Revision: March 25, 2010, midnight
HB 2010 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
24Mar2010… 1071h
2010 SESSION
06/01
HOUSE BILL 2010
AN ACT relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bouchard, Merr 11
COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways
This bill:
I. Adopts the 10-year transportation improvement plan for 2011-2020.
II. Requires the general court to approve capital and operating budgets prior to an expenditure by the department of transportation and the New Hampshire rail transit authority of any state or federal money for the construction of any passenger rail infrastructure.
III. Requires the department of transportation to integrate other forms of mass transit into implementation of any passenger rail service.
IV. Requires the commissioner of the department of transportation to study issues related to open road tolling lanes on the F.E. Everett Turnpike and the feasibility of widening a certain segment of Interstate Route 93.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24Mar2010… 1071h
10-2943
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT relative to the state 10-year transportation improvement program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 State 10-Year Transportation Improvement Plan. The legislature hereby adopts the plan known as the “State of New Hampshire Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan 2011-2020 Submitted by the House Public Works and Highway Committee as Part of the Legislative Process Pursuant to RSA 228:29 and RSA 240 of the Laws of New Hampshire” and encourages expeditious implementation of the projects shown therein.
2 Highway Fund Shortfall. The general court recognizes and appreciates the excellent work of our local communities, the regional planning commissions, the department of transportation and GACIT in developing the State of New Hampshire Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan for 2011-2020. However, the general court recognizes that there is significant shortfall in the highway fund that will not allow the completion of all the projects contained in the plan. This will, in the absence of additional revenues, require the delay or elimination of many of the projects in this and future Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plans. The general court desires that citizens recognize that this revenue shortfall exists and that many listed highway projects may be significantly delayed or eliminated.
3 Turnpike Fund Shortfall. The department of transportation has informed the general court that in order to fully fund and complete the projects listed under the New Hampshire Turnpike System, an increase in toll rates needs to be approved by the governor and council. If a toll increase is not enacted, some of the listed turnpike projects will be delayed or eliminated, including but not limited to open road tolling in Bedford and Hooksett, and the Spaulding Turnpike improvements north of Dover.
4 Federal Funding. Many of the highway, turnpike, aeronautic, mass transit, congestion mitigation and other projects listed in the State of New Hampshire Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan rely on differing amounts of federal funding, the receipt of which is uncertain. Any reduction in the amounts of federal funds listed in this plan will require a dollar-for-dollar reduction in spending and, accordingly, the delay or elimination of certain projects.
5 Interstate Route-93 Priority. Pursuant to 2000, 273:1 as amended by 2008, 329:1, the general court reiterates that the state of New Hampshire’s top priority is the reconstruction and widening of Interstate Route 93 from the Massachusetts border to Interstate Route 293 in Manchester to 4 lanes in both directions within the time frame of New Hampshire Ten-Year State Transportation Improvement Plan. The general court further understands that the projected revenue is presently inadequate to fully fund the entire project, specifically, capacity improvements north of exit 3. To the extent alternative or additional funding becomes available for the reconstruction and widening of Interstate Route 93 from Salem to Manchester, the expenditure of such funds is hereby authorized.
6 Legislative Appropriation of Passenger Railroad Expenditures. Prior to the expenditure of any state or federal moneys by the state of New Hampshire, or its representatives, on the construction or reconstruction of any passenger railroad infrastructure, or the operation of passenger railroad service, the department of transportation and the New Hampshire rail transit authority shall first receive approval from the general court for both the capital and operating budgets related to passenger rail service. Said legislation should, pursuant to house and senate rules, be sent to the public works and highways and finance committees in the house of representatives and the transportation and interstate cooperation and finance committees in the senate, prior to its being acted on by the respective legislative bodies. This section shall not apply to federal money received or expended for planning purposes or studies related to passenger rail service.
7 Integration of Mass Transit. The department of transportation shall integrate other forms of mass transit, including intra-city, intercity, and interstate bus service into the planning and implementation of any passenger railroad service in the state of New Hampshire.
8 Study of the F.E. Everett Turnpike. The commissioner of the department of transportation shall study the best location of the southbound and northbound mainline open road toll lanes on the F.E. Everett Turnpike. The study shall include the locations to be tolled, the recommended rate, the feasibility of eliminating of one or more tolls at the exit ramps in Merrimack, and the necessity and feasibility of widening the 2-lane segments of the turnpike to 3 lanes in each direction. Said study shall be completed and reported to the governor, GACIT, and the general court on or before January 15, 2011.
9 Study of Franconia Notch Parkway. The commissioner of the department of transportation shall study the general feasibility of widening the segment of Interstate Route 93 known as the Franconia Notch parkway that passes through the towns of Lincoln and Franconia. The environmental feasibility of any widening shall be determined prior to the full study. Said study shall be completed and reported to the governor, GACIT, and the general court on or before November 15, 2011.
10 State Transportation Improvement Plan. Amend RSA 240:2 to read as follows:
240:2 Project Priority. To the extent practicable the projects shall be implemented in the order shown in the[ report] plan.
11 New Section; Plan. Amend RSA 240 by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
240:2-a Plan. In this chapter a plan means the “State of New Hampshire Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan 2011-2020” and any succeeding plan adopted by the general court pursuant to RSA 228:99 and RSA 240 of the laws of New Hampshire.
12 Implementation of Plan. Amend RSA 240:3, IV and the introductory paragraph of paragraph V to read as follows:
IV. The [department] governor shall transmit the plan to the general court by January 15 of each even-numbered year. Projects listed in the plan shall be listed by the year the funds are to be expended and the 10 years of the plan shall be financially constrained.
V. Projects listed in the plan, except projects which are solely for infrastructure preservation or which stem from statewide transportation programs included in the plan, shall be prioritized based on a department of transportation methodology that examines the certainty of a project relative to its scope, cost, constructability, [permitibility] permitability, and public support, provided that the project has the following:
13 Implementation of Plan. Amend RSA 240:3, VII(b) to read as follows:
(b) Is no longer financially [and] or environmentally feasible; or
14 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.