Nashua to Boston Commuter Rail may be closer to becoming a reality!
The federal economic stimulus package, if passed, coupled with appointment of New Hampshire Senator, Judd Gregg, to the Obama administration may get the plans for commuter rail back on track!
New Hampshire is ready for commuter rail!
The engineering has almost been completed. It may be possible to extend the commuter rail north of Nashua to Manchester and Concord!
George Campbell of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation reported that the Nashua to Boston commuter rail project is "shovel ready." A recent article in the Nashua Telegraph reports that Dave Fink, president of Pan Am Systems, which owns the track estimated that the the work could be completed in about a year if everything else is in place! New Hampshire Business for Transportation and Infrastructure annouced its support.
The New Hampshire legislature has taken the first steps to making commuter rail a reality. A rail authority was established in 2007 and a $75 million liability cap was passed. Steve Williams, executive director of the Nashua Regional Planning Commission pointed out that the rail is already in place for freight and only has to be upgraded.
There are still details to be worked out. Peter Griffin, president of the New Hampshire Rail Revitalization Association, has noted that the idea of commuter rail is becoming more widely accepted. However, there are many who believe that the east - west highways should be improved rather than building a rail system. Another significant challenge is finding a mechanism to provide a subsidy to the rail system.
In my opinion the commuter rail is vital piece to the economic development in Southern New Hampshire. It is the centerpiece of the New Urbanism in the Nashua/Manchester corridor ~~ where people can live in and work in communities without the necessity of driving their cars.
Moreover, a commuter rail system will go a long way toward solving the problem of retaining younger workers in New Hampshire and would bring companies and workers from Massachusetts into Southern New Hampshire. Another obvious benefit is that rail will decrease the need to travel by car and will improve the environment.
What is your opinion ~~ Roads or Rails? What would be the best source of funding for the commuter rail system going into the future?
Nashua is the best place to live in America.
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Disclaimer: Information herein may come from various sources, some of which may not be reliable and may change without any notice. Joan Whitebook does not guarantee or is any way responsible for the accuracy of the information in this blog and information provided is without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Information on this blog represents the opinions and ideas of the author; comments by others may not express the views of the author. Copyright © 2009 By Joan Whitebook, all rights reserved.*" Nashua to Boston Commuter Rail Picks up Steam!"
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