Gov. Signs, Celebrates $75M Rail Deal

By Jeff Jones

Journal Politics Writer

Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday signed a $75 million deal with railroad giant BNSF Railway for New Mexico's purchase of about 300 miles of rail line between Belen and Trinidad, Colo.

"Step by step, mile by mile, we're moving toward the launch of my commuter service," Richardson said in Albuquerque, standing beside the sparkling silver locomotive No. 102 of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express.

The first check to BNSF is due in January, when the state hands over $50 million for the rails between Belen and Bernalillo. It is line needed to start the first phase of the Rail Runner.

The state will pay another $20 million in 2007 for the line between Bernalillo and Lamy, south of Santa Fe— another leg needed by planners to ultimately get the Rail Runner into Santa Fe.

State Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught said the final $5 million payment will come in 2008 for the 200 miles of line between Lamy and Colorado.

The state also recently paid BNSF another $1 million for a 13-acre chunk of land near Lead and Coal SE in Albuquerque, where a Rail Runner maintenance yard is to be built.

Although the 200 miles of rail north of Santa Fe isn't needed for the commuter line, Faught said BNSF wanted to sell the entire, 300-mile chunk of line from Belen to Trinidad as a "package deal."

"It was a $75 million deal, anyway you look at it," Faught said. "We were able to get the additional 200 miles of track as part of the deal."

A $1.6 billion transportation program called Governor Richardson's Investment Partnership, approved by the Legislature in 2003, will pay for most of the train-line purchase.

The GRIP program is running short on money due to rising transportation project construction costs. Faught has insisted the train-line costs are not the reason for the shortfall.

Faught on Monday said the state has decided against using any GRIP money for the final $5 million payment for the line between Lamy and Colorado and will instead seek federal transportation money to pick up that tab.

State Transportation Commission Chairman Johnny Cope vowed during Monday's signing ceremony that all GRIP road projects will get built.

"This is one heck of a deal," Faught said of the rail purchase at the ceremony.

Richardson in 2003 unveiled his plans for a commuter train that planners say will ultimately link Belen, Albuquerque, Santa Fe and points in between.

The locomotives and passenger cars have already been purchased, and the first portion of the system— a commute between Albuquerque and Bernalillo— is planned to begin service early next year. Service to Los Lunas and Belen is expected by March, and planners hope to get a train into Santa Fe sometime in 2008.

Monday's ceremony was a celebration. With one of the new locomotives rumbling on the tracks not far away, dignitaries ate ribs and quesadillas and sipped coffee inside a large, heated tent with red carpeting.

State ownership of the line north of Santa Fe could one day help allow Las Vegas, N.M., to begin a commuter line into Santa Fe, rail planners have said. They maintain it could also someday help make a proposed high-speed train linking Cheyenne, Wyo., Denver and Albuquerque a reality.

Faught said, in addition to the rail right of way, the $75 million deal also includes several rail "spurs"— side tracks that lead off the main line. She said one of those spurs runs toward the Albuquerque International Sunport, and planners have said they hope to link the Rail Runner to the airport by 2008.

Faught said that, after the track sales are complete, BNSF Railway will pay the state for the freight trains that will continue to rumble down the line.

The state will pay for the maintenance of the line. But with the revenues from commercial track users factored in, Faught said, the state should break even for upkeep of the stretch between Lamy and Colorado.