I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2337 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 7, 2009 Mr. Teague (for himself and Mr. Reyes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to make grants for certain transportation feasibility studies for southern New Mexico and west Texas.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Southwestern Transit Corridor Planning and Fuel Use Reduction Act.

2.

Rail runner extension feasibility study

The Secretary of Transportation shall make a grant to the New Mexico Mid Region Council of Governments to conduct, working in cooperation with the appropriate municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, and rural planning organizations in New Mexico and Texas, a transportation corridor feasibility study to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the costs, benefits, obstacles, impacts and feasibility of various transit technology, alignments, and funding options for extending the New Mexico rail runner express commuter rail service south from Belen, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, or to intermediate points.

3.

Las Cruces and El Paso feasibility study

The Secretary of Transportation shall make a grant to the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and the city of El Paso, Texas, to conduct, in cooperation with the Las Cruces metropolitan planning organization and the El Paso metropolitan planning organization, a transportation corridor feasibility study to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the costs, benefits, obstacles, impacts, and feasibility of various transit technology, alignments, and funding options for a public transit system, including the option of commuter rail, that would connect Las Cruces and El Paso.

4.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.