CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY THIRD COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-18-105 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Cynthia D. Borrego, Isaac Benton
RESOLUTION
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Urging The Newly Elected Honorable Governor Of New Mexico And The New Mexico State Legislature To Petition The United States Congress To Re-Authorize The Rail Passenger Services Act With Amendments Addressing Discontinuing, Modifying Or Suspending Services (Borrego, Benton)
body
URGING THE NEWLY ELECTED HONORABLE GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO AND THE NEW MEXICO STATE LEGISLATURE TO PETITION THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO RE-AUTHORIZE THE RAIL PASSENGER SERVICES ACT WITH AMENDMENTS ADDRESSING DISCONTINUING, MODIFYING OR SUSPENDING SERVICES.
WHEREAS, the National Rail Passenger Act of 1970 established the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, a public corporation, to provide a basic national system of intercity passenger trains; and
WHEREAS, this public stock corporation compliant with the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act, has filed its Articles of Incorporation, and has adopted By Laws governing the Corporation’s operation; and
WHEREAS, some of the Corporation’s Board of Directors are appointed by the President of the United States and others are elected by shareholders; and
WHEREAS, the Congress will reauthorize those and other features of the National Rail Passenger Act in 2019 with new amendments for a six-year period; and
WHEREAS, reauthorization is an opportunity to address matters important to the States and the traveling public currently having little opportunity to advance their views on matters important to them; and
WHEREAS, the existing statutes do not provide for early consultation with State governments and the traveling public living in the States if and when the Corporation proposes a Major Service Change; and
WHEREAS, there are currently no orderly processes specified by statute to resolve issues affecting consumers, governments and the public; and
WHEREAS, the processes and orderly procedures herein recommended to be established will assure predictability, transparency, and accountability in service decisions.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The City of Albuquerque urges the New Mexico State Legislature and the Governor of New Mexico to petition the United States Congress to support Reauthorization, and establish a process and orderly procedures available to the States if the National Railroad Passenger Corporation proposes Discontinuing, Modification, or Suspension of rail passenger services in or through a State.
Section 2. That the City Clerk send a letter and an email with a copy of this resolution to our newly elected Honorable Governor of New Mexico and to each member of our state legislative delegation.
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