The Rail Runner track that may cost NM big money

From Capitol Report New Mexico - You’ve heard of the “Bridge to Nowhere” in Alaska. Now, there’s fear New Mexico may have bought the “Railroad Track to Nowhere.” Members of the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) are alarmed to hear that the Department of Transportation has already spent $5 million on nearly 200 miles of track that has no plans for being used. And on top of that, the track — which was purchased from from BNSF Railway Company between Lamy and the Colorado border — could put the state on the hook for $6 million a year in maintenance because of 10 potential environmental “hotspots” along the line. The 200-mile stretch was bought in the hopes of extending the Rail Runner into northern New Mexico some time in the future. Department of Transportation officials spoke to members of the LFC Monday (Dec. 6) and, according to the Albuquerque Journal, the DOT rail manager admitted that “we have just started to do an environmental analysis,” which led LFC members to ask why the analysis wasn’t done before the purchase. Read more

The Rail Runner track that may cost NM big money