Lawmakers seek funds to save Southwest Chief route
SantaFeNewMexican.com | 1 comment
Shrinking revenues may leave no room in the state budget for improvements and upkeep of the tracks along Amtrak’s Southwest Chief passenger train route through Northern New Mexico.
Neither the budget recommended by the Governor’s Office nor that of the Legislative Finance Committee seeks money for the project’s estimated cost of $4 million a year over the next decade, even as the deadline looms to commit funding or face the possibility of losing the route.
Instead of seeking general fund money — the most certain source of funding for such a long-term project — lawmakers are turning to alternative and chancier sources in hopes of keeping the Southwest Chief on its current route, which includes New Mexico stops in Raton, Las Vegas and Lamy.
Under this approach, the fate of the historic route rests primarily with Gov. Susana Martinez and the federal government, according to lawmakers.
Read more here: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/lawmakers-seek-funds-to-save-southwest-chief-route/article_556e0365-328b-54b3-9f96-f9cf837600d0.html