The Importance of Rural Transit in Northern NH Discussed at Tamworth Meeting

New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) Commissioner Chris Clement joined District One Executive Councilor Ray Burton and others on Thursday, September 27, 2012 to discuss the transit services currently being provided in northern New Hampshire. The meeting was held at the Tri-County Community Action Program Resource Center in Tamworth.

“At the NHDOT, we feel it’s our mission to support the economy and create jobs by providing safe and reliable transportation services and infrastructure,” Commissioner Clement said. “We appreciate and understand that safe and reliable transit promotes self-sufficiency, provides much needed access to healthcare, offers overall independence for our seniors and our disabled citizens, and is beneficial to the environment.”

Executive Councilor Burton emphasized the importance of federal funding for these transit services. Van Chestnut from Advanced Transit emphasized the importance of transit in New Hampshire. Jim Jalbert from C&J Trailways focused on the importance of a multi-modal transportation system to both the users and the private sector, and Bev Raymond from Tri-County CAP gave a quick history of the development of the transit services provided by her agency.

Ridership Figures for State Fiscal Year 2012 include:
• North Country Transit provided 52, 968 rides to North Country citizens.
• Advanced Transit provided 803,170 rides to North Country and Upper Valley residents.
• Intercity bus services (Concord Coach) provided 17,800 rides in northern NH on State subsidized routes.

Photo (click to enlarge) – Those speaking at the meeting on Rural Transit in the North Country held in Tamworth included: (left to right) Jim Jalbert, C&J Trailways; Joe Costello, Tri-Country Community Action Program CEO; NHDOT Commissioner Chris Clement; Bev Raymond, Tri-County CAP Transportation Director; Van Chesnut, NH Transit Association; and Executive Councilor Ray Burton.

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The Carroll County Restorative Justice Center is now offering monitored, supervised, and therapeutic Visitation Services, as well as Family and Individual Counseling at their Tamworth and Conway locations. You can learn more about these services here.