Posts Tagged ‘Los Angeles’

A view of the Union Pacific site, looking east with the Airport, Santa Teresa, El Paso and the Franklin Mountains in the background. Photo courtesy of Suzie Azar.

Release courtesy of Union Pacific Railroad.

The passage of the Locomotive Fuel Tax Deduction HB523/SB179 by the New Mexico state legislature and signing into law by Governor Martinez was the catalyst that allowed Union Pacific Railroad to break ground on a state-of-the-art rail facility in the southern part of the state. With an overall economic impact of $500 million for the New Mexico economy, Union Pacific’s investment in the project totals more than $400 million. The facility will create 3,000 jobs during the construction phase from 2011 to 2015, and will eventually be headquarters for more than 600 permanent jobs. For the first time ever, southern New Mexico will have a key inland port, positioning the Santa Teresa area as a strategic focal point for goods movement in the southwestern U.S.

Phase 1 Construction

The Phase 1 construction launch occurred on August 8, 2011. Phase 1 will continue through 2012. Rangar-Benson received the first construction contract and will complete the mass grading in which approximately 5.6 million cubic yards of dirt will be excavated and 4.1 million cubic yards of dirt will be placed. This phase will also extend approximately two miles of Dona Aña County public water and sanitary sewer lines that will serve the facility. This work is scheduled to last approximately one year.

Seven of the ten contractors on the project are New Mexico based, totaling $40 million worth of contracts, more than 66 percent of the Phase 1 contracting.

340 people have been working on the site at any given time to date during the Phase 1 construction process with more than 50 percent of those hailing from New Mexico.

Phase 2 Construction

The second phase of construction will commence after Phase 1 and will complete the remaining portion of the yard to include all the mechanical, electrical, architectural, utilities, track and civil engineering portions of the project.

As part of the contract, there is an expectation that the general contractor will consider New Mexican subcontractors and also look for opportunities to hire qualified New Mexicans.

Global Economy Demands Efficiency

The construction of the Santa Teresa facility will permanently position Southern New Mexico as a crucial component of the historic “Sunset Route,” one of the oldest and most critical rail corridors in American history, securing New Mexico’s future as a leader in the goods movement industry. Union Pacific’s initial plans for capital spending in 2012 total $3.6 billion in support of America’s freight transportation needs. That investment will continue enhancing the safety and efficiency of Union Pacific’s 32,000-mile network. The resulting improved rail capacity benefits everyone. It allows freight rail service to grow, helping to build a cleaner environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, freight trains are nearly four times more fuel efficient than trucks.

About The Project
Fueling Facilities – Located along the busy “Sunset Route” between El Paso and Los Angeles, this fueling facility will enhance commerce and goods movement in the state of New Mexico.

Crew Change Buildings – This facility will eventually serve as home base for Union Pacific employees operating long-haul trains out of the area.

Intermodal Ramp – This regionally focused intermodal ramp will permit both local and regional businesses more immediate access to the efficiencies of freight trains.

Article courtesy of the NMSU News Center

Writer: Janet Perez, 575-646-4120, perezjm@nmsu.edu

The nation’s debt crisis, national security and health care reform are the hot-button topics experts will address at the 2011 Domenici Public Policy Conference Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.

“Once again, under the leadership of Sen. Pete Domenici and the NMSU Domenici Institute Advisory Committee, we have assembled an outstanding lineup of national leaders to discuss very topical policy issues, to include the competitiveness of U.S. education, health care reform, the national debt and national security — all issues that the senator has championed for many years,” said Garrey Carruthers, dean of New Mexico State University’s College of Business and director of NMSU’s Domenici Institute.

Among those set to speak at the conference are former U.S. Sen. Thomas A. Daschle, who championed health care reform while in Congress and has published two books on the topic; New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, who will discuss matters affecting the state; and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, who as former director of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency will speak on cyber security.

Now in its fourth year hosting the conference, the Domenici Institute is named after New Mexico’s longest-serving U.S. senator, Pete V. Domenici. Every year, the conference brings together some of the country’s top experts to discuss a variety of important issues facing the nation.

This year, Domenici will provide his thoughts on the national debt, a topic he is well versed in as a former chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Budget Committee. He also co-chairs the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Task Force on Debt Reduction.

