Kevin Landrigan reports in the Nashua Telegraph that DOT Commissioner George Campbell prevented open bidding for a 24- mile section of railroad track currently operated by State Representative Peter Leishman:
Transportation Commissioner George Campbell ducked a major bullet this week in sending to the Executive Council on Wednesday the 10-year renewal lease for the operation of the Milford-Bennington Railroad, a freight line owned by Rep. Peter Leishman, D-Peterborough.
For the past 20 years, Leishman has run the 24-mile, former Boston and Maine track stretch that has rights from Pan-Am Railway since 1987.
It operates daily trains from a Bennington quarry to bring construction material to Granite State Concrete in Milford.
Campbell said Leishman did not properly seek an extension of the lease and when he did submit paperwork, it failed "procedural requirements.'' (more)
It's nice to have state officials looking out for us, even when we fail to submit our paperwork on time. I'm sure lots of New Hampshire citizens who aren't State House insiders get this kind of treatment all the time. Landrigan also reports on renewed efforts to bring commuter rail from Boston to Vermont. Campbell has been seeking $300 million in stimulus money from Washington for the project.
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