Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Teague talks about extending Rail Runner to Las Cruces

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

Harry was in your hometown Saturday, promoting his transit corridor study south of Belen and listening to constituents' concerns.

U.S. Rep. Harry Teague, who represents New Mexico's second congressional district, continued his "Harry in Your Hometown" outreach this weekend, stopping at the Los Lunas and Belen Rail Runner stations and in a session at Peralta Town Hall.

At the Los Lunas station, while waiting for the train south, Teague said the concerns he's heard most from people include Social Security, veterans issues and health care.

"Social Security has been the biggest issue," he said. Los Lunas resident Dr. Gail Goodman wasn't concerned so much with the program itself but in how it is housed.

"Did you know there is only one Social Security office for Bernalillo, Valencia and Socorro counties? And that's in Albuquerque," she told the congressman. Teague said he did not know that.

"I really think this is something you should look into. It's ridiculous to have people from Socorro driving all the way to Albuquerque for these services," she said. "That office is always crowded full and people are being exposed to who knows what."

Teague promised he would check into the matter.

"This is all about doing work for the people," he said. "Doing these meetings, I get to meet all different people."

In Peralta, Mayor Bryan Olguin and Councilors Joseph Romero and Christian Garcia spoke to Teague about the need for a turn lane along N.M. 47.

Garcia said he noted that a turn lane runs through both Los Lunas and Bosque Farms but stops in Peralta. He said it's a safety issue.

The Peralta contingent also spoke with Teague about funding to connect the town with the wastewater treatment plant in Bosque Farms or Los Lunas.

Before Teague came south to Valencia County, he stopped at the downtown Albuquerque Rail Runner station to outline legislation he has introduced that would provide for feasibility studies of mass transit options for the southern part of the state, including the possibility of a Rail Runner line continuing from Belen to El Paso with stops between.

"Residents of Las Cruces and El Paso deserve a first-rate transit option like commuter rail. This study will determine whether or not that's feasible," Teague said in a recent press release. "With funding from the Recovery Act, we are already adding more lanes to I-10 between Las Cruces and El Paso, which is great. But adding more lanes can't always be the solution. We need public transportation to ease congestion and save energy."

And today starting at 6:30 p.m., Congressman Teague will hold a "telephone town hall" to unveil a package of bills he has introduced to support New Mexico's veterans. The town hall will allow constituents interested in veterans' issues to share their ideas, ask questions of the congressman and learn about his agenda to support New Mexico veterans.

Interested participants should contact Sara Schreiber at (202) 226-1140 or by e-mail at sara.schreiber@mail.house.gov to find out how to participate in the call.

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