NM House OKs cost-sharing funding for Amtrak route
A bill approved by the New Mexico House would use oil and gas revenue to pay the state’s share of costs to keep Amtrak’s Southwest Chief on its current route.
The House’s vote Monday sends the bill to the Senate where its fate is uncertain.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the bill authorizes the issuance of bonds to raise up to $40 million between 2016 and 2025.
That’s intended to cover New Mexico’s portion of a proposed agreement with Colorado and Kansas to pay for track work to keep the Southwest Chief on its present route.
Amtrak has warned that the route might change if the passenger train operator can’t reach a new deal with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, which owns the track involved.
