NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ARE RIDING THE RAIL RUNNER THESE DAYS. PASSENGER NUMBERS FELL BY ALMOST SIX PERCENT IN THE PAST YEAR…AND THERE’S BEEN A 36 PERCENT DECLINE SINCE 2010. RAIL RUNNER SPOKESPERSON AUGUSTA MEYERS SAYS MUCH OF THE DECLINE IS TIED TO THE RELATIVELY LOW GAS PRICES WE’VE BEEN SEEING. SHE SAYS IT’S LESS EXPENSIVE TO DRIVE THESE DAYS.
NEXT TUESDAY, VOTERS IN FOUR NORTHERN NEW MEXICO COUNTIES WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE RAIL RUNNER THROUGH A GROSS RECEIPTS TAX, WHICH RAISES ABOUT 2-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE COMMUTER TRAIN.
