New Mexico Legislation Would Launch Public Transit Fund

Natalie Wadas reports on Senate Bill 55 in the New Mexico State Legislature, which would establish a new fund for transit projects around the state. According to Senator Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas), the fund would be designed to include funding for communities of all sizes around the state.

“This is open to every municipality within the state, and the beauty of it is, whether it be a small community like Mora, New Mexico, or it be a large community like Albuquerque, this will benefit all of our citizens,” says Campos in the article.

SB 55 is headed to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration, where the committee is expected to work out critical details about the fund, including how much money the state’s proposed transit fund would contain. So far, the bill includes details about how communities would apply for funding.

The city of Albuquerque has established itself as a leader in transit in recent years, with a partial opening of an electric bus rapid transit route on Central Avenue in 2017 overcoming resistance from the Trump administration for a full opening in 2019. ABQ Ride also offered transit free rides to the public in 2022.