NH Legislative Committee Says "No" to Federally Funded Rail Study - THIS IS NOW OUTDATED
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- Created: 20 February 2018 20 February 2018
The effort to use federal money to initiate an in-depth study of commuter rail service between Manchester and Boston has been defeated.
From Kevin Landrigan of the New Hampshire Union Leader:
"On Wednesday, the House Public Works and Highways Committee voted along party lines to strike a $4 million grant for commuter rail from the proposed 10-year highway program.
Gov. Sununu requested the grant since it was a critical part of the state’s application to try to lure Amazon to locate its second national headquarters here.
After the state was bounced from that competition, leading GOP legislators said Sununu told them he “wouldn’t lose sleep” if the House took it out."
Mr. Landrigan concludes, "One thing is for certain; supporters won’t be giving up and they’ve put together a broad cross-section of businesses that are on board with this request."
Passenger rail service in NH remains the domain of the State of Maine - the Downeaster!
January, 2018 NNEPRA Board Meeting
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- Created: 29 January 2018 29 January 2018
The NNEPRA Board met at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. The well-attended meeting heard reports on the Downeaster's performance numbers and further details on the proposed Coastal Connection.
Representatives from the MidCoast were present to add their support for the proposed summer weekend service expansion.
Ridership & Revenue Report:
The first six months of NNEPRA's fiscal year delivered record-breaking numbers or as Executive Director Patricia Quinn put it, "It was a good story - the best ever!"
Ridership in FY2018 saw a 13% increase over FY2017. On the revenue side, income grew in FY2018 by 26%! Ms. Quinn noted that the last three months of FY2017 were plagued by extensive tie-replacement work.
Rockland Residents Enthusiastically Support Proposed Downeaster Expansion to the MidCoast
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- Created: 25 January 2018 25 January 2018
NNEPRA's Executive Director Patricia Quinn briefed Rockland residents and officials last night about the proposed seasonal expansion of Downeaster service to several mid-coast towns and cities. Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle/Damariscotta and Rockland would be added to the route.
Those in attendance, more than 70, listened, asked questions and learned that the service could run from July to Labor Day in September with direct trains to and from Boston on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.