Commuter railcars on the way

Albuquerque Tribune

By Erik Siemers

October 13, 2004

Gov. Bill Richardson today announced a $23 million agreement to buy 10 commuter railcars scheduled to run from Belen to Bernalillo by fall 2005.

The deal with Bombardier, based in Montreal, was announced as the governor detailed his plans to ease transportation woes on Albuquerque's West Side.

The railcars will be purchased with money already secured for the governor's transportation initiatives.

Richardson said commuter rail and other multimodal transportation options are a key part of the his West Side plans.

To pair with the commuter rail system, Sandoval County Commission Chairman Daymon Ely on Tuesday announced to create a shuttle bus system through Rio Rancho. Buses would run along N.M. 528 between the town of Bernalillo and a commuter rail stop that could be near Paseo del Norte, Ely said.

A more detailed proposal, including the cost, will come in November, Ely said, noting it would be paid for with proceeds from a deal to provide industrial revenue bonds to Intel.