Politics & Government

Committee Vote is Giant Step Forward for Rail Service

Next hurdle: Executive Council approval, which State Rep. David Campbell is confident will happen next month.

When the Executive Council gives the official green light to the rail feasibility study next month – a matter of when, not if – it will be time for Nashua to debate in earnest the merits of bringing rail back to the city.

"Two things that happened today," said Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, Wednesday night. "One is that we got approval for using toll credits to match our CMAQ air quality grant, which would fund the Crowne Street site for a park and ride as a potential rail station stop. That's a big deal for Nashua."

And the second thing, perhaps even bigger in the "big deal" department, was that the Capital Corridor rail study got the votes it needed to move forward – under the same model whereby toll credits match federal transit authority dollars to fund the feasibility study.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It's a giant step forward for commuter and freight rail, said Lozeau.

"Being able to move forward is important," Lozeau said.

Find out what's happening in Nashuawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Now we'll have that study done and, no matter whether you are for or adverse to rail, facts are important to make the right decisions," Lozeau said.

She said once approved, the study would have an 18-month timeline, after which the debate would begin in earnest at the city level.

"We have to make sure we have an honest discussion about the operating costs, not just about how much it costs to have a usable system. And if it does happen, are we prepared to cover the cost of the operating system? It's a discussion we need to have, and it's a fair and legitimate debate," Lozeau said.

On Jan. 9 the Capital Budget Overview Committee voted in favor of bringing the $1.9 million rail study back before the Governor and Executive Council.

That should happen as soon as a February meeting, says Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce President Christopher Williams, who was in Concord Jan. 9 to witness the vote.

Committee chair State Rep. David Campbell, D-Nashua, said the study is essential to securing the federal funding, and the first big step toward bringing rail back to Nashua.

"One thing everyone has to keep in mind is that without the federal funds we can't get it done," Campbell said.

Following the vote Wednesday, state Sens. Peggy Gilmour and Bette Lasky weighed in on the importance of moving forward with the passenger rail study, which will provide a look at what rail and transit in the Lowell-Nashua-Manchester corridor would mean to residents.

"I applaud the work of the members of the Committee. This is great news for the people of Nashua, who have been frustrated by the last two years of efforts to stop this study supported by citizens and businesses," said Lasky.

Said Gilmour, "The Capital Budget Overview Committee got this one right. Passenger rail isn't a Republican or Democratic issue, it's something that is supported by the people of Nashua," Gilmour said.

On Thursday, District 2 Congresswoman Annie Kuster released the following statement:

“I’m very encouraged to hear that the Committee has re-opened the door to studying the expansion of commuter rail in the Capitol Corridor, and I urge the Executive Council to move this project forward. Expanding commuter rail in this region is the right thing to do for our workers, our businesses, and our state’s economy, and it will bring significant economic benefits to Nashua and beyond. I’m also glad that if approved, the study will analyze the costs of this project so that we can make rail a reality in a fiscally responsible way.”

 What's your take on this latest development?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here