INTERMODAL
·
FREIGHT ·
PASSENGER ·
TOURIST
MEETINGS SCHEDULED
Oct 4, 10 AM, Council Chamber/State House Governor's Rail Council
Oct. 5, 7PM, Golden Brook School, Windham Panel discussion of Southern NH Passenger Rail
Oct 23 at Waterville Valley, NH Ray Burton, “The State of Transportation in the North Country”
Oct 23, 7PM at Second Congregational Church Open forum on Nashua to Bennington rail opportunities. Wilton*
Oct 24, Legislative Office Building Next meetings, Legislative Subcommittee on the Newburyport/ Portsmouth & Northern Lines
Oct 28 (RSVP Required) Burton Campaign/Rail Promotion, Laconia to Plymouth & Return
* Directions to Wilton meeting: When traveling West on Rt-101, bear right onto the Wilton Main Street. Just as you are leaving the business district and Rt-31 enters from the left, pass four buildings on the right (Library, etc) and you will next encounter the Second Congregational Church on the right. Enter between the Church and Church Hall, and park behind the Church hall. Enter the Church Hall at the front door.
MINUTES OF SEPT 25,
2000 MEETING OF THE NHRRA
The meeting was opened by Pres. Peter Griffin at 7:00 PM. Treasurer Steve Flanders reports $1157 in available funds. FY 2000 dues are coming in. No outstanding liabilities.
Manchester & Lawrence Branch Pres. Peter Griffin reported on a positive meeting he, Rep. George Katsakiores and Paul Chapman had on 12 September with Manchester Airport Director Kevin Dillon and his chief engineer.
Dillon appreciated our visit and was anxious for action to be taken to get an early Airport connection with the New Hampshire Main Line. He reasoned that although an ultimate direct connection to the terminal might be desirable, that would be many years and millions of dollars away. He did say consideration would be made for an ultimate rail connection with the yet to be constructed North Terminal, and voiced his desire for a rail link with Pease-pointing out the different character of each airport and how they could function together to provide both passenger and freight service to the region.
Director Dillon was provided with the M&L ISTEA Proposal, and the petition letter to Commissioner Kenison, and was thoroughly briefed on the history and opportunities in the Manchester Airport area. Paul Chapman to work with Dillon on developing an “Airport Station” proposal.
Rail Alternatives to widening I-93: President Griffin discussed the options being looked at: light rail along the Interstate right of way, and bringing back the M&L Line or use of that corridor. Although the decision to widen I-93 has already been made (hopefully completion by 2010), NH DOT says this will be the last major highway project in the state.
MBTA. Carl Smith and Peter Griffin met with trans. planners Sept. 18 concerning how their rail plan for north of Boston might impact N.H. This plan is being initiated at the behest of the cities of Salem and Lynn, including a possible Blue Line extension to Lynn. Public hearings are to be held. MBTA's John Cosgrove is very interested in the potential for the M&L line, but it would need to be supported by double track between Andover and Reading to be viable. Planning for the double track has been initiated, but the status is uncertain.
Mayor Bernie Streeter of Nashua is interested in a meeting soon to discuss Commuter rail coming to Nashua.
High-Speed Designation of the Boston-Montreal Corridor: Led by VT Senator Jim Jeffords, a letter signed by two members of the NH Congressional delegation (Smith and Bass) and others throughout New England has sparked a follow-up letter signed by VT Agency of Transportation, MA. Executive Office of Trans. and Construction., and N.H. DOT's Carol Murray to FRA Administrator Jolene Molitoris reaffirming the designation request. HS designation would come under Title VII, Sec. 7201 of the federal TEA (Transportation Equity Act) statute for the entire 325 miles Boston - Montreal via the Nashua, Concord and WR Jct. Corridor. It was reported that high-up Canadian officials now refer to this as “The Montreal-Boston Connector”.
CN's Paul Tellier is working with others on that end including CPR with whom there is now a working agreement.. But who in Boston? $300,000 in planning/preliminary engineering funds is being requested. Meanwhile it would be helpful if Gov. Shaheen would issue an executive order freezing any more removal of rail infrastructure along the Northern, the most recent a RR overpass at Grafton. If such demolition continues in the name of "highway improvements" the cost to bring back The Northern Line will become needlessly more expensive (in deference to RSA 228:60).
The importance of the Northern to provide Canadian Coal for the Bow power plant was discussed. This is especially important as 85% of the 100 new power plants coming on line in this country in the next couple years are gas fired, just when the domestic supply of natural gas is starting to taper off! Here comes more foreign dependence!
Proposed Legislation: Rep. Katsakiores noted the time had come to test NH's commitment to the return of rail in the 21st century by enacting a $100 million RAIL BOND authorization bill. This state is fast approaching a critical point of no return after which it will be much more difficult to restore rail. It is time to decide if NH wants to join with surrounding states in bringing back its rail infrastructure.
It was noted that the costs of shipping necessary goods and commodities, like heating oil, coal, building supplies, propane, diesel and other fuels into New England, especially Northern New England, are among the highest in the nation, due in large part to a poor or antique rail system, or in some parts, no rail system at all. The Port of Portsmouth suffers because of a need to trans-load off ships onto trucks, then to rail, for lack of dockside ship-to-rail transfer facilities. The Port of Boston is also hurting for many of the same reasons with Maersk talking about a pulling out. New England labor costs tend to be high as well, in part due to all the manual handling required.
Legislative Committees From Rep. Bill Mosher, Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee on the Eastern, M&L and Northern Rail Lines, and George Katsakiores: There remains a November deadline for submitting their final report. NH Congressional delegation being invited to the next session. Reports that NH Rail Admin. Kit Morgan has been approached by MagPlane Technology requesting a 5-year lease for the 3.5 mile state-owned portion of Newburyport/Ports Line for demo purposes. How will this impact return of regular rail service?
Historic B&M Railroad Shop Demolition for Shopping Mall?: W.F. Ricketson explained that a repeat of the 1960 demolition of Concord's Boston & Maine depot may be about to recur. Concord's Mayor and City Council are about to enter into an agreement with the Richmond Company to tear down the 100-yr. old repair shops. Do they have any historical significance and should they be preserved?
This led into a discussion of Guilford's declaration of "excepted track" status for its line in and through Concord. Under FRA reg. 213.9 B such designation means maintenance is allowed to less than Class I standards;
speeds not to exceed 10 mph; no hazmat or passenger trains. Is this Guilford's way of eliminating the passenger liability issue or a fishing expedition for maintenance funds? What about the Flying Yankee?
The meeting adjourned at 8:55
Recorded: Gus Sheedy, Tink Taylor
[Paul W Chapman <mailto:milepost10@juno.com>
October 10, 2000 6:58 AM]
