The New Hampshire Executive Council votes in early January on a bi-state DOT proposal to use $1.2 million in FEDERAL transportation funds to improve the rail corridor in New Hampshire.
With federal and Maine funding and New Hampshire contributions, we can:
w Make improvements in safety and capacity in the NH portion of the corridor
w Increase speeds to 80MPH on stretches where this is not now feasible, allowing a fifth daily roundtrip train with NH - Boston commuter scheduling
w Assure Downeaster fiscal stability (without this funding, long-term operation CANNOT be assured). New Hampshire funding will also help promote the service in NH where host communities are already paying for maintenance and insurance.
WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP TO CONVINCE THE NEW HAMPSHIRE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOULD PAY ITS FAIR SHARE OF DOWNEASTER SUPPORT.
w New Hampshire simply hasn't provided any significant state fiscal support for rail line construction or Downeaster operations even though NH accounts for one-third of the ridership, and has the same number of intermediate stops as Maine.
w New Hampshire communities provide the majority of Boston destined commuter traffic. The number of passengers boarding at Durham, for example, has risen to as high as 4,000 per month in 2004. And Exeter, the largest commuter station accounts for 65% of monthly passes sold.
w And if that's not enough, a recent Maine DOT study shows that in FY04 Downeaster service contributed over $8.5 million in annual business sales in NH alone, and over $3.6 million in wages to NH residents.
Please contact your Executive Councilor and tell him or her that New Hampshire needs to support the Downeaster.
Ray Burton: 338 River Road, Bath, NH 03740
Peter Spaulding: 386 Gage Hill Road, Hopkinton, NH 03229
Ruth Griffin: 479 Richards Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Ray Wieczorek: 1060 Ray Street, Manchester, NH 03104
Deborah Pignatelli (elect): 22 Applegate Green, Nashua, NH 03062
(603) 888-5245
Governor Elect and Team
John Lynch: 97 Eddy Road, P.O. Box 117, Manchester, NH 03105
NHDOT Commissioner
Carol Murray: P.O. Box 483, Concord, NH 03302 (Thank her for her support) 603-271-3735 (work), cmurray@dot.state.nh.us
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