New Mexico Sen. Bill Soules is working on two bills that could bring a high-speed international train through the state. The bills would be considered during the upcoming legislative session.
“One of them is to study putting in a high-speed rail from Chihuahua to Denver or at least I can manage through the New Mexico portion of it,” Soules said told KOB. “The second bill would be to fund the portion that would go through New Mexico.”
Soules admitted it’s a long shot that both bills will be passed and the project actually comes to fruition.
“I have no illusions that that’s actually going to happen, and partly because it really has to be bigger than New Mexico,” Soules said. “I can’t compel Mexico, Texas, Colorado or anyone else, only what we do in New Mexico.”
Nonetheless, Soules said an international line isn’t impossible and is worth looking into. Soules is working with Dr. Jim Peach, a noted economist at New Mexico State University on a study to support the bills.
“The purpose of the study would be to actually do the economic impact and the return on investment if we were to put in a high-speed rail,” Soules said.
Some high-speed trains in other countries reach speeds of 220 mph, significantly cutting down travel times by car.
“The majority of tweets that I get back are like, ‘Oh my gosh, I would use that regularly,’ that would be transformational,” Soules said.
Yes, it’s a long shot, but a long shot worth pursuing.
“It really requires people much bigger than me as a state senator in New Mexico,” Soules said. “I see some of my role, though, is to talk about what could be if we were able to do this, to try and get more people engaged and involved.”