New Hampshire Railroad Revitalization Association

Former Presidential Candidate to Highlight Passenger Rail
Press Release
Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission
June 27, 2008

For Immediate Release
June 27, 2008
Contact: Nik Coates, Planner
603-391-6811

Former Presidential Candidate to Highlight Passenger Rail Discussion in NH:
“Rail as the Economic Engine for NH and the Region: A Time for Action"

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Former U.S. Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis will be the keynote speaker for an action-oriented discussion about the economic impacts of passenger rail in New Hampshire and New England.

New Hampshire State Senator Peter Burling, who is also chairman of the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority, and a prominent state lawmaker to be announced will join Gov. Dukakis in the discussion. Additional speakers known regionally will be announced as they are confirmed. Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, will serve as moderator.

The event will focus on the economic justification for rail in New Hampshire and how the New England region will work together to rebuild key strategic routes to remain competitive both globally and within the US. Also, New Hampshire's commitment to leadership in regional rail infrastructure planning will be discussed, the new NH Capitol Corridor project, an exciting plan to return passenger rail from Concord, N.H., to Boston, and other regional rail initiatives will be discussed.

The event is scheduled for July 14 at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics Auditorium at St. Anselm College and is free and open to the public. Auditorium doors will open to the general public at 6:30 p.m. and the speaking portion of the evening will be from 7-8:30 p.m.

Seating will be first come, first serve and overflow traffic will be able to watch the event on teleconference.

The New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission and New Hampshire Rail Revitalization Association are sponsoring the event.

Directions to the Auditorium are located at NHIOP website: http://www.anselm.edu/nhiop/about/directions.htm

Media access to the speakers will be from 8:30-9 p.m. David Preece, executive director of SNHPC and Peter Griffin, President of the NHRRA, will also be available for comment.