New Mexico Rail Runner Express makes more Railroad Crossing Improvements in Valencia County

Second railroad crossings gets gates and flashing lights for added safety

(Albuquerque, NM - January 28, 2008) – As part of a continuing effort to improve and consolidate crossings in the commuter rail corridor, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express is beginning work today on another public railroad crossing in Valencia County. The latest crossing to receive upgrades and improvements is the Molina Road crossing in Los Chavez - approximately a mile-and-a-half north of the Belen Rail Runner station.

“While this particular crossing did meet Federal Railroad safety requirements, up until now it was only equipped with warning signs”, says Lawrence Rael, Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments. “The upgrades we’re making will give motorists an extra layer of safety to ensure that they are aware of any train activity as they approach the tracks”.

This past November, the crossing at Valentine Road was upgraded - about a half-mile south of the Molina Road location. Like the Valentine crossing, work at the Molina site will also include the addition of railroad crossing gates and flashing signal lights.

“We’ve been examining which crossings in the Rail Runner corridor can be consolidated and/or improved for safety”, says Secretary Rhonda Faught, NM Department of Transportation. “Some of these crossings now get about 400-or-so cars a day, so adding crossing gates and lights to these unsignalized public crossings make the most sense”.

Work on Molina should be completed by the end of next week. Meanwhile, groundwork is being done at two more crossings to the north. Construction crews are preparing to install gates at crossings at Luscombe and Los Lentes just south of the Village of Los Lunas.
 

CONTACTS: 

Augusta Meyers, MRCOG Communications Mgr. 505-239-8612, ameyers@mrcog-nm.gov

S.U. Mahesh, NM Department of Transportation (505) 490-0976

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