Hassan: Expanding Rail Service to Nashua, Manchester Will Keep More Young People in NH

Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday said expanding rail service from Lowell, Mass. to Nashua and Manchester will spark the region’s economy and keep more young people in the Granite State.

“A solid, modern transportation infrastructure is critical to the success of our people and businesses, and bringing commuter rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester is another important step in strengthening our transportation infrastructure,” Hassan said in a statement Tuesday following the release of a study exploring rail expansion. “Improving access to the entire region and providing types of new transportation and housing opportunities that 21st century workers and families desire, rail will help keep more of our young people right here in the Granite State and spark economic growth for decades to come.

“Our business community understands the many benefits of commuter rail, and we must find a way to remain responsive to their needs by finding a consensus way forward that will build on our many advantages and help set the stage for a new generation of economic growth.”

Here’s an except from the study:

“As Boston stands strong as the region’s largest economic hub, people living north of Lowell and working in metropolitan Boston are singularly reliant on roadways to commute to work. The result is severe traffic congestion along limited access highways connecting New Hampshire’s major population centers to metropolitan Boston – I-93, Route 3/Everett Turnpike, Route 128/ I-95, I-293, and I-495. During peak morning hours, southbound travel speeds average less than 30 miles per hour (mph), traffic volumes exceed roadway capacity by more than 25 percent, and average speeds within eight miles of Boston dip to as low as 12 mph. Based on historical data, traffic volumes are projected to continually increase and additional highway expansion is unlikely due to financial and environmental constraints.”

Read the full study

Photo credit: StevenErat via Flickr