This grant funds the maintenance of equipment and maintenance of way for the new mexico rail runner express (NMRX) using FY2023-FY2024 section 5337 state of good repair funds

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded RIO Metro Regional Transit District $33,994,595 under the State of Good Repair Grants Program (CFDA 20.525) on September 25, 2025, to support maintenance of equipment (MOE) and maintenance of way (MOW) activities for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX) system through July 1, 2028. The funding covers preventive and corrective maintenance across the 96.5-mile commuter rail system, including 9 locomotives, 9 cab cars, 13 coach cars, 19 service vehicles, and associated infrastructure comprising track, crossings, bridges, signaling, positive train control and communications systems, stations, and facilities. All maintenance activities are included in RIO Metro's Transit Asset Management plan and prioritized through its annual budget and capital planning process in accordance with Federal Transit Administration Circular 9050.1A and 49 U.S.C. § 5337(b)(2).

These maintenance operations are designed to preserve the NMRX system in a state of good repair, mitigate long-term costs associated with deferred maintenance, and enhance safety and security for Rail Runner passengers serving the greater Albuquerque and Valencia County regions. RIO Metro will directly perform all funded maintenance activities with no subrecipient involvement under this formula grant award.

Activities

RIO metro will use FY2023-FY2024 section 5337 state of good repair funds to pay for the maintenance of equipment (MOE) and maintenance of way (MOW) for the new mexico rail runner express (NMRX) system. MOE/MOW activities for the NMRX system benefit – among other assets--9 locomotives 9 CAB cars 13 coach cars 19 service vehicles and approximately 96.5 miles of railroad right-of-way (track; crossings; bridges; signaling positive train control and communications systems; stations; facilities; etc.). Definitionally MOE/MOW includes all preventive maintenance activities described in FTA circular 9050.1A appendix B as well as those associated with basic function 041 (vehicle maintenance) and basic function 042 (non-vehicle maintenance) as defined at https://WWW.transit.DOT.GOV/NTD/national-transit-database-NTD-glossary. Also pursuant to the 49 USC 5337(B)(2) the MOE/MOW activities funded through this grant are included in RIO metros transit asset management (TAM) plan and the prioritized list of projects is updated annually in RIO metros budget and capital plan.

Expected outcomes

This grant will help keep the nmrx system in a state of good repair avoid long-term costs associated with deferred maintenance and improve the safety and security of rail runner passengers.

Intended beneficiaries

The grant will benefit the rail runner passengers who travel the 96.5-mile nmrx system.