Aitken: Commuter Rail Dead

The issue of whether to bring the MBTA up to NH, opposition to which was spearheaded by the Bedford Residents Association as far back as 2018, is dead, for now anyway.

The BRA did research in consultation with a transportation engineer on the pros and cons and facts about rail and presented them to the EC and legislature. Apparently their work resonated with the Executive Council who voted 3-2 to stop the project. One Democrat along with Republican Janet Stevens were the two minority votes for the project.

In the upcoming session, the legislature will entertain a bill (HB 110) to “prohibit the use of state funds for new passenger rail projects” which BRA believes should go forward and will support.