A series of public meetings about the statewide rail system kicks off in Portsmouth this month. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will hold the first of three meetings at Portsmouth City Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 29.

The DOT is in the process of updating the New Hampshire State Rail Plan to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system. They’ve already identified a set of recommendations aimed at improving the state’s rail network.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the draft recommendations by attending one of the meetings or visiting www.nh.gov/dot and clicking on “Rail and Transit Info” and then “New Hampshire State Rail Plan.”

The meeting in Portsmouth takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers at 1 Junkins Ave. Subsequent meetings takes place in Nashua on Monday, March 5, and Berlin on Thursday, March 8.