Rail Runner Express: Governor backs creation of regional transit district
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1/17/2008 - 1/18/08
Local governments would have more control over Rail Runner Express Commuter trains and could choose to pay for the service through new taxes from area residents if an emerging idea gains traction.In a state public-policy shift, the New Mexico Transportation Commission and the Governor's Office are encouraging formation of a regional transit district in the four counties that already have or soon will have commuter train service. Last year, Gov. Bill Richardson shot down the idea, but he issued a statement Thursday supporting it.
Trains began carrying passengers in Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties in 2006, and are on schedule to start service to Santa Fe late this year.
To date, the state has used mostly federal grant money to pay for train operations — which are not included in the planned $400 million capital investment to build tracks, buy locomotives and railroad cars, and establish service. But debate has been hot about the source of continued operating funds of up to $20 million per year when the service is fully running.
The six-member statewide commission sent a letter to the governor this week encouraging establishment of the new transit district, which would let participating counties first elect to be involved, then ask voters to approve up to a 1/2 percent gross-receipts tax to pay for services.
A key factor in the commission's recommendation was feedback from rural communities that are not slated to receive train service, said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the state's Albuquerque-area government consortium, the Mid-Region Council of Governments.
"Rural areas were concerned that they didn't want to pay for the train because it would not benefit them. That's been an area of conflict that has been around for a while," he said.
Rael said creation of a new regional transit district would not necessarily shift the burden of operational funding from the state to local governments.
"From my perspective, this is a great project that since its inception has been a state project," he said. "(The regional transit district plan) is an opportunity to have a funding source for it, and quite frankly, all transportation systems are paid for by the citizens one way or another. If this money was carved out of the road fund, the citizens would be paying for it as well."
Rael said more important than the possible funding ramifications is that a train transit district would let local governments better coordinate linking of train and bus service as well as change the train service in ways that would be meaningful on a local level, such as by determining fares and scheduling.
Such a new transit district would overlap with existing districts that are in fledgling stages. For instance, the North Central Regional Transit District, which includes Santa Fe city and county, has launched a regional bus service but has not sought to impose a tax.
The district's director, Josette Lucero, said it has not been approached about how it could potentially interact with a new district governing the train service. "Hopefully, in the end, there can be some kind of cooperation, and obviously, they want to create the (regional transit district) to establish funding for the train. It would be up to the voters if they want to pay for funding for the rail and buses."
Santa Fe County would be involved in two regional transit districts if it participated in the proposed new district. Since commissioners have recently debated the value of their membership in the first district, it's unclear what direction they would move in.
County Commissioner Michael Anaya, who represents the county on the North Central District, was unavailable for comment Thursday night.
According to the 2003 and 2004 state laws that allow the districts, the counties involved must seek certification by the Transportation Department as to composition and purpose of the district, Lucero said. No separate legislation creating each district is required, but counties must participate voluntarily.
The state has been less than forthcoming about its plans and proposals to pay for continued operation of the Rail Runner, and Thursday's news represents a change of course. Last year, Transportation Department Secretary Rhonda Faught said she would seek a tax to fund the operations but changed course when it became clear the governor did not support that idea.
Additional federal funding also has been floated as a possible source for the early months of the Santa Fe-to-Albuquerque service, though not as a long-term solution.
Department spokesman S.U. Mahesh said late Thursday that he did not know whether the department's budget request for fiscal 2009, which begins July 1, included operating funds for the train. "We are working with the Governor's Office on the operational issues of the Rail Runner, and once we have something concrete, we will let you know," he said.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish issued a statement Thursday in support of a new transit district. "We've recently seen startup Regional Transit Districts in other parts of the state," she said, "and they are helping to relieve congestion and allow people to travel more freely. The Rail Runner is a premier transit system that deserves the support of the citizens most likely to take advantage of it."
Later, Richardson's office issued a similar statement, saying the governor approved of the idea because of a "compelling argument that there is strong public support for these districts."
Contact Julie Ann Grimm at 986-3017 or jgrimm@sfnewmexican.com.
