CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch joined the other New England governors today in announcing a coordinated regional effort to bring high-speed rail to the region, which will work to connect coordinated regional vision for high-speed rail that will connect major cities and airports, and support economic growth throughout the region.

The governors of the six New England states are working in a coordinated manner in an effort leverage stimulus funding. Federal officials have stated that preference in awarding federal stimulus dollars will go to regional projects.

The Vision for the New England High Speed and Intercity Rail Network lays out key projects to strengthen passenger and freight rail service along new and existing rail corridors. The goal is to double passenger rail ridership in the Northeast by 2030.

“Re-establishing rail in New Hampshire is critical to our future economic growth as a state. It will help protect the environment and improve the overall quality of life in our state. That is why it is important we work together and take the necessary steps to bring commuter rail back to New Hampshire,” Gov. Lynch said. “I am pleased to join with my fellow New England governors on this coordinated strategy so we can continue the progress we have already made in returning rail to New Hampshire and the rest of the region.”

The New England governors have asked the transportation officials of their respective states to meet regularly with the New England Congressional delegation and work to advance their rail initiatives with coordinated applications for high speed rail grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, while also pursuing other federal funding opportunities. On Friday, July 10, the states submitted pre-applications as part of the competitive grant process. In August representatives from the six states will meet in Vermont at a high-speed rail summit to continue their push for a strong high-speed rail network in New England.

The six key projects in the states’ vision are:

• New Hampshire’s Capital corridor will create easily accessible passenger rail service for more than 500,000 residents of Southern New Hampshire with stops in the cities of Concord, Manchester, Nashua and Boston. The rail line will also stop at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, creating a much-needed connection for tourists and travelers from across northern New England. Eventually, this service would extend north to White River Junction, Vt., and to Montreal, fulfilling the vision of this designated High-Speed Rail Corridor.
• The Downeaster service which operates on a route included in the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor between Boston and Portland is a national model for the successful introduction of new intercity passenger rail service. The states along the Downeaster Route are working together to improve the infrastructure with the goal of reducing the travel time between Boston and Portland to two hours and increasing capacity to support 7 daily round trips.
• Vermont’s Western Corridor will provide direct service down the western side of the state connecting Burlington, Rutland, and Bennington with Albany and New York City via the Empire Corridor.
• Massachusetts will return the Vermonter to its original route through western Massachusetts via the Knowledge Corridor. This effort, supported by the State of Vermont, is a vivid example of the ongoing collaboration of two states working together to improve service and increase the number of rail passengers. The Knowledge Corridor between Springfield and White River Junction provides connection between the Boston to New Haven and the Boston to Montreal legs of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor.
• Through Connecticut’s leadership, the group will work double track and replace bridges on the Springfield Line that serves the cities of New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield in order to provide the foundation for the larger rail network. Expanded train service will provide key connections between New York City, Bradley International Airport and will allow further development of the inland high-speed rail line between Boston and New York.
• Providing the connection between Providence and Boston to TF Green Airport in Rhode Island via the Northeast Corridor as well as enhancing passenger service south of Providence will build on the long-term transportation partnership between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In addition, Rhode Island is working with Amtrak on capacity improvements along the Northeast Corridor in Southern Rhode Island that will permit bi-directional overtakes for intercity passenger rail, benefiting all users of the corridor while providing for future commuter rail infrastructure at Kingston Station.

Other projects the states will pursue include the development of corridor plans for the Boston to New Haven and Boston to Montreal segments of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor via the Inland Route through Worcester and Springfield. The Inland Route is also important as New England’s largest freight rail corridor. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts will develop corridor plans for the northern half of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor, which extends from Boston to Portland and beyond and from Boston through Concord, Vermont and terminating in Montreal. Massachusetts will continue its investment in the South Coast Rail project and continues to be supportive of building a connection between the North and South regional rail networks.

For decades the New England states have successfully worked through the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG) to promote passenger rail service in the Northeast. The completion for the electrification of the Northeast Corridor in 2000 is a prime example of the successful long-term advocacy for passenger rail. The development of the Northern New England High Speed Rail Corridor will fill in the gaps of the region’s network and be a critical element in achieving the Northeast Governors’ goal to double passenger ridership in the northeast corridor by 2030.