NH House Adopts Senate Effort to Fund Rail Trail Study
May 8, 2019
Contact Name: Sara Persechino
Phone: (603) 271-3479
Email: Sara.Persechino@leg.state.nh.us
CONCORD—Today, the New Hampshire House of Representatives passed SB 185-FN-A, which requires the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a plan to ensure the preservation and integrity of the rail corridors and provide direction for further development and determine how to engage towns, cities, and private rail trail organizations in this effort. SB 185-FN also provides a General Fund appropriation of $200,000 to the DOT in FY 2020 to complete the study and passed the Senate in March.
Senator Jay Kahn (D-Keene), prime sponsor of the bill, issued the following statement after the vote:
“Now is the time to establish a rail trail advisory committee and provide funding to update the state rail trails plan. The state, in partnership with municipalities, towns, and private organizations, is developing rail trails, trying to connect the parts together. The state’s rail trail plan and inventory have not been updated since 2005. SB 185 is an important step to ensure a set of criteria to evaluate future rail trail investment priorities and that all parties have clear responsibilities and expectations for trail maintenance. I applaud today’s bipartisan House vote to increase funding for municipal rail trails and shared maintenance agreements which will boost tourism and economic development opportunities along New Hampshire’s trails.”
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