Executive Council to Take Up Rail Study

A two-part rail study will go before the New Hampshire Executive Council for authorization on Feb. 6, seeking to use federal funding awarded for the analysis.

The Department of Transportation is seeking a study of the Boston, Mass. to Concord, N.H. rail corridor. The study would include an Alternatives Analysis of transit options in the Lowell-Nashua-Manchester portion of the corridor along with a service development plan for intercity passenger rail in the corridor between Boston and Concord, N.H.

The maximum cost of the study is $3,655,752.

Recently agreeing to that cost was URS Corporation, a Salem-based firm, which was chosen among nine regional consultants to conduct the study. Salem's Parsons Brinckerhoff was also a candidate.

"The first has an excellent reputation and has demonstrated their capability to perform the required services," said a written statement from DOT Commissioner Christopher Clement regarding URS Corporation.

The consultant selection process began in March 2011.

Clement also referred to the study cost as "reasonable" given the complexity and scope of the project.

A total of 88.75 percent of the study would come from federal funds, with 11.25 percent coming from general funds.

Specific funding and project scope details are available in the document attached to the top right of this article.

The agreement has also been approved by the N.H. Attorney General.