City transportation cuts decried

Most of the 50 people at Tuesday's Transit Advisory Board meeting railed against city plans to cut service by reducing bus frequencies and late-night service as of Nov. 2 to deal with a budget crunch.

Some proposed increasing senior fares and eliminating free service for those 18 younger in order to forestall further cuts.

Paulette Johnston, a regular bus rider, suggested raising the senior monthly rate to $15 from $10 and doubling the senior one-way fare to $1. As for those 18 or younger, who have been riding for free since last year, "it's not a bad idea to have them throw in a quarter," she said.

Ruth Trujillo agreed: "I don't understand why anyone under 18 should ride for free. What does that teach kids? That you don't really have to work for anything? If they get on the bus and they have a cell phone, then they can fork over at least 50 cents."

For Douglas Shaw, who said he is autistic, elimination of late service will mean he will "waste a lot of money on cab service after going home from the dance places late at night ... because I love to go dancing a lot."

Court upholds PNM rate hike

The state Supreme Court has upheld a $34 million electric rate increase for New Mexico's largest utility.

The Public Regulation Commission granted the increase for Public Service Company of New Mexico last year, but the utility appealed the order.

The utility requested a $77 million rate increase and objected that regulators had rejected costs for reclamation of coal mine sites near power plants.

The court ruled Tuesday the rate decision was reasonable.

Electric rates for all customers increased an average of slightly more than 6 percent. The actual increase varied for different types of customers, such as residential or large businesses.

Trains alter schedules for holiday events

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express plans to have trains leave Santa Fe later than usual over the coming weekend to accommodate passengers taking part in various Labor Day weekend activities.

A news release said the last train leaving Santa Fe on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will depart at 11 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m.

Weekend events include the New Mexico Wine Festival in Bernalillo, the kickoff of Santa Fe's 400th anniversary celebration and "activities at the Santa Fe Opera grounds," the announcement said. Roberta Flack and Shawn Colvin headline a Friday evening concert at the opera theater.

"We want to make sure people have an opportunity to attend these popular events, and still use the train to get there and back," said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments. "This minor schedule adjustment should allow them to enjoy their events and leave the driving to someone else."

Health care vigil planned

The political action group MoveOn.org and other groups are organizing a vigil at the state Capitol today to honor local people suffering under the current health care system.

They will light candles, hold pictures and share their names and stories of being dropped from health insurance, denied treatment or buried under huge medical bills, according to a news release.

The event will also include a memorial to the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

The groups are calling for a public health insurance option.

The event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta.




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