Choo Choo Choose Me

Checking in on Rail Runner

By Alan Kleinfeld, 11-16-05

	Rail Runner looks cool, inside and out. Photos by Alan Kleinfeld

Hang on to your chile rellenos, folks. Albuquerque is about to get a metropolitan experience in a big way. Well, almost.

Finally, the first phase of a commuter rail that has been the center of discussion and debate for decades is about to take off. Literally. With an expected inauguration to take place in early 2006, commuters will soon be gliding on tracks, going from Belen to Bernalillo, with more than a half dozen stops in between and will run on existing tracks currently owned by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Governor Richardson has pushed hard for such transit and charged the Mid-Region Council of Governments to make it a reality. From all signs, it appears they’ve done an outstanding job. Soon the 46 miles between Belen and Bernalillo with be alive with the click-clack of train cars and the good citizens of New Mexico. A second phase going to Santa Fe is expected to be completed by 2008. View more info at its website.

Each of the 10 passenger cars hold about 140 passengers and each of the five locomotives travel at speeds around 110 mph, but will most often go about 55 to 60 mph. The cars have seating on two-levels, with the top deck offering great views of our landscape as it rolls up and down the Rio Grande Valley. If you’re a bike rider or in a wheelchair, then get on aboard. The passenger cars come equipped for both. All riders will appreciate the large, ADA-compliant restrooms.

Initially, it will be a trial run. It won’t start off perfect, but it’s an adult step after too many years of childish debate. Along the way plan for some bumps and bruises that may require a temporary Band-Aid. But in the end, Albuquerque will have a first class train system and everyone who lives here will be wise to take advantage and hop on board when possible. If nothing else, it looks really cool.

It’s the beginning of something better for our region when something like the Rail Runner comes to fruition. Not only does it improve our image as first-rate place to visit, but the Rail Runner has the potential to save residents money on gasoline, auto insurance, car maintenance and even reduce the number of auto accidents. To say nothing of how it may make the brown cloud over Albuquerque less brown. For those who can’t or won’t drive or don’t have a car, the Rail Runner may provide just the right solution. ANd wherever mass transit rolls into town, economic development follows. Note the sudden interest in previously deserted lands near rail stops in the South Valley.

Fares to ride the Rail Runner haven’t been established, but MRCOG conducted a survey of area residents and a fee schedule is expected by the end of 2005. Other plans include parking lots at each station, with most eventually having some type of shuttle service available to various destinations. The “Metro Center� of the Rail Runner is Albuquerque, with the Downtown stop located at the Alvarado Transportation Center, the hub of ABQRide’s transportation service, including Rapid Ride.

This ambitious and needed journey will have a price tag of about $75 million to complete phase one of the Rail Runner and, according to the Mid-Region Web site, “Governor Richardson’s Improvement Partnership (GRIP) legislation passed in the fall of 2003 provides funds for planning, capital purchases, and track improvements. Eventually, a combination of federal, state, and local funds as well as passenger fares will be used.� For comparison, the new interchange at Coors and I-40, which covers just that one part of town, costs nearly $100 million.

Early on, New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Mid-Region Council on Governments began to build its knowledge base on commuter rails. “We looked at Altamonte Commuter Express that runs from Stockton to San Jose, California. It starts in a fairly rural area and runs for about 85 miles and we thought that it was a good proxy for some of our conditions here,� said Chris Blewett, MRCOG Director of Transportation and Planning Services and Commuter Rail Project Manager. Similarly, the team also looked at Trinity Rail Express that runs between Dallas and Forth Worth.

The Rail Runner stations include Belen, Los Lunas, Isleta Pueblo, Rio Bravo/Albuquerque Airport, Downtown Albuquerque, Paseo/Journal Center, Sandia Pueblo, Town of Bernalillo and Sandoval County/U.S. 550. There’s additional talk about adding a temporary station for the Rail Runner during the Balloon Fiesta.

When it’s up and running and the wrinkles have been ironed out, we’ll have the beginnings of a fine commuter system. Perhaps in five, 10, 20 years the train system will be old hat, something that we can take for granted, along with a light rail system throughout the city. We’ll know then that we’ll be the envy of all the small big cities around.

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