NH Rail Transit Authority Meeting 10:00 am, May 22, 2009 Legislative Office Building, Room 201-203
NRPC and the City of Nashua are currently working to bring passenger rail back to New Hampshire, where daily service to Boston has not been available since 1967. Traffic studies have shown that Route 3 and Interstate 93 handle upwards of 165,000 vehicles per day at the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
Currently, the morning commute from Nashua to Boston (35 miles) takes an average of two hours. The need for an alternative to vehicular travel is only increasing. The proposed passenger rail will provide shuttle service between southern NH and the existing Gallagher Terminal in Lowell, MA. Anticipated stations along this route include downtown Manchester, the Manchester Airport, and southern Nashua. A second feeder service that would operate between Nashua and Wilton in the NH 101A corridor is also under consideration. Click on the thumbnail at left for a larger map of potential service routes and stops. The proposed rail schedule is designed with commuters in mind, offering three southbound morning trips and three northbound evening trips, as well as an additional mid-day round trip. The passenger rail schedule will be coordinated with existing commuter bus services from Nashua and Manchester to the greatest extent possible. For a proposed trip schedule from the South Nashua location, click here. Draft Proposal for the Reintroduction of Passenger Rail to NH (pdf) Rail Fact Sheet (pdf) Back to Top
In February 2007, the UNH Survey Center included a series of questions in its Granite State Poll for the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. These questions were designed to gauge the attitude of NH residents regarding the possibility of expanding passenger rail service into NH. Interviews were conducted over the phone with 538 randomly selected NH adults (sampling error +/-4.2%). Results of the survey indicate there is overwhelming demand for passenger rail service into southern NH.
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In 1967 daily rail service between Nashua and Boston stopped dead on the tracks.  In 1981 a year long pilot project ended not due to lack of ridership, but rather due to the Reagan administration’s nation-wide cancellation of such projects. Since then, a number of issues have surfaced regarding the best way to actually re-introduce rail service. These concerns range from questions regarding service schedules and station locations to debate over who should operate the service and pay for its development. An inability to reach consensus on these issues has been a critical factor in preventing previous rail proposals from moving forward.  Despite these setbacks, passenger rail service is not lacking in supporters. The re-introduction of passenger rail service in southern NH has been identified as a top priority by NH’s three most recent governors, the cities of Nashua and Manchester and the Chambers of Commerce for their regions, the Citizens Advisory Committee for the NH DOT’s Long Range Transportation Business Plan, and the Nashua and Southern NH Regional Planning Commissions. Furthermore, discussions with citizens throughout the region show that rail service connecting Manchester and Nashua to Lowell and Boston is a priority.  In June 2006, Governor Lynch brought together a group of stakeholders to discuss the issues surrounding the re-introduction of passenger rail in southern NH. These stakeholders included the Governor, Pan Am Railway, Congressman Charlie Bass, and representatives from NRPC and the cities of Nashua and Manchester. A small task force was created to develop a proposal for the re-introduction of rail service that was workable within the unique context of NH government and finance. Since its initial meeting, several stakeholders have been added to the task force, including the Manchester Airport, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, and the Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce.  For links to documents, rulings, and studies related to passenger rail over the past few years, click here. Back to Top
Senate Bill 75 (SB75) would authorize the establishment of the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority. This special purpose agency is needed to undertake actions necessary to actually establish and operate passenger rail service in the state. The passage of this authorizing legislation will not commit the state to either operate or fund passenger rail service. NH Rail Transit Authority Fact Sheet House Bill 311 (HB311) would establish a study committee to identify an approach to limit potential liability claims and annual insurance costs. New Hampshire (or the proposed NH Rail Transit Authority) will be asked to indemnify Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBCR), and Pan Am Railway against any claims resulting from the operation of the proposed commuter rail service extension. This indemnification will protect these entities from liability for damage claims from employees, passengers, and others suffering loss due to operation of the NH service. There is an annual difference in insurance cost of $1,075,000 between $75 million coverage and $500 million coverage. Given this large cost increase, it is imperative that New Hampshire identify an approach to limit potential liability claims and annual insurance costs. Rail Liability Insurance Fact Sheet To learn about the status of these bills, visit the State of NH General Court website. Back to Top