36 replies to this topic

[Cotuit]

I wish the state was doing more to make commuter rail happen. It looks like Nashua is having to do all of this themselves.

[Loughlin]

My city already has one,the only one in the state:D
, i would think Manchester would get one soon, i mean it  is huge compared to portsmout and dover (its a shame Portsmouth never grew large   )

[powhound]

"My city already has one,the only one in the state:D
, i would think Manchester would get one soon, i mean it is huge compared to portsmout and dover (its a shame Portsmouth never grew large  )"

I don't think size of the city has anything to do with who has train serive, the reason why dover has train service is because the train comes from portland and dover is right on the train tracks, portland wanted the train service back in the city, so thats why the train is there for now at least.
it wouldnt make sense for the train to go from portland to manchester then down to boston.

It took over 10 years to get train service back to portland, there are so many things to cover funding, track upgrades, property access, who lible etc, so nashua might have alot to do before they could get service, hopefully the state can back them.


Ya it doesn't seem new hampshire at the state level is to supported of train service.
they have made it somewhat clear they don't want to help the downeaster, and it basically falls into maines and the federal hands for funding. i read they wanted to covert money that could be used for the downeaster to other projects? The majority of people who ride the train are from new hampsire too, it's great commuting tool, for college kids and workers. Anyways more drivers off the road is a good thing.

Edited by powhound, 18 February 2005 - 12:48 PM.

[Vatt]

The Downeaster is at least a start. In support of the state I'd have to say that they are just being cautious, but I do believe that a little funding would be in order. The only current stops (in NH) are Dover, Durham, and Exeter, and I think that's all. I've ridden it to Boston, and I see a lot of potential in train service for the state, especially with the growth.

[Scott]

This article written by the mayor of Nashua talks about the first leg of the commuter rail expansion from Lowell into Nashua starting in 2007 with a station at East Spit Brook as part of a larger development.

Commuter-rail project gathers steam

By BERNIE STREETER, Mayor of Nashua

The proposed Nashua-to-Lowell, Mass., commuter-rail line received a green light at a recent meeting of the New Hampshire Executive Council.

Voting unanimously in favor, the five councilors...

the rest...

[CoreyPortlandME]

^Looks like excellent news. I wonder how expensive it will be to commute everyday?

According to the amtrak website, the downeaster train costs $336 for a monthly pass from Portland to North Station. Dover is $240, Durham $208, and Exeter $160.

[M. Brown]

Sweet!!!  Now lets get it up in Manchvegas.

[Scott]

^ The only thing stopping that are NH Republicans who are dead-set against the train.

[Loughlin]

Manchester is the biggest city in NNE has 100k+ pop yet there is still no commuter train, they should atleast build one from Concord to Manchester, and they almost need a suburb light rail because of all the events in downtown, the bridges cant hadle it, another lane on Elm wouldnt be bad either, its kinda funny that Burlington(30k+) will get a commuter train befor Manchester (100k+) .

[Loughlin]

Dover itself is not as big but Tri-City (dover,rochester,somersworth) have about 12K more people than Portland. and more people from NH to Mass than people From MN to mass ride the rails , if the railroad didnt have stops in NH it would be pointless.

Edited by Loughlin, 24 April 2005 - 07:17 PM.

[M. Brown]

I know.  Its ridiculous.  There has been some talk about bringing train service up here though.

[M. Brown]

The Tri City Area has the largest metro in the state

[BigCityAttitude]

Burlington's already had a commuter rail, it's just being revived now.

Also I don't like people selling the greatest city in new England short. It's 39,000.

[M. Brown]

Burlington is a nice city, but it's website sucks.

[Loughlin]

BigCityAttitude, on Apr 23 2005, 01:20 PM, said:

the greatest city in new England short

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not even close, i would compare it to Wears Beach NH at the most, it dosnt come close to comparing to Portland,Manchester, or Portsmouth.

[scoopernicus]

I hate superlatives that lead to arguments. I'd say that the best cities of N. New England would include, Burlington, Portland, Portsmouth, and several others I have not had a chance to personally evaluate.  I live in and love Portland, but that's my personal preference.

But this gets off topic. We need to improve infrstructure in this country, and that would include improved public transportation, and yes, a city the size of Manchester should have a commuter rail connecting it to the major towns in the area

[M. Brown]

Rail backers want state to move ahead on I-93 train
By JEANNE MORRIS
Sunday News Staff

The state has set aside an 18-mile-long lane in the median of Interstate 93 from Manchester to Salem as part of its lane widening project, with an eye toward bringing commuter bus or train service to this heavily traveled corridor at some future date.

But the Conservation Law Foundation New Hampshire Advocacy Center is looking to speed up that timetable by forcing the state to start building a mass transit system immediately through a possible lawsuit.

Foundation attorney Tom Irwin said he believes the state has failed to give a serious look at rail service as part of the highway widening project, and that could provide the legal grounds file a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Concord.

Full Article Here.