Monday, February 20, 2012

New Hampshire Scraps Commuter Rail Plan

(Via Trains.com Newswire)

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire has removed $250 million in funds for commuter rail connecting the southern part of the state to Boston from its 10-year transportation plan, the New Hampshire Watchdog has reported. State Transportation Commissioner Chris Clement said the state faces a shortfall of funds for its transportation projects, and “our focus is on roads and bridges.”

The plan would have extended Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Lowell Line from Lowell, Mass., to Nashua, N.H. The plan had drawn the ire of Republicans in the state legislature, who dubbed it “senseless” and a waste of money.

Clement said even a planning grant for the line may not happen. “There’s nothing that’s going forward with passenger rail in this department,” he said.

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