Transportation

Because of distances, New Mexicans consume almost twice the US average per capita in gasoline.

New Mexico consumes 23.3 million barrels of gasoline each year; 2 million more just for asphalt and to oil its roads; and 2.4 million in aviation gas and jet fuel. about 20 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from transport. Greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector (cars, buses, trucks. trains, aircraft, tramways and ski-lifts) grow faster than any other sector. The CCAG predicts five additional million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents between 2010 and 2020, second only to electricity production.
 
The dream for New Mexico's cars, trucks, railroads, and aircraft is:

• Improve fuel efficiency (more miles per gallon)
• Improve the fuels (lower carbon emissions per gallon)
• Reduce the idling times of engines
• Minimize empty seats and freight space
• Improve traffic management to minimize idling

The Albuquerque to Santa Fe I-25 route supports 50% of New Mexico's population with over 38,000 vehicles per day.

The Rail Runner will hopefully keep this volume of traffic from growing. In our dream, all vehicles increase the number of miles per gallon. Plug-in hybrid dealers believe that passenger cars will gross 100 to 150 miles per gallon within fifteen years. Cars, buses, trucks, railroads, and aircraft improve fuel efficiency and use low-carbon fuels at a competitive price. There is great desire for New Mexico to become a leader in solar-powered algal-based biodiesel, an excellent fuel for aircraft.

Inter-state railroads, in the dream, will pick up truck traffic loads. A typical freight train takes several hundred trucks off the road. Finally, smart growth and walkable and bikeable neighborhoods are a difficult but essential part of the dream.