THE NEW MEXICO RAIL RUNNER , LIKE MOST RAILROADS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WON’T BE ABLE TO MEET AN END-OF-THE-YEAR DEADLINE TO INSTALL NEW, EXPENSIVE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY. STATE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DEPUTY SECRETARY LOREN HATCH ADMITS THAT COULD MEAN PENALTIES. HE SAYS THAT WOULD JUST WEAKEN THE DEPARTMENT’S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL, UNFUNDED MANDATE.
HATCH SAYS IT’S ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST 50-MILLION DOLLARS TO INSTALL “POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL,” WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRASHES. BUT HE SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY WOULD NOT ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE RAIL RUNNER.
