House cuts rail from transportation plan

On Thursday, March 10 the New Hampshire House voted against spending $4 million in federal dollars to continue commuter rail studies in southern New Hampshire.

The funds were included in the Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan, submitted by the Department of Transportation and the Governor for legislative approval.

Opponents of further study argued that the future cost of a commuter rail makes any additional study pointless.

According to the feasibility study released in late 2014, the state would need to cover $4, $7, or $15 million each year for a southern New Hampshire commuter rail, depending on how far the rail extended.

In May 2015 the right-leaning Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy released a study that also challenged the economic benefits of commuter rail. 

Supporters of a southern New Hampshire commuter rail, including Gov. Maggie Hassan, emphasized that the money for further study was coming from the federal government.

“I am disappointed that the leveraging of federal funds for the environmental and engineering work necessary to bring commuter rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester was removed,” said Hassan.  “The business community continues to call on us to take action because commuter rail will improve access to the entire region, provide new housing and transportation opportunities, spur economic development and create jobs.”

The transportation plan now moves to the Senate, which could vote to reinstate the commuter rail funding.

Do you think the state should pursue a southern New Hampshire commuter rail?  Share your opinion in the comments.