," MRCOG Executive Director Lawrence Rael said. "New Mexico will benefit from the courage and foresight of Governor Richardson and the legislators who made this project possible. 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, runs on zone-based fares, with a roundtrip fare from downtown Albuquerque to downtown Santa Fe costing $8. The Mid-Region Council of Governments will also offer free rides each weekend until January 3-4.
In addition, the Department of Cultural Affairs will offer free admission to participating state museums and monuments to Rail Runner passengers. For more information visit 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.
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