New Mexico will study whether to help pay part of the cost of keeping Amtrak's Southwest Chief on its current route.
A state budget allocates $50,000 to the Legislative Council Service to study a proposal by Amtrak for New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas to share the costs of maintaining and improving tracks through their states.
John Yaeger of the Legislative Council Service said legal issues will be considered as well as the costs and economic benefits of the proposal.
Amtrak has suggested the three states share costs with it and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Each would provide about $4 million annually for a decade.