Trainriders NE - Don’t let NH derail the Downeaster! Executive Council to Vote March 23rd!

Don’t let NH derail the Downeaster! Executive Council to Vote March 23rd!

Rail Travelers and Advocates Unite!

Don’t let NH derail the Downeaster!

The New Hampshire Executive Council will vote on March 23 on a bi-state DOT proposal to use $1.2 million of federal transportation funds to improve the rail corridor in New Hampshire. It’s a great idea to improve rail safety, freight capacity and Downeaster service to our state.

We urgently need your help to convince the Executive Council

to support this project!

What would the project do?

· Invest $1.6 million federal and Maine funds in the NH rail corridor

· Permit a 5^th daily roundtrip train with favorable commute scheduling

· Allow faster speeds and a smoother ride

· Permit a future station at the existing Plaistow, NH Park and Ride

· Permit safer movement of freight

· Provide fiscal stability for the Downeaster

Without this investment, long-term operation cannot be assured.

Why Should NH share some of its federal funds?

· New Hampshire riders account for about 34% of Downeaster ridership.

· To date, over 280,000 Downeaster riders have traveled in or out of NH.

· NH has not provided any significant state fiscal support for the rail construction or Downeaster operations, but financially supports other public and private bus transit systems by purchasing buses and constructing stations and free Park and Ride lots. Bus service has received over $9 million in federal investment in the seacoast!

· NH communities provide the majority of Boston destined commuter traffic.

· The Downeaster provides the only DAILY regional transit service to ALL station communities along the corridor and integrates with MBTA and shuttles to Logan.

· Overall NH daily ridership has grown more than 30% from Jan 2002 to present

· The Downeaster is a cost effective means of transportation.

It's Time for New Hampshire to support the Downeaster

and it doesn’t cost NH taxpayers a penny.

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Please contact the NH Executive Council and tell them to support the Downeaster rail upgrade proposal. (Contact list on reverse)

If you are a New Hampshire resident or visitor who uses the Downeaster, e-mail, call or write to one or more of the Executive Councilors encouraging them to Vote in Favor of the CMAQ proposal at their March 23 meeting

This Downeaster proposal requests that federal funds (CMAQ) be used to reduce Congestion and improve Air Quality. The project is unanimously supported by the Seacoast Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the New Hampshire CMAQ Committee. It has also been supported by the NHDOT, the City of Dover, the Town of Exeter, The Town of Durham, UNH, UNH Student Senate and others.

In October 2004, over 11,000 riders from NH communities rode the Downeaster – a new record! Let’s keep the progress growing and make the Downeaster even better!

Click HERE to e-mail a letter to the NH Executive Councilors, Governor Lynch and NHDOT Commissioner Carol Murray

Executive Councilors By District: