Health & Fitness
Larsen, Boutin Win Approval of Concord to Manchester Airport Bus Service
Senators worked with broad coalition to craft solution.
State Sens. Sylvia Larsen (D-Concord) and David Boutin (R-Hooksett) lauded the unanimous approval today by the Capitol Budget Overview Committee of Toll Credits to support a new bus service between Concord, Manchester, and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
“I have heard from the people and businesses that I represent that they want more options to get to the airport,” said Larsen. “This bus service will connect the state’s largest and third-largest cities with one of our state’s biggest economic assets: the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. It will benefit not only the economies of Concord and Manchester but also the state, while increasing the convenience of travel for our citizens. It was only through the solid efforts of Sen. Boutin, Rep. Candace Bouchard, the Manchester Transit Authority, and the Department of Transportation working closely together that we were able to make this happen.”
“The airport is a key economic driver for our state and my region in particular, and this service is going to help support the airport and all of the businesses and people who use it,” said Boutin. “This service will make our airport more competitive with Boston by helping to draw travelers from Concord, from Nashua, and from towns in the north which will now be able to connect by bus the whole way. This was a completely bipartisan, team effort with all of the stakeholders involved, and it is a great solution.”
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Sens. Larsen and Boutin and Rep. Bouchard worked closely with the Manchester Transit Authority, the Department of Transportation, the airport, the regional planning commissions in Manchester and Concord, and the private sector to hear ideas and concerns and work out a plan for service. The Manchester Transit Authority took a lead role in developing the plan and will run the service, which is expected to begin this summer.
The toll credits will leverage $160,000 in federal funding available to the MTA to run the service for one year, during which a study of a longer term service will be conducted. The bus service is expected to begin in July 2013 and will offer connections to airport flights from 4 a.m. until after midnight.
