45 replies to this topic

[runawayjim]

Carter711, on Dec 10 2006, 07:08 PM, said:

I commute from Southern NH to Waltham, Mass. every day and the commute is pretty rough.  Even though Route 3 was widened to 6 lanes a few years ago, it can really bottleneck around Lowell and Route 128 is of course a disaster.  Lately I've been taking Route 13 south to Route 2, which is much longer but more pleasant.  

Commuter rail in NH is one of those things that's constantly being talked about, but nothing concrete ever comes to fruition.  Right now Nashua is pursing a station on its own, b/c the truckers sued to keep the state from contributing gas tax $$.  The state legislature recently changed parties though so I'm hopeful the new lawmakers will look a little more favorably on commuter rail.

why would the truckers care if the gas tax money goes to help commuter rail?  that'd mean they'd have less cars to worry about on the road.

also, it's been said in various places in UP that studies have shown that increasing the number of lanes on an already packed highway will not help at times of rush hour because when there's more room, people fill it.

[cloudship]

It's not the truckers really who pushed that through. It was more a political push from the conservative forces in the state, using the truckers as a front line of offense.

Keep in mind that the real issue wasn't just commuter rail, but improving that line through New Hampshire and up through Vermont to Montreal. There  is a big trucking threat there.

[runawayjim]

cloudship, on Dec 10 2006, 09:50 PM, said:

It's not the truckers really who pushed that through. It was more a political push from the conservative forces in the state, using the truckers as a front line of offense.

Keep in mind that the real issue wasn't just commuter rail, but improving that line through New Hampshire and up through Vermont to Montreal. There  is a big trucking threat there.

hmmmm... sounds weird.  i don't see how a commuter rail is a conservative/liberal issue aside from the bush lovers who want to support the oil companies.

[Carter711]

Well ultimately the truckers successfully sued the state b/c I guess its in the state constitution that gas tax $$ can only go towards improving roads.  Thats not to say they can't find the cash in other places though.

Right now the state is in court with the League of Conservation Voters over the I-93 widening project - the state is trying to expand 93 from 4 to 8 lanes from Manchester to the Mass. border.  LCV is suing b/c the state didn't include any commuter rail $ in the project's $750 million budget.

I happen to agree w/ them that commuter rail should be expanded not just to Nashua, but the commuter-rich I-93 communities of Salem, Derry, and on up in to Manchester.

[cloudship]

Quote

i don't see how a commuter rail is a conservative/liberal issue aside from the bush lovers who want to support the oil companies

Because it is against conservative principals, which are pay your own way and look out for yourself. Putting public money into public transit is socialist man! Makre them pay their own way, even if it means Grandma in her 90's is going to be driving, because it's her right! Soon you will have commies everywhere!

P.S. That was sarcastic, in case you were wondering...

[numonex]

runawayjim, on 30 November 2006 - 08:21 AM, said:

we're still our own MSA, we were just added to the boston CSA.

The day i consider myself part of Boston is the day I buy a shovel, dig my own grave, and bury myself.