“The task force supported raising the debt ceiling promptly and mandating actions to put the federal budget back on a sustainable path,” Domenici said. “We also proposed a tough enforcement mechanism with any debt ceiling legislation in order to build bipartisan confidence among members of Congress that future deficit cuts will actually occur.”

The conference will close with the premiere of a documentary on Domenici’s life in public office. The documentary not only will capture the legacy of Domenici’s accomplishments, but it also will serve as testimony to New Mexico’s participation in issues of national importance.

The 2011 Domenici Public Policy Conference also will feature:

National Debt

Alice M. Rivlin is a senior fellow in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution. Last year, President Obama named Rivlin to the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. She also co-chairs the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Task Force on Debt Reduction. Rivlin served as vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board from 1996-1999, was director of the White House Office of Management and Budget in the first Clinton Administration, and was the founding director of the Congressional Budget Office.

National Security

James L. Jones served as National Security Advisor for Obama from January 2009 to November 2010. He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps General who held the positions of Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander of the United States European Command until December 2006. Jones is president of Jones Group International, created to help address challenging geo-strategic issues.

Health Care

Karen Ignagni is president of Washington, D.C.-based America’s Health Insurance Plans. She is a nationally recognized spokesperson for the health care industry and has appeared before Senate and House committees to share her expertise. She has written articles on health care policy for numerous publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, and the New England Journal of Medicine. She also has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, MSNBC and CNBC.

J. Mario Molina is a physician and the president and CEO of California-based Molina Healthcare. As the son of Molina Healthcare founder, C. David Molina, the younger Molina has worked in various capacities within the company. He has received the Ernst & Young Greater Los Angeles Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and in 2005 was featured in Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Hispanics in America.

Science and Technology: Can America Compete?

Norman R. Augustine is the former CEO and chairman of Lockheed Martin. Along with working with other aerospace companies such as Martin Marietta and Douglas Aircraft, Augustine held several positions in the Department of Defense. He served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as assistant director of defense research and engineering, as well as assistant secretary, under secretary, and acting secretary of the Army.

The 2011 Domenici Public Policy Conference costs $50 to attend, with registration and payment available online at domenici.nmsu.edu. The event is free to NMSU students. For more information, call the Domenici Institute at 575-646-2066.

This project is partially sponsored by the Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General. The content of the information does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. government and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Release courtesy of the Governor’s Office

Christine Anderson

SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez announced today that the Spaceport Authority Board of Directors has named Christine Anderson as Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. Anderson previously served for 30 years in civilian positions with the United States Air Force, including several years at New Mexico’s Kirtland Air Force Base.

Upon making the announcement, Governor Martinez commented, “I am pleased that the Spaceport Authority Board of Directors has chosen an exceptionally qualified individual to oversee operations at the Spaceport. With proper management and the right approach, the Spaceport project has the potential to create jobs, spur economic development, and make New Mexico a leader in space travel. My administration is committed to working closely with Ms. Anderson and the Board of Directors to attract private investment and see the project through to its full potential.”

Before retiring from the Air Force, Anderson was a member of the Senior Executive Service, the civilian equivalent of the military rank of General officer. Anderson was the founding Director of the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. She also served as the Director of the Space Technology Directorate at the Air Force Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland, and as the Director of the Military Satellite Communications Joint Program Office at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles where she directed the development, acquisition and execution of a $50 billion portfolio. She is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Anderson earned a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Maryland, and completed the National Security Leadership Program at Johns Hopkins University and the Senior Management in Government Program at Harvard University.

After hearing of the Board of Directors’ decision, Anderson remarked, “I am excited for the opportunity to lead a project that has such a high potential for success. I look forward to working with Governor Martinez and the Board of Directors to ensure that the Spaceport is developed into an economic engine that can drive development and job creation in New Mexico.”

Project to bring 3,000 construction jobs, 600 operational

Las Cruces Bulletin photo by Niki Rhynes

Article courtesy of Las Cruces Bulletin

By Gabriel Vasquez

Gov. Susana Martinez returned to Doña Ana County for the first time since being sworn in as governor to announce a rail-expansion project that could bring more than 3,000 construction jobs and 600 permanent, post-construction positions near Santa Teresa. The announcement was made Friday, Jan. 7, alongside Union Pacific (UP) officials during a well-attended ceremony held inside an industrial office complex adjacent to the Santa Teresa Airport.

