INTERMODAL · FREIGHT · PASSENGER · TOURIST
Minutes of the prior meeting approved following an amendment clarifying that the figure given in the treasurer's report also included all mailing costs (printing, etc.) not just postage.
At present there is a balance of $1,292.95 in the NHRRA account including the above postage cost withdrawal and two deposits received today. [Steve Flanders]
John DiNapoli of the Economic Development Div. within the NH Dept Resources & Economic Development is due momentarily to talk about the importance of freight rail. He is our featured speaker.
Election of officers for the ensuing year: Members need to start thinking about filling the various vacancies. Peter Griffin is willing to stay on (his term expires in May) to serve a fourth term as president but this will require either an amendment to the bylaws (repealing the term limit of 3 years) "waiving the rules" to pass over this requirement. A two-thirds vote is required in either instance. Discussion followed as to which was the best way to go. Meanwhile it was decided, upon a motion by Gary Kerr with Jimmy Whittemore seconding: that notification to the membership that such action was to be considered would be satisfied by THIS NOTICE and that the matter would be brought up for ratification on 26 February, location to be determined. So voted.
David White stressed the need for further short line rehabilitation in order to further develop tourism. Should NHRRA call all the short lines together? Paul Chapman apparently wants to involve the larger RRs in any such discussion, especially to discuss freight interchanging needs. Mel True: Maintenance of these short line rights of way is crucial to holding onto RRs in the state.
Ron Ward: Ultimately all interchange traffic leads us back to Guilford so they will have to be brought in at some point. John Palmer noted that Guilford Transportation was receiving considerable benefit from the use of state-owned RR equipment, materials, track work, contracts to its own crews, etc. all with taxpayers dollars, so they should be willing to cooperate.
Carl Smith moved, John Palmer seconded; That NHRRA call together the short line operators of N.H., appropriate NH DOT folks, and others no later than early March for such a session. So voted.
Peter Griffin: A panel of ten advisors has been named to come up with a nominee for NH DOT commissioner. Those advisors include Bernie Streeter, Nashua mayor; Cliff Sinnott, Rockingham County planner; the head of Laconia Transit; the CEO of Readi-Mix Concrete, and Susan Arnold of the governor's office. Carol Murray may have a conflict of interest with her husband high up in Audley Construction Corp., one of DOT's biggest contractors. This appearance of conflict has been referred to the AG's office for legal clarification.
Milford & Bennington Line: [Ron Ward] American Steel is not interested in rail service but tourism seen as a real opportunity. But Hillsboro is looking to expand its industrial base. And there is a need to preserve the railbed from Henniker west to Antrim (Hopkinton Hydro Dam wiped out east the rest).
Manchester & Lawrence: [John Palmer] Problem with the creation of four potential at-grade crossings. South Willow St. traffic fierce with parts of M&L recently paved over. TruValue Hardware has 75 truck bays right on the line; are prime candidates for rail service. Will this line ever become a viable connection to Manchester Airport? Where is CLF lawsuit for Fred Testa's removal of 3000-ft of rail?
Northern Railroad: [Tink Taylor] Discussed whether an "open house" in the form of a day-long trip for the press, political decision-makers, planners, CLF members, local groups, might better acquaint the general public to what is still there and what is being proposed. Self-guiding tours (with maps and directions) featuring stop-over stations along the way manned by knowledgeable guides (like the Andover Historical Society) ending in Lebanon or White River Jct. with a lunch. Route 4 lends itself very well to such a concept with participants easily finding their way, able to cut off to meet deadlines. No action taken on this other than to suggest that Karen Songhurst (VT planning office) be included into any planning.
Legislative Affairs: Rep. George Katsakiores has withdrawn his bill to provide $100 million for a rail revitalization trust fund after speaking with the state treasurer. For lack of an identifiable "revenue stream" as a way to pay back such bonds would not sell. Right now, with the state's educational funding shortfall, NH faces a credibility crunch with investors of bonds dwarfing anything else.
But a bill to establish an ongoing Manchester & Lawrence RR/Northern RR Line Task Force is proceeding. Carl Smith noted that the M&L was NOT really part of the high-speed rail corridor recently designated and therefore might not qualify for US DOT planning funds. The state of Vermont is the lead agency in overseeing the high-speed Boston-Montreal Corridor study about to start.
A bill to cap RR Liability at $75 million bringing NH into line with other New England states, and with Guilford insisting before it can do business here, is proceeding despite opposition from trial lawyers. Several lawyers sit on the Judiciary Committee so there is no telling how the legislation will fare.
Steve Flanders: Cohen Scrap Metal in Concord will soon be shipping in 286,000-lb. gondolas. This will most likely call for some beefing up of the Main Line for an interchange with CSX.
Tink Taylor: Noted that Sen. Ned Gordon (R-Bristol) had expressed a willingness to sponsor an amendment to RSA 228:60-a (I) providing that when RR infrastructure is ripped out for "highway improvement" purposes that funds be set aside in a trust fund to put back the rails. Reps. Whittemore and Katsakiores will be in touch with Ned.
Upcoming model RR shows:
Mr. DiNapoli was a no show.
Meeting adjourned at 2125 hr.
[Malcolm T Taylor <northeastnews@juno.com> January 26, 2001 2:51 PM]
