Community Leaders Join Gov. Richardson to Support Regional Transit Ballot Initiative

To my mind, one of the most important ballot initiatives this time out is the Regional Transit Gross Receipts Tax. Voters in seven counties are being asked to raise their gross receipts tax by one-eighth cent per dollar to fund regional transportation. Passage of the tax will result in 12.5 cents in additional tax on every $100 spent on taxable goods or services.

It's one thing to talk about reducing greenhouse gases and decreasing our use of foreign oil, but this is a chance to step up to the plate and support a transportation project that will do just that. Think about the gasoline savings that will pile up when the Railrunner is one day carrying passengers from Belen to the Colorado border, and all the stops in between. Toss in expanded bus service, and more travelers than ever will be able to leave their cars at home.

The proposed tax levy will raise an estimated $26 million a year in the Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which covers Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties. A similar tax will raise $8 million a year in the North Central Regional Transit District, which covers Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos and Los Alamos counties.

In a related vein, it's been announced that community leaders will join Governor Richardson today to voice their support of the CRUISE campaign (Committee for Rail and Urban Infrastructure Systems Expansion). CRUISE supports the expansion of regional public transportation in the seven counties within the two regional transportation districts.

Norm Becker, President and CEO of NM Mutual of Albuquerque, and Ike Pino, General Manager of Rancho Viejo in Santa Fe serve as co-chairs. Dale Dekker of Dekker, Perich, Sabatini in Albuquerque serves as Treasurer. Since the formation of the steering committee a month ago, they have publicly advocated the passage of the regional transit ballot initiative by speaking to organizations and airing tv commercials. Community leaders from throughout the region will stand with the Governor to voice their support for the successful passage of the ballot initiative in the upcoming November election.

“The Governor made the impossible happen when he implemented his vision of public transportation and revolutionized our state,” Pino stated. “We are proud to have the endorsements of NM AARP and NM Association of Counties. Together, we will forge a path of progress for New Mexico that will improve traffic congestion, air quality, and economic development.”

The expansion of public transportation services include travel on the Railrunner from Valencia, and Sandoval counties to Santa Fe and increased ground transportation in the northern New Mexico counties of Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, and Taos.

The CRUISE campaign committee has registered as a political campaign committee with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office. The CRUISE initiative, which appears before voters this general election on November 4th, will authorize a gross receipts tax at the rate of one-eighth of one percent. Once approved, it will become effective on July 1, 2009 and be written in accordance with the County Local Option Gross Receipts Act. 

The following organizations have endorsed the Regional Transit Ballot Initiative: 

• NM AARP 
• NM Association of Counties 
• NM Oil and Gas Association 
• Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce 
• Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce 
• Albuquerque Economic Development 
• Albuquerque Downtown Action Team 
• NM AFL-CIO 
• NM AFT 
• Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 412 
• NAIOP

October 23, 2008 at 12:30 PM in 2008 General Presidential Election, Environment, Government, Public Policy | Permalink

Comments

Railrunner should have been completed years ago, we cannot keep diddling around talking about improving public transport, we must act. I am sure in the future better things will be available but for now lets support this Transit Imitative.

Posted by: VP | Oct 23, 2008 5:50:05 PM