Congresswoman Kuster Announces Rail Funding Bill, NRPC to Participate in Economic Forum, and More From NRPC

Monthly news & updates

March 3, 2020

Congresswoman Kuster Announces Invest In America Railroad Act

Proposed Changes to the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program Announced at a Roundtable Event at the NRPC Office on February 24

Pictured above, Jim Mathews, President of National Rail Passengers Association, Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess, Ann Kuster and NRPC Executive Director Jay Minkarah

Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster announced a bill intended to ease access to $35 billion in low-interest RRIF loans to support improvements to the nation's passenger and short line freight railroads. Key provisions of the bill include authorizing the US DOT to cover up to $300 million of RRIF credit risk premiums annually including $100 million exclusively reserved for passenger rail, extending RRIF loan terms from 35 to 50 years, and verifying that RRIF loans can be used to match other federal dollars. Click here for additional coverage of the event.

NRPC and the Regional Economic Development Center to hold a strategic Economic Development Visioning Session in Nashua

Are you interested in contributing to the development of the region's economic future? Join NRPC at a strategic economic visioning session on Wednesday March 11. NRPC, together with the Southern New Hampshire, Rockingham and Strafford regional planning commissions, is partnering with the Regional Economic Development Center (REDC) to host a series of visioning sessions around southern New Hampshire to provide input into the development of the REDC region's 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The Nashua region's session will take place from 9 am to 11:30 am in the 3rd floor auditorium at Nashua City Hall. Speakers include Ross Gittell, Chancellor, NH Community College System, and NRPC Executive Director Jay Minkarah. T he session will include a large group discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of our region followed by smaller breakout group discussions. The session is open to the public, but interested attendees are encouraged to RSVP. Refreshments will be provided.

Transit Expansion Feasibility Study Completed

NRPC has completed an evaluation of the feasibility of expanding fixed route public transit in the greater Nashua/Souhegan Valley area. The Nashua Transit System (NTS) is currently the only fixed route public transit service in the region and with limited exceptions, only operates within the City of Nashua. Extending transit service beyond the City borders has been identified as a regional need in previous planning documents, included the NTS Comprehensive Plan for 2016-2025 and the 2019-2045 NRPC Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

The NRPC region is the largest urbanized area in New Hampshire and the only one not served by a regional transit system. Approximately 58% of residents in the region live outside of the City and do not have access to fixed-route transit. The evaluation of new transit routes focused on major corridors that connect to the City including DW Highway in Merrimack, NH 3A in Hudson and 101A between Nashua and Milford.

For more information on transit expansion in the region, click on the button below.

Transit Expansion Study

New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) is hosting a Career and Resource Fair at the Nashua Community College on Thursday, April 16 from 3 pm to 6 pm.

For more information about the event, please email JobFair@nhes.nh.gov

To register as an employer, please visit https://www.nhes.nh.gov/media/job-fairs/

Upcoming Public Meetings

Public Calendar

2020 CEDS Visioning Session: 3/11 from 9 am to 11:30 am at Nashua City Hall, 3rd Floor Auditorium

Transportation Technical Advisory Committee: 3/11 in the NRPC Large Conference at noon

Nashua/Manchester Regional Stormwater Coalition: 3/12 at 1:00 pm in the NRPC Large Conference Room

NRPC Complete Streets Advisory Committee:

3/17 at 1:00 pm in the NRPC Large Conference Room

NRPC Executive Committee: 3/18 at 6:00 pm in the NRPC Small Conference Room

NRPC MPO/Full Commission: 3/18 at 7:00 pm in the NRPC Large Conference Room

Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District Quarterly Meeting: 3/19 at 10:00 am in the NRPC Large Conference Room

NRPC Annual Forum: 4/9 at 6 pm

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