What The Election Could Mean For Commuter Rail in Southern New Hampshire
![A commuter rail train is seen in the Boston area. Lawmakers in New Hampshire have been debating connecting Boston’s commuter rail to Nashua and Manchester. Credit: Joe Difazio / WBUR](https://archive.nenc.news/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1101_commuter-rail-1000x666.jpg)
A commuter rail train is seen in the Boston area. Lawmakers in New Hampshire have been debating connecting Boston’s commuter rail to Nashua and Manchester. Credit: Joe Difazio / WBUR
Earlier this year, it seemed a commuter rail line could really happen for southern New Hampshire. Polling had shown 74 percent of residents support it, and lawmakers were voting on whether to use $4 million in federal dollars to connect Boston’s commuter rail to Nashua and Manchester.
The funds would cover the cost of permitting and preliminary engineering.
But on March 10, members of the House voted not to proceed with the commuter rail line.
“The rail project will require about $300 million of construction projects for the state will be responsible for bonding of about $60 million,” testified state Rep. Neal Kurk, before the House voted.