The New Hampshire Senate voted to approve a study by the state Department of Transportation to figure out how New Hampshire could connect some of its largest cities to Massachusetts’ commuter rail network. 

A similar bill failed in the Senate last year. 

The study would provide a detailed technical analysis of the proposal and could offer a blueprint for building such a connection. The route under consideration would run from Boston to downtown Manchester, with two stops in Nashua and a stop at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in between. 

“This is a significant milestone in the effort to expand passenger rail from Boston to southern New Hampshire,” E.J. Powers, NH Business for Rail Expansion spokesman said in a statement. “Bipartisan businesses from across the state and 74 percent of residents have expressed their support for rail expansion and the role it can play to grow, diversify and strengthen New Hampshire’s economy.” 

The study is funded by the state’s toll credits and designated federal money. Gov. Chris Sununu has included federal money for further study in the state’s 10-year transportation plan. 

Backers of the rail expansion say the effort has bipartisan support and could ultimately draw as many as 668,000 weekday riders and create 5,600 permanent jobs, 9 million square feet of commercial real estate development and $750 million in real estate investment between 2021 and 2030.