Grants to help build new Albuquerque Rail Runner Station, study service
Written by jrood
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said that the City of Albuquerque has been awarded a $6.72-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city will use the funding to construct a Rail Runner station on Montaño between 2nd Street and Edith Blvd.
In addition to the rail
platform, the station will provide park and ride spaces, pedestrian and bicycle
connections and bus facilities for ABQ Ride and Rio Metro buses.
"This funding is an
important investment in Albuquerque’s public transit system," Bingaman
said. "The new Rail Runner station will help increase bus and rail
access to city residents."
Bingaman also said that
the state of New Mexico has been awarded a $1.23-million grant to help expand
commercial rail service to the Southern part of the state. Funding was awarded
through the Economic Development Administration and will be used to conduct a study to help determine the
feasibility of a bi-national railway bypass from south of Juárez, Mexico, to
Santa Teresa in Doña Ana County. The bypass would aide in international trade
with Mexico and New Mexico by eliminating the current rail congestion between
Juárez and El Paso, Texas. The study will focus on environmental, engineering
and financial feasibility as well as impacts on security, timing and
international trade.
"Expanding commercial
rail access in Santa Teresa would help increase international trade with Mexico
and boost economic development in the region," Bingaman said.
