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By October’s end, the New Mexico Department of Transportation and Mid-Region Council of Governments expect to install a Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) system on the last 13 miles of track in the New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ corridor to replace an outdated signal system.

The segment of track between a point in Albuquerque’s north valley and the town of Bernalillo long has featured a signal system with many relays, miles of pole line and other aging equipment. CTC will enable train dispatchers to move commuter trains more efficiently and enhance the corridor’s safety, according to Rail Runner Express.

“The CTC allows train dispatchers to know exactly where all trains in the corridor, which is a vast improvement over the old system from a safety and train control perspective,” agency officials said in a prepared statement. “It also provides an improved information environment for train dispatch, operators and maintenance crews in the event an issue is identified because problems can be diagnosed, located and addressed more quickly.”