SO FAR, SO GOOD FOR THE RAIL RUNNER. THE COMMUTER TRAIN'S FISCAL 2013 BUDGET IS UP FOR DISCUSSION AT THE STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING IN SANTA FE THURSDAY. TERRY DOYLE WITH THE RIO METRO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SAYS THE REPORT HE'LL PRESENT ON THURSDAY COVERS WHERE THE RAIL RUNNER'S BUDGET IS, YEAR-TO-DATE, THROUGH THE END OF NOVEMBER. HE TELLS US THEY'RE CLOSE TO WHAT THEY EXPECTED TO BE IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND EXACTLY ON THE MARK FOR EXPENSES.

DOYLE ALSO SAYS THEY HAVE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN RESERVES, NOW. HE SAYS THAT MONEY WILL BE USED TO DO MAINTENANCE REPAIRS ON THE RIGHT-AWAY ON THE TRACK, LOCOMOTIVES, AND PASSENGER CARS.

DOYLE SAYS THE STATE IS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDS. HE SAYS THEY BUDGETED MORE THAN 6-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY INTO THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. AND THE FIGURE GOES UP TO 7 MILLION FOR FISCAL 2013.