Section 238-A:9 Funding. - New Hampshire Statutes

The authority shall seek, apply for, accept for its use, and use funds necessary for the implementation of this chapter.
   I. Such funds shall be spent first to develop and initiate, at the earliest practicable time, regularly scheduled commuter rail service between Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire.
   II. The authority shall seek and use funds to extend regularly scheduled commuter rail or other similar forms of passenger rail service, to the extent practicable, to other points within the state of New Hampshire.
   III. The authority shall seek and expend funds as necessary to coordinate with other government agencies providing public transportation services that support or complement regularly scheduled commuter or other form of passenger rail service identified in paragraphs I and II.
   IV. The authority shall use any revenues it receives from the operation of the passenger rail service and any ancillary support facilities and services established under this chapter, including fares, fees, rents, royalties, and other revenues, to pay the operational expenses of that service. The authority shall seek and use funds necessary to pay all operational expenses of its passenger rail service that are not met by fares and other authority funds or revenues. For the purposes of this section, ""operational expenses'' include, but are not limited to, all ongoing capital expenses necessary to maintain the passenger rail service.
   V. The authority may take all actions, consistent with this chapter, that are necessary to apply for, qualify for, accept, and disburse any money that the federal government may grant or loan to the authority to fund any actions the board of directors deems necessary under this chapter.
   VI. Any government agency may allocate money and take other actions that may aid in the implementation of this chapter. The authority may provide funds, including loans and matching grants, to government agencies in order to encourage their participation in implementing this chapter.
   VII. The authority shall use its best efforts to ensure that fares for passenger rail service established under this chapter be set at reasonable levels to encourage use of this service.
   VIII. The authority shall obtain all additional funds, through borrowing, revenues, or other means, necessary to satisfy operating deficits arising from expenses, including capital expenditures, necessary to ensure the continuation of passenger rail service established pursuant to this chapter.

Source. 2007, 360:1, eff. July 17, 2007.