Posted on 05/31/2007 11:34:12 AM PDT by CedarDave
From the start, Gov. Bill Richardson's administration has had the Rail Runner Express commuter train on a fast track. And part of the $400-million project's full head of steam was the $75 million New Mexico taxpayers were told Uncle Sam was expected to chip in.
But it now appears that infusion of federal cash is unlikely. The state Department of Transportation and Mid-Region Council of Governments don't even plan to apply for the federal money, deeming the application process "slow and arduous"— and weighted against projects like the Rail Runner.
It would, they said, have imposed an unacceptable delay and we probably would have been turned down anyhow.
~~ snip ~~
And Lawrence Rael, executive director of MRCOG, says therein lies the problem for this project. He says it's biased toward big-city projects. Those likely deal with big-time congestion and move lots of people. Looking at it another way, the feds appear to be applying a cost-benefit analysis: how many people get moved for the money and how much it unclogs the roads.
The backup plan is to ask New Mexico's congressional delegation to push through a direct $75 million appropriation. One that wouldn't have to deal with troublesome details like proving it's a cost-effective way to move lots of people.
The response from Domenici's office: that kind of money isn't likely in the current federal fiscal picture. Rael argues against postponing the Santa Fe leg of the project until the federal grant money is sorted out. Fine. But let lawmakers and taxpayers know that if they want the Santa Fe leg of the Rail Runner fast-tracked, they probably need to open up their wallets.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
It was pretty obvious from the beginning to astute observers or just those who know how government operates in general and NM in particlular, that the local taxpayers would have to pony up with the cash to complete the project. Plus, of course, additional local money to keep it operating after the initial couple of years of 100% state funding.
For the history of this boondoggle, checkout the keyword, Richardson's Railroad.
Ping!
This sounds like a chapter out of Atlas Shrugged!..........
Richardson Railroads Taxpayers (New Mexico)
Read the full version at the link to NRO.
Too Funny
Uncle Sugar didn’t come through for Bill.
Of course the whiners complain about the ice and snow in the winter or the drunks on weekends (when the train doesn’t run), but a freight derailment or some drunk hit by the train down by the pueblos will stop it just as sure as wrecks/DUI’s do autos.
As mentioned above and in yesterday’s posts, the state DOT has ignored I-25 for all these many years, most especially the section from Tramway to Bernalillo which is badly in need of a redo from two to three lanes, straighting, and general upgrade to today’s safety standards. Taking a few hundred passengers per train off the road during rush hour is really not going to improve the situation for the remainder.
Dave, I got a kick out of Domenici’s stating that things have changed as far as NM pork goes....wonder what King Bill’s reaction was to that? His buddies are now in control of the purse strings, are they not?
I went to a round table political lunch to day. I thought you all might be interested in the general feeling. Everybody there felt that you can put a fork in Richardson because he is done after his very poor showing with Tim Russert on Sunday. Speculation is that he will be out of money by September and that his ability to raise money will dry up. In addition, the general consensus is that because of his poor showing he has lost the possibility for a VP nod and a Cabinet appointment.
That seemed to be the consensus on the Sunday Morning Talk Show thread also....poor Bill....guess he'll just have to settle for being "High, Holy Potentate of Nuevo Mejico" for a while longer. He IS term limited isn't he?
He sure is unless he can get a constitutional amendment through the Legislature and in front of the people next year to do away with that little bit of annoyance. However, that would be great for the Republicans if he tried that.
Thanks for the pings.
What can I say that hasn’t been said? And that we didn’t expect when this whole stupid project of his started?
What shall get interesting is if King Bill has to drop out of the Prez race he might find that he will not have the support that he has had in the Legislature. If that happens this little project may come to a halt.
You could say that Billy Boy loves his little trains that go “tooty-toot” and his shiny new airplane, too. ;)
Just had to say that, huh? What about the Indians...uh...I mean Native Americans,
S'pose you talk Navajo, too, huh? ;)
Unlikely, though if King Bill is dethroned nationally, they may slow it down to give road work in other areas of the state a chance to advance. Ground is supposed to be broken late this summer for the grade up the east side of La Bajada hill, so I don't see it being stopped before the legislature meets. However, I would love to see it stopped as a concrete monument to faulty state planning and excessive soaking of all the state taxpayers to benefit the Santa Fe elites, political and otherwise.
“The response from Domenici’s office: that kind of money isn’t likely in the current federal fiscal picture.”
But then again, If they wanted to put an Emergency Peanut Storage facility next to the track, I’m SURE Pelosi can find an extra 100 mil or two....
Further, the December 2008 startup date will move forward to early 2010 or later. The end of 2010 is the end of Bill’s term and I’m sure he will push to get it going by fall 2010 or his legacy, what there is of it, will be even more tarnished.
PING to the video in #19 if you have not seen it!
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