Senate Committee Advances Bipartisan Hassan Bill to Support Passenger Rail in New Hampshire and Across the Country

WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted to pass the Surface Transportation Investment Act, which includes a bipartisan bill that U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Thune (R-SD) introduced to improve a loan program used to help develop passenger and short line railroads in New Hampshire and across the country. The bipartisan legislation would streamline the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Loan program application process, making it easier for businesses and communities to apply, while also making the program more flexible to better support a wider range of local transportation projects. The loan could be used to help finance projects like the Capitol Corridor Project that would connect Manchester and Nashua to Boston via passenger rail.

“Expanding passenger rail in New Hampshire will reduce traffic on I-93, help commuters, and boost New Hampshire’s economy,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan bill will make financing passenger and short line projects more accessible by making it easier for businesses and communities to apply for designated federal loans. I am pleased to see this important bill advance, and I will keep working on bipartisan efforts to invest in infrastructure, including passenger rail.”

Senator Hassan has long fought to bring passenger rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester, including signing legislation as Governor to help advance an earlier study necessary to move the project forward. Senator Hassan is working across the aisle on a bipartisan infrastructure package that could include significant investments in passenger rail. In addition, earlier this year, Senator Hassan met with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and during their meeting they discussed how the Transportation Department can better support passenger rail projects, such as the Capitol Corridor Project.

###