I am not totally against the train project, although the cost is certainly significant.
If the train were running fully loaded, does anyone know what that number would be over a one year time period?
Mike | 05.29.07 - 11:07 am | #

Don't worry Mario, Bush's Big Oil buddies have not finished taking profits yet. When the price of gas gets high enough, people will be forced to use public transport.
qofdisks | 05.29.07 - 12:04 pm | #

The state can't find the $220 million it takes to properly fix the I-25/Paseo problem, which handles 100,000+ per day, but they can find $400 million it takes for maybe 1000 to 2000 people per day going to Santa Fe. What's wrong here?
Dave | 05.29.07 - 3:59 pm | #

I was on the House Floor when the train was first proposed and passed. The basic questions could not be answered such as what is the operational and maintenance cost, how many project riders etc. The cost is not $400 Million it is far more. It is projected that the upgrade of the line to handle passengers is $400 Million. However, according to the sales contract and the mutual users agreements the State of NM is the primary insurer and must keep in place a $200,000,000 bond and if a BNSF train injures a bystander it is the State’s responsibility. BNSF must approve the state’s operational and maintenance budget each year for the rail lines and if BNSF should cause any “Capital Damage” then it is up to the State to pay for the repairs they cannot be held liable. In addition, the State by phase 4 of the purchase agreement must put in a multimillion-dollar dispatch capability or hirer BNSF to provide that service. I have read all 112 pages of the purchase agreement and mutual users agreements and here I have just scratched the surface of what those documents contained. A reminder if we have an economic down turn, as we will at sometime in the future, the only place that we can make up a large budgetary shortfall in the short run is to take it away for education. K-12 education comprises 47% of the total State Budget and Higher education comprises around 13% of the total State Budget. Have fun with your train you all.
Rory Ogle | 05.29.07 - 4:44 pm | #

After the guv's performance on Meet the Press on Sunday, we will probably have him here in New Mexico for thr remainder of his term. What other boondoggles will he come up with?
Bruce
Bruce Larsen | 05.29.07 - 5:34 pm | #

Mario; of those 360,000 riders since July 2006, how many of those rode for free at the very beginning?
Joel | 05.30.07 - 6:21 am | #

choo-choo
frank garcia | 05.30.07 - 1:55 pm | #