Commuter Rail Gains Ground In New Hampshire

Rail supporters in New Hampshire are hopeful that the creation of a new rail authority will help bring long-sought commuter rail to the state.

1 minute read

July 16, 2007, 1:00 PM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Now, rail boosters and others say that commuters will be chugging along as soon as 2010 with the New Hampshire Legislature's creation of an authority charged with developing and managing the return of passenger service from Lowell through Nashua and Manchester."

"The 25-member authority is considered the linchpin in returning commuter rail to the state. The authority will be empowered to make contracts, collect money, and carry on other required business for the commuter rail."

"Currently, the only passenger train access to New Hampshire from the south is the Amtrak Downeaster that starts in Boston and ends in Portland, making New Hampshire stops in Dover, Durham, and Exeter. It is considered passenger rail, not commuter rail, because it makes a limited number of trips."

"Critics, though, say the authority's structure is financially dubious and fundamentally flawed. State Representative Neal Kurk , a member of the House Finance Committee, said the legislation does not identify funding sources for the rail, leaving the state vulnerable to having to come up with the money should funding not come through from other entities, like the federal government."

Monday, July 16, 2007 in The Boston Globe

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square