Creating Jobs in Nashua.

Creating Jobs in Nashua.

The mainstream media is reporting that not long after the State of the Union address the president will be travelling to Tampa to unveil or outline the plan for high-speed rail in the U.S. Some of the projects include: California (Sacramento-San Diego), Florida (Tampa-Orlando) and at least one Midwest route. Absent from the list that I saw is the  Los Angeles to Las Vegas route and the Boston to Montreal via New Hampshire.

I’ll start this on a negative tone by stating why New Hampshire and the Boston to Montreal project probably won’t be going forward. For starters the state and its transportation policymakers (all levels) haven’t done the necessary prerequisites to make any of this happen. New Hampshire did not fund $50K its portion of the engineering feasibility study including the needed market analysis; policy coordination with the other states including Canada I think has been non-existent and it’s clear to me that from the onset that the engineering firm that was hired wasn’t interested in listening to anyone especially during the public hearings. The only real activity I’ve seen on this entire project is former Sen. Peter Burling who seemed to enjoy issuing press releases talking about the capitol corridor, but like its high-speed rail counterpart I don’t think the former senator has done any of the needed prerequisites to make any of this happen. Basically the idea of high-speed rail and the capitol corridor in New Hampshire makes for polite cocktail conversation but that’s about it. This is unfortunate. The last I’ve heard is Vermont, Massachusetts and Canada is now working in consortium to file another application without New Hampshire.

So what if the president when he comes to Nashua announces that the Boston-Montreal High-Speed Rail Project is moving forward?

Isn’t that what elected officials are supposed to do? This would be change. A tough issue but an idea that is worthy of consideration and the president could come to Nashua and make it happen.

If only it could happen.

I’m having these thoughts because both Florida and California actually faced hurdles greater than New Hampshire in the very idea of high-speed rail. I think that the Florida Tri-Rail and parts of Caltrans are examples of startup scratch operations that show that rail can work and be effective as a transportation source and in the long run create jobs.

This doesn't seem to be happening in New Hampshire.

Comments

[Harold Brown]

Steven;
The Valley News had an article today about a $50 million dollar grant for Vermont that benefits passenger and freight services. New construction will enable the rail system to meet national standards of 286,000 pounds per freight car.
Charles Hunter of the New England Central Railroad stated NECR would contribute $5 million dollars toward the project. All this to upgrade rail beds, bridges and tracks. Article states they will be connecting other railroads and routes. Mr. Hunter says train speed will increase to 79 MPH (an increase of about 20 MPH), with no mention of high speed trains.
With all the enhancements through Mass. and Ct. (according to Christopher Parker of the Vermont Rail Action Network), travel time to New York will be cut by 90 minutes. Parker says freight cars carrying heavier loads of rock salt will save taxpayers money. Hello, didn’t I read this someplace before?
The Northeast Corridor won 1.2 billion dollars as part of high speed rail grant of $8 billion dollars. Just another example of smokescreens, calling it ‘high speed rail.’ 79 MPH is not 150 MPH as you mentioned previously.
I will reiterate my position as before regarding grants; this money should be paid back via a loan or a tax with a sunset clause.
You will be in an uproar over the following. New Hampshire did not apply for high-speed rail grants. NH expects to seek future funding for rail service between Concord and Boston. Yep, someday.

Harold

[Steven J. Connolly]

"You will be in an uproar over the following. New Hampshire did not apply for high-speed rail grants. NH expects to seek future funding for rail service between Concord and Boston. Yep, someday."

Thanks for reading my post, as always. I'm glad your posting on NHInsider as well.

I'm over here skiing at Killington alot of people are happy that this rail line is being upgraded. Amtrak service is good policy. Hopefully this train can be expanded into Montreal again. It was once called the Montrealer and did just this.

New Hampshire most certainly did apply for grants for both high-speed rail and the capitol corridor. I think New Hampshire is failing because of lack of leadership. And when I say this it's at all levels but the main concentration and/or blame goes to former Senator Peter Burling closely followed by policy directors in the Office of Governor. I'd also note that the Executive Councilor from District #1 likes to state in his campaign his support for rail but when asked to do something of substance that leads to real progress. Guess what happens.

Be sure and vote in the next election.

[forever grand vacations]

I'd also note that the Executive Councilor from District #1 likes to state in his campaign his support for rail but when asked to do something of substance that leads to real progress.