New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has given his recommendations for the 2023-2032 Ten Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TYP) to the Legislature, his office said Monday.
The plan includes $242 million in additional federal funds for bridges and electric vehicle charging, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Fifteen percent of the bridge funds will be allocated to municipal bridges, with the remainder going to existing bridge project freeing up funds that have greater spending flexibility.
“Based on discussions with and direction received from GACIT (the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation), NHDOT (New Hampshire Department of Transportation) developed the Draft Ten Year Plan,” the governor’s office said in a letter to legislative leaders. “The draft plan addressed the highest priorities developed by each Regional Planning Commission and new TAP projects as part of the recent application process. The result was a financially constrained document addressing the needs that best aligned with the priorities of communities, Regional Planning Commissions, and NHDOT.”
The draft plan was published in September 2021 and is open to public comment. After more than 20 in-person public hearings and one virtual hearing, the plan received more than 400 comments, and an additional 750 surveys were filled out online. Public comments included the need to expand travel options (transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and other non-vehicle efforts) and the need to address infrastructure conditions pertaining to safety, pavement, bridges, and congestion.
Public commentary also advocated for a review of underfunded transit needs and increasing project funding.
The governor’s office said the plan is financially responsible.