To the Editor: The Legislature should support House Bill 2018 that funds a study to access the feasibility of commuter rail to Nashua and Manchester. The study is free to the state, doesn’t require a commitment to the extension, and enjoys broad business support. Further, 75 percent of our state’s residents support rail. Read more
Manchester, NH – The New Hampshire House of Representatives voted today to designate federal funds to conduct an in-depth financial, engineering and environmental analysis of the proposed passenger rail expansion project from Boston to Manchester. In a 166-160 vote, the House included funding for the project development phase of the rail expansion project in the state’s Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan, known as House Bill 2018. Read more
On Wednesday, members of the House Public Works & Highways Committee disregarded the voices of 100+ statewide, nonpartisan businesses and 74% of New Hampshire residents by stripping funds in House Bill 2018 dedicated to analyzing the expansion of passenger rail service from Boston to Manchester.
New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion urges House Public Works & Highways Committee to support funding for passenger rail expansion analysis
Manchester, NH – The list of New Hampshire businesses in support of passenger rail expansion from Boston to Manchester has grown to more than 100, according to the statewide, nonpartisan New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion coalition. The organization is calling on the New Hampshire House Public Works & Highways Committee to support $4 million in funding in House Bill 2018 designated for an in-depth analysis of the passenger rail expansion project. The Committee vote is scheduled for this week.
Last Tuesday, nearly 60 businesses and organizations united to launch NH Business for Rail Expansion. This statewide, nonpartisan business coalition is committed to expanding passenger rail from Boston to Manchester and growing and diversifying New Hampshire’s economy.
The support continued last week as members of the coalition along with Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, Nashua’s economic development director, the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and other business leaders traveled to Concord to testify on behalf of House Bill 2018, which would provide critical funding for this effort.
CONCORD — In many past years under Republican control, the House Public Works and Highways Committee was often the place where commuter rail bills went to die.
The panel would recommend against spending money on the cause and the full House of Representatives would fall in line.
The New Hampshire legislature is considering expanding the MBTA commuter rail line into the Granite State.
State representatives held a hearing Wednesday at the state house in Concord to hear public comment from citizens on whether or not they support a $4 million proposal to do an analysis of how the rail would impact New Hampshire. The proposal would be covered by federal funding and included in the 10-year transportation plan.
Business call for lawmakers to approve commuter rail study
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Businesses in Manchester and Nashua are banding together to keep a controversial commuter rail study in the state transportation plan.
The coalition is trying to build on Gov. Chris Sununu’s brief support for rail. The governor said that commuter rail was on the table if Amazon decided to locate its second North American headquarters in Londonderry. New Hampshire didn’t make the short list, but that’s not stopping businesses that are already here from making a renewed push for rail.
Published January 31, 2018 by Progressive Railroading
A nonpartisan business coalition was formed yesterday to advocate for extending passenger rail from Boston to Manchester, New Hampshire.
The New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion has released a list of more than 50 businesses, organizations and individuals in support of the extension. The list includes Northwestern Mutual and University of New Hampshire.
CREDIT NHPR FILE PHOTO
The president of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce says he’s encouraged by Gov. Chris Sununu’s support for studying commuter rail expansion.
Michael Skelton now hopes state lawmakers follow suit. He will not be alone.
MANCHESTER — Some of the biggest names in New Hampshire’s business community on Tuesday threw their support behind a commuter rail link from Boston to the Granite State, the day before a key legislative hearing on the state’s 10-year transportation plan.
A group calling itself New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion includes more than 50 businesses, organizations and individuals, ranging from some of the state’s largest employers to its major educational institutions and small startups.
MANCHESTER — A nonpartisan coalition of businesses that support expanding passenger rail from Boston to Manchester launched Tuesday, the day before a House committee votes on a state transportation plan. The New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion includes more than 50 businesses, organizations and individuals.
Non-partisan, statewide business coalition launches in support of passenger rail expansion from Boston to Manchester
Manchester, NH – A new, statewide, nonpartisan business coalition launched today that is committed to expanding passenger rail from Boston to Manchester, New Hampshire. New Hampshire Business for Rail Expansion released an initial list of more than 50 businesses, organizations and individuals in support of passenger rail expansion, along with a website, www.NHBiz4Rail.com, and social media presence ahead of a crucial House Public Works and Highways Committee vote on Wednesday that could determine the fate of rail expansion along the state’s capitol corridor.
Governor Sununu called commuter rail a “boondoggle” during his campaign, but is now supporting a $4 million feasibility study of passenger rail. This has heartened supporters, who say it’s long past time for more robust service in New Hampshire. But opponents maintain there are still far better and less expensive ways to expand the state’s transportation options. We take a fresh look at our longstanding train debate.
