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Commuter rail studies continue

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On Monday, June 29 Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) signed SB 88, a bill that establishes a committee to study public-private partnerships for a commuter rail.

In November 2014 the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority (NHRTA) released the results of a feasibility study for a southern New Hampshire commuter rail.  The next step in that project was an environmental and engineering study, but the legislature decided not to fund that study in the next state budget.

SB 88 creates a committee that will look for ways to fund a commuter rail that does not rely solely on the government.

"Business leaders in southern New Hampshire have identified commuter rail as critical to their future economic growth, and I know that we can work together to make commuter rail a reality," Gov. Hassan said after signing SB 88.

Commuter rail opponents maintain that a commuter rail will not stimulate the economy like supporters hope.  In May the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a conservative-leaning think tank, released a study that concluded commuter rail only helps development when other economic investments are already in the works.

"I like seeing people who are worried and thinking New Hampshire needs more people who are employed, and it would be great if it would create jobs, but the track record kind of speaks for itself," said Josh Elliott-Traficante, a policy analyst at the Bartlett Center.

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