Hassan reintroduces passenger rail bill to help loan program February 28, 2021 GMT CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire has reintroduced a bill to help develop passenger and short line railroads. The bill, which Hassan, a Democrat, reintroduced Friday with Republican Sen. John Thune, of South Dakota, would make it easier for businesses and communities to apply for a loan program that could help finance projects like the Capitol Corridor Project that would connect Manchester and Nashua to Boston via commuter rail. “Infrastructure investments will be a critical part of our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hassan said in a statement. “Passenger rail has significant potential in New Hampshire, expanding options for commuters and helping our towns to thrive, and short line and smaller rail lines play a key role in our state’s economy. This bipartisan bill will improve financing options for both,” she said.