The town of Taos is on the brink of cranking up a shuttle service that will connect with the Rail Runner commuter train in Santa Fe.

Poor economic times breed innovation, and travelers to and from Taos will be the beneficiaries of this latest idea from town staff. Pending a Thursday meeting with Rail Runner officials, the plan appears ready to launch in June.

Here's how it will work:

* The town will subsidize, to the tune of $37,000, a 15-person van to run nonstop round trips on Thursday evenings, Saturday mornings and evenings, and Monday morning.

* Riders will pay for the trip, estimated to cost anywhere from $5 to $8 for a round trip.

* Scheduling will coincide with Rail Runner arrivals from and departures to Albuquerque at the Railyard in Santa Fe.

Officials hope to piggyback their marketing campaign on the new transit option. Vans will be "wrapped" with Taos-esque photos, and they will be visible while parked in Santa Fe — perhaps even having the driver hand out Taos brochures.

In addition, the town hopes to climb aboard the Rail Runner's Web site to "become part of their marketing," according to Cathy Connelly, the town's public-information officer.

The town's elected officials appear all for the idea. "Since the chances of getting the Rail Runner itself to Taos seem impossible to none, we think this idea will bring more people to Taos," said Mayor Darren Córdova.