N.M. Stat. § 3-52-2
The legislature finds that privately operated public transportation has declined in patronage and use and become less attractive to investment capital than formerly. Growth of population in relation to area, the development of improved highways and intersecting structures, the wider use of the private automobile and the scattering of shopping and employment centers have diverted users to private transportation, provided intense competition for public transportation facilities, and pyramided operating costs of public transit to a point that increases in rates are being required and municipalities formerly and now depending on public transit are threatened with having inadequate facilities for public transportation publicly or privately owned.
NMS § 3-52-2