CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY THIRD COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-18-54 ENACTMENT NO. ____________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
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Supporting the Continuation of Service on the Current Route of Amtrak's Southwest Chief by Rail through Northern New Mexico on its Present Route Alignment, and Supporting Federal Funding in Support of Maintenance and Safety Improvements along the Route (Benton)
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SUPPORTING THE CONTINUATION OF SERVICE ON THE CURRENT ROUTE OF AMTRAK'S SOUTHWEST CHIEF BY RAIL THROUGH NORTHERN NEW MEXICO ON ITS PRESENT ROUTE ALIGNMENT, AND SUPPORTING FEDERAL FUNDING IN SUPPORT OF MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE ROUTE.
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 and Albuquerque, through employment, procurement, contracts, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, Amtrak provides a transportation link to the residents of northern New Mexico that provides an alternative to driving and flying; and
WHEREAS, the Southwest Chief carries passengers through scenic landscapes not visible from highways and provides a highly energy-efficient, safe 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 2017, passengers boarded and alighted from the Southwest Chief in New Mexico at Albuquerque, Lamy, Las Vegas and Raton more than one hundred four thousand times; and
WHEREAS,...
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