“I’m honored to (be) here to renew the commitment the state of New Mexico made a few years ago to improve the infrastructure and create jobs in the southern part of the state,” Martinez told the crowd of area politicians, industry leaders, state workers and reporters. “These jobs would otherwise go to Texas.”

UP’s investment for the rail expansion is $400 million. UP officials said the project would have an overall economic impact of $500 million on the state. The plans are to expand a rail station near Santa Teresa to add fueling facilities, crew headquarters, an intermodal switching yard and an intermodal ramp for business access.

This sort of “inland port” will facilitate the movement of goods all across the Southwest, but specifically will help border businesses by providing a “truck-to-train” facility in the area, significantly spurring economic development in New Mexico, said Bob Turner, senior vice president of corporate affairs for UP.

“I predict that this will be a catalyst for economic growth the likes of which will amaze you all,” he said. “The goods will come in, be offloaded, re-sorted and shipped to various parts of the country.”

The transfer facility will place southern New Mexico on UP’s “Sunset Route,” one of the oldest rail corridors in the country, which spans from California to Texas. Other Sunset Route facilities similar to the one planned for Santa Teresa exist in Lathrop, Calif., Los Angeles, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas.

“In order for New Mexico to recover economically, we need to take deliberate action and begin gaining back jobs we’ve lost to our neighbors,” Martinez said. “That’s one of our driving forces for the policy decisions being made by my administration.”

Although UP officials are optimistic about the project, it has one more hurdle left to clear. The project is largely dependent on a locomotive diesel fuel tax exemption that will go before the state Legislature when it convenes later this month.

“All that stands in the way from this taking place and moving the project forward … is a legislative fix,” said Martinez, who added she strongly supports the exemption. “As a result, Union Pacific can start building and New Mexicans can start working.”

Martinez added that she encouraged all state legislators “to dot their ‘i’s’ and cross their ‘t’s’ for the project to move forward.

State Sen. Cynthia Nava, who attended the ceremony, said she would support the diesel tax exemption.

“I’m willing to work with all my colleagues to get this job done,” Nava said. “I would assure the governor that we are dotting and crossing and we will get this exemption so this project can move forward. It’s been a long-time coming.”

Aaron Hunt, director of media relations for UP, said the company would have to “strongly re-evaluate” its options if the diesel tax exemption is not passed.

“Historically, we have invested a lot of resources on this part of our system,” Hunt said. “There’s 100 years of history here.”

When UP’s intentions to expand the Santa Teresa rail were first announced in 2006, the state passed a diesel fuel tax exemption accordingly, but it expired in 2010. Due to the economy, which dealt a hard blow to UP in 2008, the project was subsequently delayed with no timetable to move forward. UP officials hope now the Legislature makes the same decisions in 2006.

Theresa Fisher, director of the Anthony Chamber of Commerce, said the project could be beneficial for the whole state.

“This opportunity is excellent not just for Santa Teresa and Sunland Park, but Anthony, as well as the entire state,” she said. “There will be opportunities for employment for our people, and it helps us with economic development and marketing here.”

Fisher, who owns an 8-acre vineyard, is building a wine tasting facility near Anthony and hopes UP will bring future customers as new businesses come to the area to take advantage of the transfer station.

A groundbreaking will be held sometime this summer when construction starts, not with shovels, “but something more exotic,” Turner said. Construction is expected to take place until 2015.

For more information, visit www.up.com.

Zoe Richmond, Union Pacific’s Director Public Affairs, Arizona & New Mexico Corporate Relations, sponsored a breakfast for MVEDA Partners and updated them on the status of the new terminal planned for Strauss (Santa Teresa), New Mexico. The $150M terminal expansion was announced by Union Pacific CEO Jim Young and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson in October, 2006.

Zoe Richmond

Richmond’s presentation noted that Union Pacific has invested more that $1 billion in projects along the Sunset Corridor which runs from Los Angeles through El Paso. She pointed out that Union Pacific now owns 2,219 acres of land surrounding the Strauss terminal location. The land was acquired by trading an $11 million ranch in central New Mexico to the State Land Office. The timeline for the start of construction has been delayed due to the economic downturn.