Rio Metro Regional Transit District
Why support public transit in New Mexico?
Public transit provides access for the general public, disabled and senior citizens to get to and from jobs and job training; emergency, medical prenatal and behavioral health care and veteran services; educational facilities; entertainment, shopping, community, senior, parks and recreational facilities.
As public transportation continues to grow, New Mexico’s 28 transit agencies provide fixed-route, dial-a-ride, demand response, intercommunity routes and paratransit that gives people more mobility options with low or zero emission transit vehicles to reduce carbon emissions to improve New Mexico’s air quality.
In the attached backgrounders, the transit agencies tell their stories about how their services assist the communities they serve, how they have expended federal grant funding and where they could invest additional state match transit funding if it was available.
Rio Metro Regional Transit District
NM House District(s):
NM Senate District(s):
Counties Served:
What is your agency’s service area?
Rio Metro serves Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia Counties. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express service extends from Belen, Valencia County, through Albuquerque and north to Santa Fe County and City.
Rio Metro operates demand response transit service throughout Valencia County, a fixed route that runs into downtown Albuquerque, and a commuter route in the southwest part of Albuquerque that connects Rail Runner passengers to Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia Labs. There is also one medical run that, when requested, provides service into Albuquerque.
In Sandoval County, Rio Metro operates throughout Rio Rancho and provides medical runs into Albuquerque from Rio Rancho and Corrales. Like the Valencia County operation, Sandoval provides commuter service connecting passengers from Rio Rancho to the Journal Center/ Los Ranchos Rail Runner stop. Rio Metro also contracts with All Aboard America, who provides service in tribal areas (Cochiti Pueblo, Jemez Springs, Cuba, etc.) north of Rio Ranch connecting those communities to Rio Rancho or the Rail Runner.
What transportation modes does your agency provide?
Rio Metro operates the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter rail service, transit demand service transportation, and fixed route bus service.
How many buses, vans and other vehicles do you operate?
Rio Metro operates 37 cutaway’s and 2 minivans. The Rail Runner fleet includes 9 locomotives and 22 passenger cars.
Key priorities for making services route decisions?
The majority of our service is demand response. Rail Runner service is designed primarily around the commuter market though increased recent service expansions were designed to meet recreation, tourism and other travel needs.
How has your agency applied its federal funding?
Currently, for transit, federal funding (regarding of direct or through the state) largely goes for capital (bus) purchases with a small portion going to operations. Though we did get a 5339 federal grant to construct the Valencia County Transit Facility.
For Rail, our federal funding is entirely for maintenance and repair of the fleet, right of way and rail.
How would your agency apply additional state transit funding?
Additional state funding would be used to match federal formula and discretionary grants at a ratio of 1 state dollar to 4 federal dollars and to provide additional service.
What ways does your agency assist your community during community events or emergency assistance?
Due to funding restrictions, Rio Metro cannot provide any type of charter service, but we do provide “bus bridges” in the event of Rail Runner closures or emergencies. The Rail Runner provides additional rail service for events like Zozobra, movies in the park, Day of the Tread Bike Ride, and similar events.