The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved one so-called Tiger grantin New Hampshire, providing $1.4 million to improve 42 miles of rail line between Rochester and Ossipee. But a request for funds for Coos Country failed.
The grants were sought under the federal government’s Transportation Investment Generating Economy Recovery program nicknamed "Tiger."
New Hampshire’s congressional delegation joined the state department of transportation in seeking several grants for the state.
North Country economic development officials had been crossing their fingers for one of them. It was for $8 million dollars to improve 17 miles of the Lawrence & Atlantic Railway line which crosses Coosnear Groveton.
The improvements would have allowed higher-speed traffic. Transportation of goods throughout the North Country has been a problem, and it was hoped such an upgrade would help economic development.
The $1.4 million grant for the New Hampshire Northcoast Railroad was announced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Democrat Representatives Carol Shea-Porter and Annie Kuster. In a statement the congressional delegation described the line as “a vital U.S. link for an economically-distressed area of our state.”