INTERMODAL
·
FREIGHT ·
PASSENGER ·
TOURIST
REPORT ON PUBLIC FORUM, 10/22/01
The Forum, held at the N.H. Safety
Council offices in Concord featured Christopher "Kit" Morgan, Rail
Administrator/NH DOT, and John DiNapoli, Industrial Dev. Representative, NH
Dept Resources and Economic Development.
The meeting started promptly at 7:00 PM. The objective was to glean an overview of what the “official”
state position was as to the status of industrial development as associated
with rail transportation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kit Morgan passed out copies of NH's
latest State Rail Plan [Available online in Acrobat Format] which included an inventory
of the state's remaining rail lines, indications of where limited investment
funds should be directed, and a look at commuter rail potential.
Kit indicated that because much of
the 459 miles of track in NH is privately owned, planning becomes very
difficult. He expressed the unrealistic hope that the rail system, unlike all
other modes of transportation, could become profitable enough so that subsidies
would not be needed. He also indicated it was hard to get a handle on actual
tonnage figures because this information is proprietary in nature.
As far as NH rail corridors meeting
new 21st Century standards for axel loading and clearance, only the NH North
Coast and Guilford Main Line can accommodate 286,000 pound cars, and the only
double-stack capability in NH is St. Lawrence & Atlantic RR across the
northern tier.
Kit indicated most tonnage except
for the weekly coal train to Bow is "bridge traffic" to Maine. Kit
emphasized that abandoned rights-of-way should be preserved for potential
future rail use, and there is an acquisition fund for buying up abandoned lines. There is no rail cost-sharing program in NH
as in abutting states but there is a modest revolving loan fund for
improvements. However specific projects must be bonded [and without a broad
based tax NH leaves $millions in available money in Washington because of the
inability to provide matching funds - ed].
Kit indicated future studies should
include: a closer look at passenger rail, the establishment of guidelines for
management of abandoned corridors, supporting provision for 286k and
double-stack RR cars, and participation in regional rail planning.
On projects underway or being
planned, Kit indicated the alternatives being considered for the I-93 corridor
from Manchester to the MA State Line were: reviving the Manchester &
Lawrence Line, upgrading Guilford's Main Line, or running track down the I-93
median. [Studies have shown that
upgrading the main line will not help the I-93 problem - ed].
For the Lowell to Nashua MBTA
Commuter extension, the pre-engineering study is underway to
be
completed by summer 2002. The next hurdle will be negotiations with Guilford
and MBTA over operations. The project is continually waiting for the next
increment of federal funding.
The Boston/Montreal Corridor
High-Speed Rail (90 mph+) study is underway with Vermont taking the lead with
Mass. and Quebec as partners. New Hampshire is supporting the study but taking
a back seat. There are 11 such designated HS corridors nationwide splitting $5
million in planning and pre-engineering funds between them. Key issues include
determining if potential shippers exist, passenger potential, elimination of
hazards (i.e., at-grade crossings). The selected consultant scheduled to be on
board in November.
Following Kit’s remarks there was a
20 minute question and answer period.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John DiNapoli began his presentation
by distributing a packet of information concerning State industrial
development planning to each of the attendees.
His responsibility is to recruit businesses to (re)locate to NH. Over the
past two years over 2 million square feet have been leased or purchased
creating 10,000 new jobs. Some of those jobs are now being lost (11,000
lay-offs in 2001 alone) due to the economic downturn and Sept. 11 attacks.
John cited the biggest attractors to
NH: [dedicated and talented work-force
- ed], no sales or income tax, only a 5% machinery tax, lower unemployment
[changed since 9-11, but if true would make qualified workers hard to find -
ed], less costly work force overhead (lower wages and fringes?), fewer costly
government services, system of Interstate highways.
John indicated there were very few
inquiries about the availability of rail service [contrasts with PSNH that
indicated they have received many inquiries - ed]. John indicated the Port of Portsmouth was a "non
factor" in whether a company (re)locates to New Hampshire.
Since John’s remarks were so clear
and he took questions as he went along, there were very few questions
afterward.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Griffin thanked the speakers
for their remarks which were attentively received, and welcomed new and
renewing members Kenneth Milender of Warner, Richard Currier of Contoocook, and
“Cara” Nagy of Chichester.
Recorded: Malcolm T Taylor, Gus Sheedy
<Paul W Chapman [milepost10@juno.com] November 16,
2001 8:03 AM>
