Bill Text - HB1629 (2014)

Adding duties and extending the reporting date of the committee to study options for mitigating damages associated with highway noise and relative to the department of transportation policy and procedural guidelines for the assessment and abatement of traffic noise for type I highway projects.


Revision: March 27, 2014, midnight

HB 1629 – AS INTRODUCED

2014 SESSION

14-2843

06/08

HOUSE BILL 1629

AN ACT adding duties and extending the reporting date of the committee to study options for mitigating damages associated with highway noise and relative to the department of transportation policy and procedural guidelines for the assessment and abatement of traffic noise for type I highway projects.

SPONSORS: Rep. Pantelakos, Rock 25; Rep. Keith Murphy, Hills 7; Rep. M. Mann, Rock 32

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Adds duties and extends the reporting date of the committee to study options for mitigating damages associated with highway noise.

II. Requires the commissioner of the department of transportation to modify certain guidelines for the assessment and abatement of highway traffic noise and report quarterly to the committee to study options for mitigating damages associated with highway noise.

This bill is a request of the committee to study options for mitigation of damages associated with highway noise established pursuant to 2013, 122:1.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

14-2843

06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen

AN ACT adding duties and extending the reporting date of the committee to study options for mitigating damages associated with highway noise and relative to the department of transportation policy and procedural guidelines for the assessment and abatement of traffic noise for type I highway projects.

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

1 New Subparagraphs; Committee to Study Options for Mitigation of Damages Associated with Highway Noise; Duties of Committee. Amend 2013, 122:1, I by inserting after subparagraph (c) the following new subparagraphs:

(d) Establish a program for the purpose of assisting those citizens already harmed by noise created by past highway projects and ascertain possible funding for that program, such as special assessments, tax increment financing, or other methods with the cooperation of the municipality where the project is located.

(e) Include in its report the cost of any noise barriers constructed, specifically noting the impact of increasing the cost per receptor ratio (CPR) from $45,000 to $50,000 per receptor.

2 Report Date Extended. Amend 2013, 122:1, VI to read as follows:

VI. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, [2013] 2014.

3 Department of Transportation; Policy and Procedural Guidelines for the Assessment and Abatement of Highway Traffic Noise for Type I Highway Projects; Report to Committee to Study Options for Mitigation of Damages Associated with Highway Noise.

I. The department of transportation shall raise the limit of the cost per receptor ratio as specified in the department’s policy and procedural guidelines for the assessment and abatement of highway traffic noise for type I highway projects from $45,000 to $50,000.

II. The commissioner of the department of transportation shall report quarterly to the committee to study options for mitigation of damages associated with highway noise the cost of any noise barriers constructed, specifically noting the impact of increasing the cost per receptor ratio (CPR) from $45,000 to $50,000 per receptor.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.