CONCORD — With almost a year to go before a comprehensive, detailed state study on the feasibility of bringing commuter rail to New Hampshire is expected to be released, nine Republican state representatives and state Sen. Gary Daniels have crafted legislation that would, if passed, prohibit any state funds from being used on new commuter rail-related projects.

The legislation, designated HB 1432 and titled “an act prohibiting the use of state funds for new passenger rail projects,” will be the topic of a public hearing that the House Committee on Public Works and Highways has scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday in Legislative Office Building room 201.

More specifically, the bill prohibits the state Department of Transportation from utilizing state funds “for the planning, construction, operation or management of new passenger rail projects.”

“My question is, ‘why now?'” Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce executive director Wendy Hunt said. “Why basically kill the chance at rail before the committee has all the facts?”

Hunt noted that the study — the engineering, environmental, and financial plan — “will not be completed until January 2023.” Suggesting the committee table the bill until then, Hunt said legislators and the public would then know all the facts and have “a full understanding of the costs and benefits of rail expansion,” which she referred to as “this important economic opportunity for New Hampshire.”

Hunt said a lot of work and effort by a lot of people, especially those in the business community, has gone into extending commuter rail into New Hampshire.

“My stance is, the Nashua business community has emphatically supported this for a very long time,” Hunt said, emphasizing that the Chamber “represents upwards of 400 businesses, which employ tens of thousands of our state’s residents and generate millions in economic activity,”

The Chamber’s position, Hunt said, is that “this bill is clearly premature … it seems more appropriate for the legislature to wait until the (study) is completed.

“I’d at least like (for lawmakers) to have all the information before they vote on it.”

Meanwhile, Nashua Rail Committee member Dan Kelly painted a rather bleak picture of the commuter rail landscape should HB 1432 pass.

“In my opinion, this may be the last opportunity for bringing passenger rail to NH and possibly our last opportunity for growth in our future economic development,” Kelly said.

Passage of the bill could very well have “a long-reaching impact on New Hampshire’s ability to attract new business,” he said, and could also have a negative effect on current businesses.

Kelly pointed out that because federal officials aren’t likely to support any project that does not have state support, “this bill, as written, would shut the door on any federal support for this project … .”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.