Bill Text - HB391 (2009)

Authorizing the department of transportation to convey a portion of interstate highways to the bureau of turnpikes, to redefine the eastern New Hampshire turnpike, and to increase the aggregate amount of bonds the state may issue.


Revision: Jan. 16, 2009, midnight

2009 SESSION

09-0836

06/04

HOUSE BILL 391

AN ACT authorizing the department of transportation to convey a portion of interstate highways to the bureau of turnpikes, to redefine the eastern New Hampshire turnpike, and to increase the aggregate amount of bonds the state may issue.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bouchard, Merr 11

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the department of transportation to convey a portion of interstate highways to the bureau of turnpikes and defines certain highways, redefine the eastern New Hampshire turnpike, and increase the aggregate amount of bonds the state may issue.

This bill is a request of the department of transportation.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0836

06/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT authorizing the department of transportation to convey a portion of interstate highways to the bureau of turnpikes, to redefine the eastern New Hampshire turnpike, and to increase the aggregate amount of bonds the state may issue.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Acquisition; Authority Granted. The department of transportation acting by and on behalf of the state is hereby authorized to convey to the New Hampshire bureau of turnpikes, and the New Hampshire bureau of turnpikes is authorized to acquire from the state, a portion of I-95 in the city of Portsmouth for the sum of $120,000,000 and on such other terms and provisions as the commissioner of transportation and the New Hampshire bureau of turnpikes determine are reasonable or necessary to complete the acquisition.

2 Highway Definition. The portion of I-95 acquired is from the northerly expansion joint of the I-95 bridge over the Spaulding turnpike, US 4 and N.H. 16 (bridge No. 197/122) north to a point on the NH-ME boundary in the city of Portsmouth. This section of highway will become part of the eastern New Hampshire turnpike as currently defined in RSA 237:17 and Blue Star turnpike as defined in RSA 237:18.

3 New Paragraph; Turnpike System; Authority Granted. Amend RSA 237:2 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:

VIII-a. Acquire, expand, and make improvements to the eastern New Hampshire turnpike from the route 4 bridge northerly expansion joint north to a point on the New Hampshire-Maine boundary in the city of Portsmouth.

4 New Paragraph; Authority Granted. Amend RSA 237:2 by inserting after paragraph IX the following new paragraph:

X. Acquire, expand, and make improvements to the eastern New Hampshire turnpike from the northerly expansion joint of the I-95 bridge over the Spaulding Turnpike, U.S. 4 and N.H. 16 (bridge No. 197/22) north to point on the New Hampshire-Maine boundary in the city of Portsmouth.

5 Funds Provided. Amend RSA 237:7, I(a) to read as follows:

(a) Improvements to the Blue Star memorial highway.

RSA 237:2, I, IX. [55,800,000] 70,000,000

6 Funds Provided. Amend RSA 237:7, I(k) to read as follows:

(k) Toll collection equipment. RSA 237:2, VIII, IX. [39,000,000] 89,000,000

7 Funds Provided. Amend RSA 237:7, I(m) to read as follows:

(m) Construction of a second barrel from exits 12 to 16

on the Spaulding Turnpike with related interchange

improvements from exits 11 to 16. RSA 237:2, IX. [138,200,000] 160,000,000

8 New Subparagraphs; Funds Provided. Amend RSA 237:7, I by inserting after subparagraph (o) the following new subparagraphs:

(p) Acquire 1.6 mile section of I-95. 120,000,000

(q) Repair and improve bridge on Route 107

over I-95 in Seabrook 1,000,000

(r) Construction of the Newington-Dover

Little Bay Bridge project. 275,000,000

9 Eastern New Hampshire Turnpike; Authority Granted. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 237:17 to read as follows:

237:17 Authority Granted. The commissioner of transportation, with the approval of the governor and council, shall locate and construct a continuous highway from a point on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire boundary in the town of Seabrook to a point on the New Hampshire-Maine boundary in the city of Portsmouth, and from [said point] the Portsmouth traffic circle in the city of Portsmouth to a point in the vicinity of the [city of Rochester] town of Milton, and shall operate and maintain said highway as a toll road as hereinafter provided.

10 Highways Named. Amend RSA 237:18 to read as follows:

237:18 Highways Named. The portion of the toll road from the Massachusetts-New Hampshire boundary in the town of Seabrook [connecting with route 1 in Maine] to a point on the New Hampshire-Maine boundary in the city of Portsmouth shall be designated as the Blue Star memorial highway as provided in chapter 115, Laws of 1949, and shall be located on the road as now constructed. That part of the said toll road from [a point] the Portsmouth traffic circle in the city of Portsmouth to a point in the vicinity of the [city of Rochester] town of Milton, shall be designated and named Spaulding turnpike.

11 Issuance of Revenue Bonds. Amend RSA 237-A:2 to read as follows:

237-A:2 Issuance of Revenue Bonds. The state may issue bonds under this chapter to be known as “turnpike system revenue bonds.” The bonds may be issued from time to time for the purpose of financing the project costs of construction of any turnpike or of paying or refunding any bonds issued pursuant to RSA 237 or interest thereon. Any such bonds issued to pay or refund bonds issued pursuant to RSA 237 or interest thereon may be issued in sufficient amount to cover items described in RSA 237-A:7. Bonds issued hereunder shall be special obligations of the state and the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds shall be payable solely from the particular funds provided therefor under this chapter. The bonds shall be issued by the treasurer in such amounts as the governor and council shall determine, not exceeding in the aggregate [$586,050,000] $636,050,000. Bonds of each issue shall be dated, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, including rates variable from time to time as determined by such index, banker's loan rate or other method as may be determined by the treasurer, and shall mature at such time or times as may be determined by the treasurer, except that no bond shall mature more than 40 years from the date of its issue. Bonds may be made redeemable before maturity either at the option of the state or at the option of the holder, or on the occurrence of specified events, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the treasurer prior to the issue of bonds. The treasurer shall determine the form and details of bonds. Subject to RSA 93-A, the bonds shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the governor. The bonds may be sold in such manner, either at public or private sale, for such price, at such rate or rates of interest, or at such discount in lieu of interest, as the treasurer may determine.

12 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.