Bill Text: NH HB268 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relative to the Merrimack tolls.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-09-28 - House Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate for Jan 4 (Vote 12-0; Consent Calendar) [HB268 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2011-HB268-Introduced.html
HB 268-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2011 SESSION
06/01
HOUSE BILL 268-FN
AN ACT relative to the Merrimack tolls.
SPONSORS: Rep. Graham, Hills 18; Rep. C. Christensen, Hills 19; Sen. White, Dist 9
COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways
This bill suspends the Merrimack tolls for a certain period and requires the department of transportation to monitor and measure traffic counts during such period.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
11-0559
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven
AN ACT relative to the Merrimack tolls.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Toll Rate in the Town of Merrimack. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 237:24, the toll rate at exit 12 on the Central New Hampshire Turnpike in the town of Merrimack shall be set at zero for the period July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
2 Monitoring by the Department of Transportation. During the period July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011, the department of transportation shall monitor and measure traffic diversion from the Central New Hampshire Turnpike, comparing the traffic counts and revenues to the 2010 traffic counts and revenues for each month of the study and shall determine the net revenue loss or gain to the system.
3 Report. The department of transportation shall make an interim report of its findings on October 15, 2011 and a final report no later than January 15, 2012 to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chair of the senate transportation committee and the chair of the public works and highways committee.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
11-0559
Revised 01/31/11
HB 268 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to the Merrimack tolls.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Transportation states this bill will decrease state turnpike fund revenue by $608,213, and decrease turnpike fund expenditures by $238,809 in FY 2012. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenues or expenditures.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill suspends the Merrimack tolls for a certain period and requires the Department of Transportation to monitor and measure the traffic counts during such period. The Department of Transportation states the proposed legislation suspends toll collection at exit 12 on the Central New Hampshire Turnpike in the town of Merrimack from July 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The proposed legislation requires the Department to monitor and measure traffic diversion from the turnpike during the same period and to compare the revenues and the traffic counts from the period to counts and revenues measured for the same period in 2010. The proposed legislation requires the Department to report on its findings on October 15, 2011 and January 15, 2012.
Based on the unaudited Traffic and Revenue report generated by the Department through consultation with the Jacob’s Engineering Group, the Department estimates the suspension of toll collections at exit 12 will reduce state turnpike fund revenue by $608,213 in FY 2012. The Department notes some of the reduction in revenue resulting from the suspension of toll collection will be offset by reductions in operating costs associated with the temporary suspension of toll collections. The Department states eight full time and five part time employees will either be reassigned or furloughed as a result of the suspension of toll collections and approximates this would reduce state turnpike fund expenditures by $238,809 in FY 2012 as follows:
Full time personnel costs
$172,643
These personnel and associated costs would be re-assigned to other plazas where they would be offset by a reduction in part time staffing.
Part time personnel costs
$43,882
These personnel costs would not be expended
Facility Costs
$22,284
This amount represents 80% of the facility costs that would not be expended due to the temporary closure of the tolls.
Total
$238,809
The Department notes their estimates assume the Manchester Airport Access Road will not be opened during the study and existing traffic counters in the Merrimack area will be used to monitor and measure diversion.
