BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
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CLAREMONT — Amid development of the New Hampshire’s first-ever freight plan, officials say that improved transportation infrastructure is key to the region’s economic growth.
State and local government officials met in Claremont on Thursday provide input for the development of a comprehensive statewide freight plan. The plan will address needs and opportunities across the state’s freight network – the infrastructure used to transport goods from producers to consumers.
City Manager Ryan McNutt delivered the opening remarks for the summit, urging state officials to consider improvements in the rail infrastructure that would directly benefit the city. With the city’s central downtown hub – Opera House Square — being part of a trucking route, wear and tear on downtown roads is high.
“Many of the industries in Claremont use that every day – big 18-wheelers rumbling down that road. Those big heavy trucks put a lot of wear and tear on the road,” McNutt said. “If we were able to alleviate the amount of trucking necessary by increasing the amount of stuff transported by rail, it would be incredibly beneficial to the city of Claremont.”
Road maintenance costs are high across the city’s 214 lane miles of road – a cost that McNutt said is a major driver of budget decisions. With the current wear and tear on city roads, officials face more than $750,000 in road maintenance related costs each year.
“If we can reduce the heavy trucks driving on them, that’s one less pressure point putting wear and tear on the roads, reducing the taxpayer burden or possibly making it more manageable,” McNutt said.
Beyond reducing costs associated with current transportation models, rail improvements show promise for improving the area’s industrial base. In Claremont, for instance, major manufacturers like Canam-Bridges truck materials in and out of its facility each day. Rail improvements that make shipping more cost effective could attract other major businesses to the region, McNutt said.
“We have the opportunity to bring some of that rail line back to life, transport our products, increasing the viability of lowering transportation costs for businesses that are looking to move into Claremont,” McNutt said. “There’s a number of beneficial aspects to having a viable statewide freight rail plan.”
Sullivan County is one of two counties across New England that is seeing growth in traditional manufacturing sectors. Still, while the rate of all job growth across New Hampshire is higher than the national average, population growth has fallen behind the national average. Across much of the state, including Claremont, a low unemployment rate plays a role in workforce shortages.
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