New Mexico
Transportation
Important early roads included El Camino Real, extending from Mexico City, Mexico, up to Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Trail, leading westward from Independence, Missouri. By 2000, New Mexico had 59,927 mi (96,443 km) of public roads and streets.
In 2000, a total of 1,557,064 motor vehicles were registered in the state, of which 729,727 were automobiles, 795,343 trucks, 28,554 motorcycles, and 3,440 buses.
Rail service did not begin in New Mexico until 1879. New Mexico had 2,390 rail mi (3,846 km) of track in 2000, with Class I road making up close to 95% of that total. The main rail lines serving the state are the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe. Amtrak provides passenger service en route from Chicago to Los Angeles and from New Orleans to Los Angeles.
In 2002, there were 145 airports, 25 heliports, and 1 seaplane base. Albuquerque International is the state's main airport, with 2,148,780 passengers enplaned in 2000.