SB243: relative to complete streets policies, establishing a complete streets pilot program, and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 243-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

02/23/2017 0470s

2017 SESSION

17-0964

06/01

SENATE BILL 243-FN-A

AN ACT relative to complete streets policies, establishing a complete streets pilot program, and making an appropriation therefor.

SPONSORS: Sen. Feltes, Dist 15; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Rep. Higgins, Graf. 12

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the commissioner of the department of transportation to assist municipalities to implement complete streets projects.

This bill also establishes a pilot program in the department of transportation for facilitating matching grants to municipalities for complete streets projects and makes an appropriation for the pilot program.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/23/2017 0470s 17-0964

06/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

AN ACT relative to complete streets policies, establishing a complete streets pilot program, and making an appropriation therefor.

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

1 New Paragraph; Department of Transportation; Duties of Commissioner; Complete Streets. Amend RSA 21-L:4 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. Prioritize applications by municipalities for the implementation of complete streets programs.

2 New Subdivision; Complete Streets. Amend RSA 228 by inserting after section 115 the following new subdivision:

Complete Streets

228:116 Definition; Complete Streets. "Complete streets" are those that provide safe and accessible options for walking, biking, transit, and vehicles for people of all ages and abilities.

228:117 Complete Streets Matching Grants Pilot Program.

I. The commissioner shall:

(a) Formalize criteria for municipal project applications for complete streets projects including a requirement of at least 60 percent municipal or private leveraging.

(b) Create a guidebook for establishing a transit system and encouraging walking and biking as viable means of transportation.

(c) Update the state's minimum geometric guidelines for local roads and streets, as well as any other out-of-date documents.

II. There is hereby established a matching grants pilot program to facilitate grants to municipalities for complete streets programs. The commissioner's implementation of this pilot program shall be consistent with paragraph I and grant applicants and recipients shall not be subject to the requirements of the United States Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives Program. The commissioner shall prioritize grant applications with higher municipal shares or private leveraging and grant applications most consistent with criteria and policies developed under paragraph I.

III. The commissioner shall report on the pilot program established in paragraph II on or before November 1, 2018, to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the governor. The report shall include the number and types of grant applications received and funded, the estimated return on investment from the grants, and any other relevant information necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program.

3 Department of Transportation; Appropriation. The sum of $2,500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 is hereby appropriated to the department of transportation for the purposes of the complete streets pilot program under RSA 228:117. This appropriation is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

4 Repeal. The following are repealed:

I. RSA 228:117, relative to complete streets matching grants pilot program.

II. RSA 228:116, relative to a definition of "complete streets."

5 Effective Date.

I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2018.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

LBAO 17-0964

Amended 2/24/17

SB 243-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2017-0470s)

AN ACT relative to complete streets policies, establishing a complete streets pilot program, and making an appropriation therefor.

FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

Appropriation

$2,500,000

$2,500,000

$0

$0

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

$0

$0

Funding Source:

[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other

LOCAL:

Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

$0

$0

Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

$0

$0

METHODOLOGY:

This bill establishes a two-year complete streets matching grants pilot program to provide safe and accessible options for walking, biking, transit, and vehicles for people of all ages and abilities. This bill also appropriates $2,500,000 in each FY 2018 and FY 2019 to the Department of Transportation for these purposes.

The Department of Transportation states development and oversight of the program would require additional staff time and resources. The Department assumes all staff time would be attributed to Civil Engineer VI Step 7 positions at $67.83 per hour and be paid for from the appropriation. Based on these assumptions the Department estimates the following program expenditures in FY 2018:

Expenditure

Staff Hours

Hourly Rate

Program Costs

Develop Complete Streets Program and Criteria

320

$67.83

$21,705

Create Guidebook

560

$67.83

$37,985

Update Highway Design Manual

160

$67.83

$10,853

Program Management and Oversight

500

$67.83

$33,915

Total

1540

$67.83

$104,458

The Department estimates a 1.5 percent increase in program management and oversight expenditures in FY 2019 for a total of $34,424 toward program costs in this fiscal year. There would be indeterminable state and local expenditures and local revenues to the extent localities participate in the pilot program each fiscal year. The Department notes the bill does not specify minimum match requirements for the program.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Transportation