CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today submitted the State’s Ten-Year Highway Transportation Plan to the legislature, returning New Hampshire to an honest, fiscally responsible 10-year plan.

“New Hampshire’s highway plan had grown from a 10-year plan to a 35-year plan. For too many years, New Hampshire made false promises to communities, adding projects to the highway plan without any way to pay for those projects, or without any realistic expectation that those projects would ever be completed,” Gov. Lynch said. “This plan returns honesty and fiscal responsibility to the 10-year highway plan process.”

The plan was developed by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT). To return New Hampshire to a realistic plan, GACIT worked with Department of Transportation, using input from the regional planning commissions, to cut almost $2 billion in proposed projects.

“Although these cuts are difficult, communities will now know that projects included in the 10-Year Plan are likely to be constructed. I believe it is absolutely vital for New Hampshire to move forward with a responsible, realistic plan for improving and maintaining our transportation infrastructure,” Gov. Lynch said.

GACIT and the Department of Transportation held 33 public hearings throughout the State on the plan.

This 10-year plan prioritizes repairing red-listed bridges - bridges identified as in need of critical repair by the federal government - and preserving the state’s existing infrastructure. It will allow the State to move forward with road repairs and improvements that are critical to public safety, including the replacement or repair of 89 red-list bridges, work on the portions of Interstate-93 with the greatest safety and congestion problems, repair of the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, widening a section of the Spaulding Turnpike and the first portion of the Conway Bypass. Approximately 55 percent of the plan is focused on preservation, a significant increase from previous plans that will allow the State to maintain the quality of existing roadways.

In addition to the projects recommended by GACIT, Gov. Lynch added to the plan the first two pieces of construction for the widening of the Spaulding Turnpike over the Little Bay Bridge and over Gosling Road in Newington. This project is recommended by state Department of Transportation as the next highest priority for the turnpike system and can be funded by revenue from the toll increases approved by the Executive Council on October 3, 2007.

The plan also includes a project change in the City of Keene. GACIT recommended in its plan a project for construction on West Street in Keene. This project has been stalled since the mid-1990s and the City has asked that it be taken off the 10-Year Plan and replaced by a project on Winchester Street, a change the Department of Transportation supports.

Gov. Lynch also said he has asked the Department of Transportation to begin developing a list of projects, such as Exit 4A in Derry, Route 101 in Bedford, the Dover side of the Little Bay Bridge project and the remainder of the I-93 expansion that should be considered as priorities the state develops future Transportation Improvement Plans. That process begins again in two years.

A copy of Gov. Lynch’s letter to the Speaker and Senate President is attached.

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January 15, 2008

The Honorable Terie T. Norelli,
Speaker of the House, and
The Honorable Sylvia B. Larsen
President of the Senate
State House, 107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301

Dear Speaker Norelli and Senate President Larsen:

Pursuant to RSA 228:99 and RSA 240 of the Laws of New Hampshire, I am enclosing the State’s Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan for 2009-2018.

This plan returns honesty and fiscal responsibility to the 10-year highway plan process. New Hampshire’s highway plan had grown from a 10-year plan to a 35-year plan. For too many years, New Hampshire made false promises to communities, adding projects to the highway plan without any way to pay for those projects, or without any realistic expectation that those projects would ever be completed.

Returning New Hampshire to a realistic 10-year plan entailed cutting almost $2 billion in proposed projects. Although these cuts are difficult, communities will now know that projects included in the 10-Year Plan are likely to be constructed. I believe it is absolutely vital for New Hampshire to move forward with a responsible, realistic plan for improving and maintaining our transportation infrastructure.

This plan is the result of months of work by many people. In July and August of 2007, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation (GACIT) met with the Department of Transportation and received a tentative list of projects for the years 2009 through 2018, as well as other information regarding the status of the State and Federal Highway funds and State Turnpike finances. The Department, with input from regional planning agencies, proposed substantial reductions in the number and scope of projects from the approved 2007-2016 Ten-Year Plan. GACIT then held 33 Public Hearings throughout the State to receive input and comments on the draft Plan.

This Plan prioritizes repairing red-listed bridges, bridges listed in need of critical repair by the federal government, and preserving our existing infrastructure. It will allow us to move forward with road repairs and improvements that are critical to public safety, including replacement or repair of 89 Red List bridges, work on the portions of I-93 with the greatest safety and congestion problems, repair of the Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, widening a section of the Spaulding Turnpike and the first portion of the Conway Bypass. Approximately 55 percent of the plan is focused on preservation, a significant increase from previous plans, which will allow us to maintain the quality of our existing roadways.

In addition to the projects recommended by GACIT, I have added to the plan the first two pieces of construction for NHDOT Project 11238, the widening of the Spaulding Turnpike over the Little Bay Bridge and on Gosling Road in Newington. This project is recommended by DOT as the next highest priority for the turnpike system. As you may know, there are significant backups on the bridge, which is too narrow for breakdown lanes, causing daily safety concerns. This addition can be funded by revenue from the toll increases approved by the Executive Council on October 3, 2007.

The Plan submitted to you also includes a project change in the City of Keene. GACIT recommended in its plan a project for construction on West Street in Keene. This project has been stalled since the mid-1990s and the City has asked that it be taken off the 10-Year Plan and replaced by a project on Winchester Street, a change the Department of Transportation supports.

I recognize that communities are concerned that projects not in the current 10-year plan will be forgotten. That is not the case, and I have asked the Department of Transportation to begin developing a list of projects, such as Exit 4A in Derry, Route 101 in Bedford, the Dover side of the Little Bay Bridge project and the remainder of the I-93 expansion, which we should consider as priorities as we develop future Transportation Improvement Plans. That process begins again in two years.

This Plan closely adheres to the estimated funding available for transportation projects from 2009-2018. It returns New Hampshire to a new era of fiscally sound transportation planning so that our communities can count on the state to follow through on its commitments. I know members of the legislature share my commitment to returning fiscal responsibility to the 10-Year Plan and I look forward to continuing to work with you on this effort.

Sincerely,

John H. Lynch
Governor