LOWELL — The prospect of extending commuter rail lines through Lowell and into several New Hampshire cities looks stronger after Gov. Chris Sununu, who has long voiced concerns about rail expansion, reportedly expressed support for a study to examine the idea.
Legislators wary of cost for commuter services from Nashua to Concord
PAUL BILODEAU/Staff photo. State Rep. John Janigian was one of several state legislators who discussed their actions in Concord during a Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce’s legislator breakfast.
SALEM, N.H. — Gov. Chris Sununu may not find support for his regional commuter rail service plans in Southern New Hampshire.
Last week, the governor released a 10-year state transportation plan that includes $4 million to study constructing a commuter rail from Nashua to Concord. He previously had opposed spending money on a rail study while on the Executive Council and during his gubernatorial campaign.
CREDIT CK4049 VIA FLICKR CC
Gov. Chris Sununu voiced opposition to a commuter rail in New Hampshire during his campaign. But now he’s supporting a $4 million feasibility study to look at how commuter rail could work.
NHPR’s Jessica Hunt spoke with rail expansion advocate E.J. Powers on what Sununu’s position change could mean for commuter rail in the state.
Chris Sununu is shown attending the annual picnic of the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers held at the American Legion Hentry J. Sweeney Post in Manchester in July 2016. (Allegra Boverman/Union Leader File)
CONCORD — Gov. Chris Sununu, a longtime opponent of extending commuter rail from Massachusetts into New Hampshire, is now saying he thinks the idea is worth spending $4 million to study.
The House Speaker, however, says that’s not likely to sway a majority of state representatives who would ultimately have to approve accepting the federal grant.
BY DAN MCCARTHY, ILLUSTRATIONS BY FAYE ROGERS
No armchair futurist would be faulted if the malaise of modern times conjured dire visions of the road ahead. That’s assuming anyone today would dare make such predictive evaluations. The very concept in 2017 is somewhat ludicrous; go tell 2015 about the world in 2017 and you’ll get a clear reminder why. Still, in the intrepid spirit of our Granite State forefolks, off we go — into the Future of NH.
New Hampshire May Get a Free Commuter Rail Line…and Not For The First Time
The Amtrak Downeaster, which runs from Maine to Boston, making three stops in New Hampshire. CREDIT TODD BOOKMAN/NHPR
Commuter rail fans in New Hampshire received some good news recently. A private train company is offering to connect Nashua and Bedford to Lowell, Mass., with the promise that the towns won’t be on the hook beyond the costs of maintaining a station. If you’ve been following commuter rail issues in New Hampshire for the past two decades, this funding scenario may jog some memories.
Nashua Alderman Unanimously Approve Commuter Rail Memorandum
CREDIT PHOTO BY TIM CUMMINS VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
Aldermen in New Hampshire have approved a memorandum that will bring commuter rail services to Nashua.
Nashua One Step Closer to Getting Commuter Rail
FILE
Nashua is one step closer to getting commuter rail in the city.
That’s after city lawmakers this week unanimously agreed to enter into a public-private partnership with a railroad company out of Rhode Island.
Nashua panel supports moving forward with new passenger rail effort
The Nashua aldermanic Planning and Economic Development Committee voted in favor of a proposed memorandum of understanding to partner with Boston Surface Railroad Company to create a plan to bring privately funded rail to Nashua. (KIMBERLY HOUGHTON/CORRESPONDENT)
NASHUA — An aldermanic panel is recommending that Nashua enter into a memorandum of understanding with Boston Surface Railroad Company to create a plan to bring privately funded passenger rail service to the city.
“For 10 years I have tried to get commuter rail built, and unfortunately it has fallen on deaf ears,” said Alderman-at-Large Michael O’Brien, also a state representative. “This is a truly homegrown idea.”
Commuter rail: Bedford officials intrigued by proposal to connect the town to Worcester, Mass.
BEDFORD — With plenty of attention focused on Nashua surrounding a proposed privately-funded passenger rail service, Bedford officials say they are excited about the potential opportunities this new venture could bring to their town.
Boston Surface Railroad Company (BSRC) of Rhode Island is in the early stages of a plan to bring commuter rail from Bedford to Worcester, Mass., with potential stops in Nashua and Lowell, Mass.
The idea of private passenger rail in N.H. is very unusual, but not impossible
Boston Surface Railroad Co. hopes to open the line from Worcester, Mass., to Providence, R.I., in 2018. Its website shows this map, which doesn’t indicate anything about a line north to Bedford. Courtesy of Boston Surface Railroad Co.
It might seem crazy that a private company says it wants to operate passenger train service in New Hampshire’s Merrimack River valley – an idea that has been fiercely debated for decades – by running on a different company’s tracks.
It’s not crazy at all: Just look east.
