CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTIETH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-13-153 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
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Supporting The Continuation Of The Current Route Of Amtrak's Southwest Chief Through Northern New Mexico And Calling On The Metro Region’s State Legislative Delegation, The Governor, And The New Mexico Congressional Delegation To Support The Continued Operation Of The Southwest Chief On Its Present Route Alignment (Benton)
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SUPPORTING THE CONTINUATION OF THE CURRENT ROUTE OF AMTRAK'S SOUTHWEST CHIEF THROUGH NORTHERN NEW MEXICO AND CALLING ON THE METRO REGION’S STATE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, THE GOVERNOR, AND THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE SOUTHWEST CHIEF ON ITS PRESENT ROUTE ALIGNMENT.
WHEREAS, Amtrak, the national railroad passenger corporation, a federally chartered corporation, provides train service to millions of Americans each year and operates two long-distance routes through New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief serves New Mexico through its daily Chicago-Los Angeles route; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief and its famous predecessors have served this route since the late 1880’s; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief is a key economic contributor to northern New Mexico, including Albuquerque, through employment, procurement, contracts, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak provides a transportation link to the residents of northern New Mexico that is of growing importance as rising energy prices reduce the attractiveness of driving and flying; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief carries passengers through scenic landscapes not visible from highways and provides an energy-efficient form of transportation; and
WHEREAS, many New Mexico residents who ride the Southwest Chief depend on it as the only form of public transportation between Raton and Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, in federal fiscal year 2012, passengers boarded and a...
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