HB604 (2009) Detail

Relative to tolls.


HB 604-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

2009 SESSION

09-0490

06/01

HOUSE BILL 604-FN-A

AN ACT relative to tolls.

SPONSORS: Rep. O'Neil, Hills 19

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the department of transportation to ensure that any community which has one or more interchanges on the New Hampshire turnpike system, the central New Hampshire turnpike, or the eastern New Hampshire turnpike has at least one interchange without a toll.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

09-0490

06/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to tolls.

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

1 Toll Criteria. Amend RSA 237:11, IV to read as follows:

IV.(a) Insofar as practicable, the tolls on the central New Hampshire turnpike, the eastern New Hampshire turnpike and the New Hampshire turnpike system shall be comparable.

(b) The department of transportation shall ensure that any community which has one or more interchanges on the New Hampshire turnpike system, the central New Hampshire turnpike, or the eastern New Hampshire turnpike has for the public good at least one intersection without a toll.

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

LBAO

09-0490

01/22/09

HB 604-FN-A – FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to tolls.

FISCAL IMPACT:

    The Department of Transportation states this bill will decrease state turnpike fund revenues by $10,911,048 in FY 2010, $11,020,158 in FY 2011, $11,130,360 in FY 2012, and by $11,241,664 in FY 2013 and will decrease turnpike fund expenditures by $2,592,585 in FY 2010, $2,670,363 in FY 2011, $2,750,473 in FY 2012, and by $2,832,988 in FY 2013. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenues or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Transportation states this bill will require the Department to ensure any community which has one or more interchanges on the New Hampshire turnpike system, central New Hampshire turnpike, or eastern New Hampshire turnpike to have at least one interchange without a toll. The Department states the towns of Hampton, Merrimack, and Hooksett currently do not have an interchange without a toll. The Department anticipates granting toll-free access at Hampton Side Road, Merrimack Industrial on the F.E. Everett Highway, and Exit 11 on Interstate 93 will meet the requirements of the bill. The Department assumes elimination of these plazas would not lead to significant changes in expenditures for toll collection maintenance or EZ pass customer service contracts. Based on FY 2008 revenue, the Department estimates eliminating these tolls will decrease state Turnpike revenues by $10,911,048 in FY 2010. The Department assumes a one percent increase in declining Turnpike revenues each fiscal year, decreasing revenues $11,020,158 in FY 2011, $11,130,360 in FY 2012, and by $11,241,664 in FY 2013. The Department also anticipates decreased state Turnpike expenditures due to the elimination of related costs at the closed toll plazas. Reduction in operating costs was estimated for each toll plaza based on the number of attended, automatic, and dedicated E-Z pass lanes, and the Department assumes an inflation rate of three percent each fiscal year for a decrease in Turnpike expenditures of $2,592,585 in FY 2010, $2,670,363 in FY 2011, $2,750,473 in FY 2012, and by $2,832,988 in FY 2013.

    The Department did not consider diversion created by discontinuing toll collection at the assumed plazas or the effect of the opening of the Manchester Airport Access Road. The Department also did not consider costs of plaza removal or ramp reconstruction.