A HOUSE MEMORIAL THAT COULD LEAD TO THE STATE SELLING THE RAIL RUNNER COMMUTER TRAIN PASSES UNANIMOUSLY IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. IT’S FROM STATE REP BILL REHM, WHO TELLS 770 KKOB THE COMMUTER TRAIN COSTS THE STATE TOO MUCH.
HE SAYS THE STATE SPENDS 43 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON THE RAIL RUNNER. HE SAYS IT COSTS ABOUT 2-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE RAILS, WITH BNSF PAYING THE STATE JUST UNDER 2-MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR. HE SAYS RIDER FARES COME TO JUST OVER 3-MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
REHM ALSO SAYS THERE ARE NO SAVINGS SO FAR FOR THE 110 MILLION DOLLAR BALLOON PAYMENTS DUE IN BOTH 2025 AND 2026. HE HOPES TO CONVINCE THE STATE TO SELL THE COMMUTER TRAIN … JUST AS IT DID WITH BILL RICHARDSON’S JET AND IS TRYING TO DO WITH THE SPACEPORT.
