The Bureau of Rail & Transit is comprised of the following two sections:

Railroads | Public Transportation (Direct link to grants info) | Bicycle & Pedestrian (part of Highway Design effective 02/15/19)

• NH State Rail Trails Plan Project Website
  • Plan is currently in development. Visit website for more information
    • 3rd NH Rail Trails Plan Advisory Committee Meeting was held virtually via Zoom, with a phone option, on 05/03/21, 2:30-4:15pm
      • Meeting agenda & minutes will be posted on the project website

Railroads: The railroad programs include track inspection and safety investigation in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration, a revolving loan program for railroads, a dedicated railroad fund for improvements to state-owned rail lines, and acquisition and preservation of railroad corridors for future use. The Department completed work on an updated State Rail Plan in June 2012.

Recent rail-related projects, studies & solicitations:

• 2020 Railroad Revolving Loan Fund Solicitation (posted 07/20/2020)
  • Memo to Railroads
  • Loan Information Packet
  • Loan Application
• 2019 Conway Branch Railroad Line Request for Information (RFI)(posted 03/14/19)
  • Conway Branch Railroad Line Feasibility Study (dated June 30, 2004)
  • State of NH's deed for the Conway Branch (includes Boston & Maine Corporation's perpetual exclusive freight rail transportation easement)

Information on previous rail-related projects, studies, etc.

• NH Capitol Corridor
  • 2014 Capitol Corridor Rail & Transit Alternatives Analysis information, including the Final Report.
    • The project included a study of potential rail and bus transit investments in the NH Capitol Corridor, which connects the major population centers of New Hampshire to metropolitan Boston, and the development of a service development plan and related documents for intercity passenger rail between Boston, MA and Concord, NH. This study took a multimodal, systems-wide approach in the development of a menu of alternatives that were provided for review and consideration for the public and policymakers.
  • 2021 Nashua - Manchester Project Development Phase
    • NHDOT has engaged the services of a consultant team, led by AECOM Technical Services, that will include preliminary engineering, environmental assessment, financial plan development, public involvement services, and preliminary design to meet the requirements of the FTA Section 5309 Capital Investment Grant Program Project Development/Engineering phase for the extension of MBTA commuter rail services from Lowell, MA to Nashua and Manchester, NH.
    • Additional information will be posted as available

Public Transportation: The public transportation program includes federal grants for transit operations, capital improvements, planning, technical assistance and training.

• 2021 Public Transportation in NH A snapshot of how public transportation is funded and structured throughout NH. Special thanks to Nashua Transit System, which produced this info-packed overview in cooperation with New Hampshire Transit Association (NHTA).
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Info: Please refer to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) website for information: https://www.transit.dot.gov/coronavirus
  • The FTA website includes links to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Request for Qualifications: Long Term Lease/Concession Agreement of the Dover and Portsmouth Bus Terminals (posted 06/24/19)
  • The New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is seeking a partnership through execution of a Facilities Lease/Concession Agreement with a private entity to undertake the development and long-term operation of its two bus terminals/park & ride lots located in Portsmouth and Dover, NH.  Qualification packages must be submitted in accordance with the solicitation, by 2:30pm on August 16, 2019. 
  • Questions & Answers to Facility Operator Inquiry Forms received (posted on 08/02/19)
    • Form 1a(posted on 08/02/19)
    • Form 2a(posted on 08/02/19)
    • Reference Documents
      • Current Operator/NHDOT Agreements
        • Dover
        • Portsmouth
      • 2017 and historic facility operating costs
        • Dover
        • Portsmouth
      • Parking utilization data (Dover and Portsmouth)
      • Site & Building Plans
        • Dover - site plan
        • Dover - building
        • Portsmouth - original site plan
        • Portsmouth - 1st expansion
        • Portsmouth - 2nd expansion
        • Portsmouth - building
      • Applicable FHWA, FTA, and FAA requirements (List is not exhaustive)
        • FAA - Interim Land Use RPZ Guidance - 2012
        • FHWA - 23 CFR 810
        • FHWA - Civil Rights
        • FTA - Transit Asset Management
        • FTA - Civil Rights & Americans with Disabilities Act
      • NHDOT-FHWA Early Development Agreement (EDA)
      • FEBRUARY 2020 UPDATE: The draft Request for Proposals can be found here:
        • https://www.nh.gov/dot/programs/public-private-partnership/index.htm
• Statewide Strategic Transit Assessment (SSTA) Study: The Strategic Statewide Transit Assessment (SSTA) is intended to be a guide toward a sustainable future for public transit in New Hampshire. The study was a three-year process that was completed in January 2020. Through more than a dozen separate tasks, the study team, led by Steadman Hill Consulting, Inc., worked with NHDOT’s Bureau of Rail and Transit to take a comprehensive look at bus transportation in the state and consider ways that it could better meet the needs of New Hampshire residents. The study was cognizant of the role of demand response transportation and rail as well, but these modes were not the focus of the effort. The study includes a main report along with several appendices, all of which can be viewed here:
  • SSTA Final Report
  • Appendix A: NHDOT Policy
  • Appendix B: Inventory
  • Appendix C: RPC Outreach
  • Appendix D: Park & Ride
  • Appendix E: Demographic Maps
  • Appendix F: Commuting Maps
  • Appendix G: Survey Results
  • Appendix H: Technology
  • Additional documents and data related to the study may be available. Please contact Fred Butlerfor all such requests.
• FTA GRANT & FUNDING INFO for State of NH Fiscal Year 2019 (including applications & other pertinent documents for SFY19 and prior years)
• Map of NH Transit Services with contact info
• STATE COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION (SCC) information

Bicycle and Pedestrian: This program assists individuals, communities and groups to improve opportunities for non-motorized travel. (Please note effective 02/15/19 the Bicycle & Pedestrian Section has moved to the Bureau of Highway Design and the point of contact is Nick Sanders or 603-271-1668)

State Bicycle Maps are available.

Ridesharing: Online ridematching software will assist those who wish to carpool and information about the state's park & ride lots can be found for transit users, carpools and vanpools.

Bureau Projects: Information on recent & noteworthy projects