YOUR COMMENTS

It is a fact that the roads here in Berlin need to be repaired. However, Berlin has developed a mindset that leaves them too dependent on government largesse.The money should have been spent by Berlin during the time the economy was stronger, but even then the community continued to seek out federal money. The creation of jobs never comes quickly to this area or region. The city father's are reluctant to take the small steps that can produce benefits over the long run. As long as Berlin continues to want to create jobs overnight, they will continue to seek federal help until Berlin becomes a warden of the state.
- Nathan Morin, Berlin

Don,
We are short millions because the state takes about one third of the Highway Trust Fund for its own use, thus shortchanging the repairs of our roads and bridges.
Now they are going to put a $1.50 toll between exit 1 and the Mass border to make up for the missing money. This toll is in essence a new tax and a huge inconvenience. Then Mass will put up a toll on their side of the border in retaliation. Looks like the side roads will get jammed up as people try to avoid the tolls.
That's our Government at work.
- Bill, Manchester

Everybody is out to get a piece of the stimulus pork pie eh?
- Marie, Hooksett

There is multiple comments on the costs for rail in the other article on the Downeaster because that is considered a waste of time. Now as for the roads in the north country the primary reason there is no money for them is because all the money is being spent to widen I-93 so the Southern third of the state can get to their good paying non retail , non tourist related jobs in Massachusetts. The state diverted so much money to I-93 that in order to make the books look right we had the toll road portion of I-95 buy a portion of the non toll road portion of I-95 from the state and then call it part of the toll road. We then used that money in the state for road projects while we then diverted an extra 100 million into the widening of I-93. Remember that the funding of the widening of I-93 is still at least 230 million short. If the state made I-93 a toll road and put in the toll booths on route 3 in Nashua near Spit Brook road where they had originally been designated to be built then this state would not have to short change all of it's cities and towns while it skims from them to subsidize the I-93 commuters. The trouble is the users of I-93 demand it be kept as a "free" ride for them while it "costs" the rest of use to subsidize them.
- Don Armstrong, Henniker

It seems we have an awful lot of roads in need of repair and suddenly stimulus borrowed or printed money is now the cure.

Those who support this and talk about the great job creation it brings seem to have little problem using this money that must get paid back as it also gains interest for the tax payer on projects that are temporary fixes in a region who's roads are constantly under attack by natures frost heaves.

When are people going to ask where the money went that our leaders already collect for these projects? But then I’m just a dumb uneducated citizen who must live on a budget or find a way to make more money to pay for all this. Our leaders simply print it or raise taxes. Where did the money go that our leaders already took in? Did they fall short paying for the size of our government and its many programs most of us never see? As we struggle will we listen to those telling us we should take it from our richer neighbors knowing one day that could be our sons and daughters providing they are still free to achieve wealth without government telling them how much is enough?
- Deb, Derry

Now this would be a great use of federal dollars. It would create jobs and benefit the public. Not like other government shell games, where they add our money to continue business as usual. Like dumb research at UNH and Dartmouth. Or Manchester saying money is paying cops (they already have) to work downtown for a few weeks, instead of transferring more cops to the street. We want real work with real long term results. Good luck, north country!
- Becca, Bedford

How come there are no comments about how much it costs to repair the highways? If this were a railroad expense, then the noise would be deafening about how much rail costs and that the average taxpayer should not have to pay.
- Gary, Chichester