Executive Council to Take Up Rail Study
A Salem-based corporation has been approved to conduct the study.
A two-part rail study will go before the New Hampshire Executive Council for authorization Feb. 6, seeking to use federal funding awarded for the analysis.
The Department of Transportation is seeking a study of the Boston, Mass. to Concord, N.H. rail corridor. The study would include an Alternatives Analysis of transit options in the Lowell-Nashua-Manchester portion of the corridor along with a service development plan for intercity passenger rail in the corridor between Boston and Concord, N.H.
The maximum cost of the study is $3,655,752.
Recently agreeing to that cost was URS Corporation, a Salem-based firm, which was chosen among nine regional consultants to conduct the study. Salem's Parsons Brinckerhoff was also a candidate.
"The first has an excellent reputation and has demonstrated their capability to perform the required services," said a written statement from DOT Commissioner Christopher Clement regarding URS Corporation.
The consultant selection process began in March 2011.
Clement also referred to the study cost as "reasonable" given the complexity and scope of the project.
A total of 88.75 percent of the study would come from federal funds, with 11.25 percent coming from general funds.
Specific funding and project scope details are available in the document attached to the top right of this article.
The agreement has also been approved by the N.H. Attorney General.
Stephen Campbell
10:40 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
If you ever wanted to know why the US Govt is over $16 trillion in debt then the spending this article talks about is a perfect example. The idea of spending over $3.6 million to study the idea of rail from Boston to Concord is crazy.
If there was any way that rail travel made economic sense then some company would have done it. This rail traffic will have to be heavily subsidized since it will not be economically viable based just on ticket revenue. The $3.6 million would just be the beginning of the money spent and added to the debt.
Stephen Campbell
Mehy
7:22 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
You know Stephen I am beginning to like you and with that attitude we need more people like you in office. Hope I can be of help somehow.
Riley Reid
10:58 pm on Monday, February 4, 2013
Is the executive council going to take up Chris Sununu's letter to a judge asking for compassion on sentencing towards Patrick Mc Dougal ?
Soujourner Truth
1:02 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The US Govt is in debt chiefly because we chose to wage and continue 2 decade-long wars and decided to cut taxes at the same time. More money out, less money in = debt. Doesn't take a rocket scientist. If you don't think there's a market for rail, go visit the park and ride lot some weekday morning, selectman, or hang out on the Cluff St. overpass at 5 pm to watch half your town and those from surrounding towns get to and from work.
Love NH
5:23 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Well there is that war thing, sure. But we don't need to dwell on that. We can't blame those wars on the Obama administration now can we. Let's focus on small studies that benefit society as the cause of all our problems.
Riley Reid
1:13 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
I have used the bus to get to Logan and it's very convenient and reasonably priced. Not sure about a rail line but I do have friends in Portland ME that take the train to Boston all the time.
Mehy
7:20 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
It is not a matter of dwelling on something. It is a matter of prioritizing. Keeping our country and people safe is priority and there should be no cuts. Researching a rail is not a priority, since we all are just fine getting in and out of Boston. We really need people in the gov that apply our tax money the way it should be applied not like those clowns that are in there now.
Mehy
7:16 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
A two-part rail study will go before the New Hampshire Executive Council for authorization Feb. 6, seeking to use federal funding awarded for the analysis.
The maximum cost of the study is $3,655,752.
I can not believe this. What is wrong with these Dems/liberals, we are in debt over our head and they staedly want to waste taxpayers money on something that is not a priority.