Passenger Trains > New Mexico’s deserted Rail Runner stop

http://krqe.com/2015/04/30/new-mexico-transportation-boss-on-deserted-rail-runner-stop-use-it-or-lose-it/

I swear that only in New Mexico do things like this happen!!!!  Or, perhaps I live in a bubble.....

The landowner wants to develop the land with homes, offices and retail. Their isn't enough land for these plus parking for the station. So one plan now is not to have parking, just drop and ride. But access from the station to the nearest through street (Zia Road) would be difficult due to the nearby traffic lights at St. Francis Drive and traffic backup blocking traffic exiting from the station to first Galisteo Road and then Zia. No wonder the local homeowners oppose it as traffic control and congestion are the main problems. And why spend up to a quarter of a million dollars when the whole operation may disappear in a few years due to lack of funding?

The Kewa Pueblo is in the middle of no where as well, but it seems to do a fine business........

Super_C Wrote:
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> I swear that only in New Mexico do things like
> this happen!!!!  Or, perhaps I live in a
> bubble.....

Fear not, we do even dumber things in CA.

MEKoch Wrote:
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> The Kewa Pueblo is in the middle of no where as
> well, but it seems to do a fine business........

Not so fine but better than Isleta and Sandia Pueblos, Bernalillo, and Sunport stops.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/15 15:51 by Cumbresfan.

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Thanks for the chart.  Los Lunas seems to have a lot of riders.  Is there a special story for that stop?  (My recollection is a big, mostly empty area.  Has that changed?)

I'm curious about the large drop off in total riders on the left hand chart.  Do they have any explanations as to why?

Nathan

atsf121 Wrote:

> I'm curious about the large drop off in total
> riders on the left hand chart.  Do they have any
> explanations as to why?

The drop from 2011 to 2012 was explained in this news report as resulting from the economy and a fare hike:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDHZm1oQfqs

The data for 2013 in the bottom bar is only for the eight months from January through August, so it isn't directly comparable to the bars above it.  Assuming ridership doesn't drop precipitously in the final third of the year, dividing 734,104 by 8 and multipling by 12 gives just over 1.1 million riders, about on a par with 2012.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> Thanks for the chart.  Los Lunas seems to have a
> lot of riders.  Is there a special story for that
> stop?  (My recollection is a big, mostly empty
> area.  Has that changed?)

That part of New Mexico is growly rapidly.  A lot of homes have been built in the last 10 years to the east in Valencia in addition to around the Los Lunas Station itself.  I imagine many ride the train to work in Alburqueque or further north.  Its becoming a classic "bedroom community".  Exactly the market commuter trains are meant for.

Here's a photo of the station in question. It was taken from a Santa Fe Southern train last summer.

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BNSF6400 Wrote:
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> Lackawanna484 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Thanks for the chart.  Los Lunas seems to have
> a
> > lot of riders.  Is there a special story for
> that
> > stop?  (My recollection is a big, mostly empty
> > area.  Has that changed?)
>
> That part of New Mexico is growly rapidly.  A lot
> of homes have been built in the last 10 years to
> the east in Valencia in addition to around the Los
> Lunas Station itself.  I imagine many ride the
> train to work in Alburqueque or further north. 
> Its becoming a classic "bedroom community". 
> Exactly the market commuter trains are meant for.

Thank you. I remember that as mostly empty space.  Have to get out there sometime soon.

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> atsf121 Wrote:
>
> > I'm curious about the large drop off in total
> > riders on the left hand chart.  Do they have
> any
> > explanations as to why?
>
> The drop from 2011 to 2012 was explained in this
> news report as resulting from the economy and a
> fare hike:
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDHZm1oQfqs
>
> The data for 2013 in the bottom bar is only for
> the eight months from January through August, so
> it isn't directly comparable to the bars above
> it.  Assuming ridership doesn't drop
> precipitously in the final third of the year,
> dividing 734,104 by 8 and multipling by 12 gives
> just over 1.1 million riders, about on a par with
> 2012.

Thanks Evan.  I wondered if there was a fare hike in there.  Sure fire way to drive off potential customers who have other options.

Nathan