On Tuesday, I shared my opinion that a commuter rail between Las Cruces and El Paso makes sense, but spending more than a billion dollars on a line that would connect Las Cruces with the current end of the Rail Runner Express in Belen does not.
On Wednesday, a number of southern New Mexicans told Gov. Bill Richardson they prefer a Las Cruces-El Paso line to a Las Cruces-Belen line. (From Belen, people can already ride the commuter train to Albuquerque and Santa Fe.)
That came at Richardson’s town-hall meeting in Las Cruces, where he was soliciting opinions on how to best spend federal stimulus money in Doña Ana County. Richardson announced tens of millions of dollars already approved for the widening of Interstate 10 between Las Cruces and El Paso and a number of other projects related to roads, bus shelters, airport upgrades, schools, water systems and other projects.
There’s more cash available, and the governor is traveling the state to solicit input into how to spend it. While Richardson said he’s most interested in regional projects related to expanding broadband and green energy transmission lines, he listened to additional pitches from individuals representing colonias, nonprofits, local governments and others.
During the meeting, Richardson brought up the idea of extending the Rail Runner to Las Cruces, but said he had heard that some were instead pushing for a separate line from Las Cruces to El Paso. U.S. Reps. Harry Teague of New Mexico and Silvestre Reyes of Texas have introduced legislation that would fund two feasibility studies — one of extending the Rail Runner from Belen to Las Cruces and the other of building a line from Las Cruces to El Paso.
So Richardson asked at Wednesday’s meeting which proposal local residents preferred. A few raised their hands when he asked if they preferred a Las Cruces-Belen line, but the overwhelming majority of the dozens in attendance raised their hands when asked who preferred the Las Cruces-El Paso line.
Several said they wanted both lines.
Aquatic center funding
One other noteworthy topic came up at the meeting. State Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, asked Richardson when he’s going to come up with the rest of the money he promised for the planned Las Cruces aquatic center. Richardson originally pledged $10 million for the recreation facility but has only given $5 million, which has caused some local controversy.
“I know you promised us quite a bit, and you haven’t quite come through,” Garcia said to the governor.
Richardson said he didn’t believe the stimulus money could be spent on that project.
“I committed to do that, so I will do it. I don’t know if I can do it with stimulus. We’ll give it another shot during the session,” Richardson said.