NH Commuter Rail

The New Hampshire Senate has passed bill HB1404, the Liability Cap legislation. The bill passed 15-8, and is a crucial step in bringing back the Commuter Rail to New Hampshire. Governor Lynch has promised to sign the bill into law.

The Nashua Telegraph has posted an article that includes a description of the bill and some commentary from Senators.

-Brian Doherty

Yet another editorial has been published over at the Nashua Telegraph’s website. This time, urging the Senate to pass the Liability Cap (Bill HB 1404).

Senate passage would be a huge step forward for the project, and Lynch has indicated he will sign the bill. However, a few barriers remain.

Imposing a liability cap is a complex proposition. And, as can be expected, all of the involved parties are looking out for their own self-interests. Still, passenger rail service is not a new thing. The New Hampshire cap is based squarely on the MBTA model.

…..In this case, Nashuans have been waiting almost 40 years for a commuter train to pull back into town. The current liability cap solution is a compromise, but it is a good one.

The Senate should pass it so we can look forward to seeing the trains back in Nashua by 2010.

The passing of HB1404 vital to the commuter rail effort. Head over to the “Get Involved” page to find out who your local senator is, and urge them to vote yes on HB1404! As with most editorials posted online, there is a fair amount of discussion in the comments section below the article. Head here to read up on the rest of the article.

Larry Simons of Nashua wrote an editorial letter to the Nashua Telegraph calling for the state legislatures to realize that the Commuter Rail’s “time has come”.

I believe that it’s time for our Gov. John Lynch and our state Legislature to boldly move forward on commuter rail service from Manchester/Nashua to Boston.

Taking an average commute of 46 miles one way, getting around 20 mpg, and gasoline costs of $3.50, this comes to $348 per car on the road each month.

I would conservatively estimate that there are 15,000 commuters on the road each morning heading south on Route 3. That is $5.2 million a month being spent out of New Hampshire residents’ pockets just to commute to and from work.

Assuming that we could take the train and T in order to get to our place of business for, say, $200 a month, that would be a savings of $2.25 million a month. That’s money that could easily go back into luxuries such as mortgages, food, clothing, and, who knows, maybe even some recreation in our great state.

The letter is a good read and explains some of the great benefits to bringing the Commuter Rail back. Head here to read the letter in full.

-Brian Doherty

According to the Nashua Telegraph, the HB 1404 bill has gained the endorsement of the New Hampshire Senate’s Transportation Committee. Bill HB 1404 is associated with a liability cap incured by the service operator in case an accident happens. The passing of this bill limits the amount the operator is liable to $75 Million per incident.

The $75 million cap is the same one as is adopted for the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority that operates commuter rail in Massachusetts.

The cost of liability insurance for the authority with a cap would be $375,000 a year. Without any limit on damages, Williams said it would cost $1.4 million.

Under this plan, the MBTA would self-insure with the state rail authority to cover injuries up to $7.5 million annually.

Head here to read the rest of the article.

-Brian Doherty 

According to the Harvard University Gazette, a professor at the school beleives that rail, both freight and passenger, will have an enormous impact on the future of our country.

“Train travel will supplant highway and air travel in the next few decades,” Stilgoe says. “Furthermore, electric railroads will increasingly be used to distribute freight items — such as coal and grain — as well as mail and express packages.”

“There is a lot of money moving this way,” he says, “because these satellite towns will be worth a great deal when the trains come back. Investors are purchasing everything from derelict buildings to gravel plots, which can be easily transformed into parking lots when the time is right.”

“Few people have taken notice of the developments in the railroad industry,” Stilgoe says. “But they should — because it is going to have an undeniable impact on the future of our nation.”

It is hopeful that the State of New Hampshire will soon realize this imminent return to reliance on rail travel. Then, we can finally have the return of commuter rail service. Head here to read the rest of the article.

-Brian Doherty 

According to an article from the Concord Monitor, George Campbell, a nominee for transportation commissioner, supports getting rail back on track in New Hampshire.

Much of the hearing yesterday focused on Campbell’s support for increased railroad service in New Hampshire. Campbell said he thinks people should remember the importance of freight trains. An 80,000 pound truck puts as much stress on roads as 9,600 automobiles, he said. “Getting freight back on the rail, I think, is critical,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, he said, he knows that the state’s newly established Rail Authority hopes to bring passenger trains at least into the southern tier of the state, from Nashua to Manchester and potentially up to Concord. Campbell said he’s a realist, but said he wonders “how many more energy crises we need” before changes are made.

Head here to read the rest of the article.

-Brian Doherty 

An article over at Boston.com reports that the use of the MBTA transit network is increasing. This would follow a nationwide switch to public transportation amongst rising gas prices.

The high cost of gasoline has helped fuel a sharp increase in MBTA riders over the first two months of the year and a decrease in the number and length of traffic jams, according to T officials and traffic specialists.
The number of T trips rose from 27 million in February 2007 to nearly 30 million in February 2008, up more than 11 percent for the month, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials said. The numbers were up about 5 percent for January. Combined, the average increase is 8.3 percent.

With a rising nationwide reliance on public transportation, the residents of New Hampshire have yet another reason to support the return of commuter rail service to New Hampshire. Head over here to read the rest of the article.

-Brian Doherty 

An article posted on Boston.com exemplifies a situation in Westwood, MA, that, as NHCRAC Chairman Wayne Gagne said is

“The kind of project that New Hampshire needs for it’s commuter rail revitalization programs!”

Head over here to read up on the many benefits Westwood is reaping by building a new rail station.

-Brian Doherty

The Eagle Tribune has posted an article pertaining to the possible extension of the Haverhill MBTA line into Plaistow, New Hampshire.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is looking at property north of downtown Haverhill for a new commuter stop and layover station. Some of that property is in Plaistow, according to Baddour….

In his research, Gil said, he found that the MBTA has a layover station in Rhode Island, which suggests crossing the border into New Hampshire might not be a big issue. The state needs to start looking at transportation alternatives, given the problems with the proposed widening of Interstate 93, he said.

This situation seems to suggest that getting any commuter rail service re-established in New Hampshire will not be as politically troublesome as once believed. Head over here to read the rest of the article.

-Brian Doherty

Welcome to nhcommuterrail.com! This is a site dedicated to re-establishing Commuter Rail service between Boston and New Hampshire.

With this site you can check up on what rail activity is going on in New Hampshire, peek at our media section, discuss all things railroad in the Forums, and learn how to get involved with the project.

The site is still under heavey construction, so be sure to check back for more updates!

-Brian Doherty