Rail project removed from 10-year plan: See how your state rep voted

MANCHESTER, NH – The quest to bring commuter rail to the masses chugs on, despite a setback Thursday that removed funding for the NH Capitol Corridor Project from the state’s 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan.

An amendment to remove the provision for the rail project, HB 2016, was approved by a 12-vote margin. Gov. Maggie Hassan also voiced her disappointment at the turn of events following Thursday’s vote by the House of Representatives.

“A solid and modern transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our people and businesses, and the 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan passed by the House today advances a number of critical transportation goals that will help build on our bipartisan progress over the last several years,” Hassan said.

“However, 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. 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. I remain committed to working with members from both parties, local communities, the federal government, our businesses and Massachusetts to find a consensus and make this vital project a reality,” Hassan said.

Rail supporters remain optimistic for the prospects of passenger rail expansion from Boston to Manchester, despite the March 10 vote.

“New Hampshire is faced with an extraordinary opportunity to undertake a process that will thoroughly examine the costs and benefits of passenger rail expansion of — at zero cost to New Hampshire taxpayers. This amendment to remove funding passed by the narrowest of margins,” New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority Board Member Michael Izbicki said. “While disappointing, it indicates that we are making progress in our effort to inform legislators of the benefits of rail expansion and its widespread support throughout the public and business community. We look forward to continuing with the legislative process and urge legislators to take advantage of this chance to develop a comprehensive plan for rail expansion without burdening New Hampshire taxpayers.”

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce CEO Michael Skelton, also a supporter of commuter rail, voiced disappointment in the outcome.

“Business and community leaders from across Southern New Hampshire understand the need for the state to pursue rail expansion as a means to create jobs, spur economic development, and attract new talent to our workforce. While today’s vote in House is disappointing, the business community looks forward to making its case to the Senate that moving forward with the NH Capitol Corridor project development phase at no cost to New Hampshire taxpayers is not only good public policy but makes smart business sense,” Skelton said.

And newly-elected Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess, praised Nashua representatives for their overwhelming support of the rail provision.

“NH Capitol Corridor Rail would have an enormous return on investment for the state’s economy.  It would connect the economies of southern NH and Boston, drawing qualified workers into our state. It would lead to increased state revenue through business taxes and new development. Nashua’s representatives were fierce advocates for our state and our city today when they voted against the motion to amend HB 2016. I look forward to working with these representatives, as well as business and community leaders to continue to fight for the $4 million it will take to move forward on this issue,” Donchess said.

Last week, the House Public Works & Highways committee voted 18-2 to approve NH’s 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan which included $4 million in funding for the critical Project Development phase of the Capitol Corridor Project. This phase is essentially a due diligence process consisting of establishing a detailed financial plan, preliminary engineering, environmental permitting and preparation of funding applications for submission to the Federal Transit Administration and Federal Rail Administration.

A federal matching grant would cover 80 percent of the cost and the state could use its surplus of toll credits for the remaining 20 percent — meaning there would be zero out-of-pocket cost to New Hampshire taxpayers.

The March 10 vote on an amendment to remove funding for the NH Capitol Corridor project passed by 12 votes, 174-162 (a “yea” vote was to remove the rail funding). Below are all the votes on the amendment to remove rail from the 10-year plan. Note that there were enough absent voters from Hillsborough County delegation alone to have changed the outcome of this vote.
HB2016 Roll Call
Vote Date: 03/10/2016 Vote#: 119 Question/Motion: Adopt Amendment

 (Vote #140 Click here to see the votes on the question to reconsider, which failed, 130-175)

About the NH Capitol Corridor Rail Expansion Project
Under the guidance of the NH Department of Transportation, URS Corporation, a globally recognized expert engineering and design firm, conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 73-mile corridor from Boston, Mass. to Concord, NH, known as the NH Capitol Corridor. The NH Capitol Corridor Study was released in early 2015 and indicated that extending rail to Manchester, known as the Manchester Regional Rail Alternative, would produce the greatest economic impact compared with a relatively moderate investment. In the Manchester Regional Rail Alternative, passenger rail would be extended to Manchester, with two stops in Nashua and with one stop each at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and in downtown Manchester. NHRTA formally supports the Manchester Regional Rail Alternative.

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