New Mexicans who've received a federal stimulus check likely have spent it already on increased gas costs, according to a new report released by the New Mexico Public Information Research Group.

The report advocates more federal funding for light rail, buses and other public transportation.

The standard stimulus rebate check for American families who file jointly and have a child is $1,500. As of this week, the average family household will have spent over $1,500 at the gas pump since Feb. 13 when the tax rebate act was signed into law, according to New Mexico PIRG.

Gas prices around New Mexico are hovering between $3.90 and $4.09 a gallon. New Mexico PIRG said the jump in gas prices has gobbled up most people's stimulus checks.

On the good side, public transit ridership in both Santa Fe and Albuquerque has risen as steadily as the gas prices in the last few months.

New Mexico PIRG analyzed how Albuquerque, the state's largest metropolitan area, compared with cities that have similar-size transit systems. Albuquerque public transit riders saved 400,000 gallons by taking the bus or train in 2006, the equivalent of $1.6 million at today's gas prices, according to New Mexico PIRG. Still, Albuquerque ranked 24th out of 25 cities for cost effectiveness, measured as the amount of money spent per passenger mile. It ranked 15th out of 25 in total annual ridership, behind the Texas cities of Corpus Christi, Austin and El Paso, and Tucson, Ariz.

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider the Saving Energy Through Transportation Act, which authorizes close to $2 billion for public transit agencies to reduce fares and expand services. If the bill is approved, over the next two years, it would give Santa Fe $350,798, the Albuquerque metropolitan area $2,937,962, Farmington $199,962, Las Cruces $437,486, and statewide rural formula funds $3,344,844.

Meanwhile, Santa Fe city and county are debating whether to participate in the North Central Regional Transit District, which provides bus service to Northern New Mexico.

New Mexico PIRG is a group of consumers, researchers and advocates working on health, education and environmental issues affecting the state's residents. It is part of a national coalition of public interest research groups. The organization receives 70 percent of its funding from individual contributors and 30 percent from foundations.