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Group Pushing for More Funding for Local Transit

Posted on: Sunday, 15 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By Julie Ann Grimm, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Jan. 15--Amid planning for a commuter rail between Santa Fe and Albuquerque and even a future space-vehicle launch site in Southern New Mexico, the New Mexico Passenger Transportation Association is asking the state Legislature to pay more attention to locallevel public transportation.

Jack Valencia, executive director of the statewide group that represents 87 city bus systems, rural van-pool providers and ride programs for the elderly and disabled, says with a $5 million yearly commitment, the state could take advantage of $116 million in federal money over the next five years.

The cash could enhance access to state commuter services and put public transportation in places such as San Felipe and Santo Domingo pueblos, which don't have it now. The money also could help larger systems such as Santa Fe Trails offer more routes, he said.

Federal transportation officials increased the money available to New Mexico local services by 103 percent over what was available during the last six-year period, Valencia said. But those funds require local governments from Santa Fe to Hobbs to come up with matches of 20 percent.

If cities or counties don't have enough money, the grant from the feds won't be delivered. About $10 million that was appropriated six years ago has not been used because local governments can't provide the match, Valencia said.

The association's communications director, Samantha Johnson, said while the group supports the commuter Railrunner project and other big-ticket programs the state Department of Transportation has undertaken since it shifted its focus from highways to other modes of transportation, the state transit fund would help more New Mexicans.

"Park and Ride and railroad have been fully invested in by the state, and those only serve metro areas and mostly upper-middle-class people who are commuters. They are not necessarily helping people who need a ride to the doctor, and they are not helping rural areas," Johnson said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Santa Fe New Mexican

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Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

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