HB 592-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2007 SESSION

07-0776

06/01

HOUSE BILL 592-FN

AN ACT relative to tolls on the Everett Turnpike.

SPONSORS: Rep. C. Christensen, Hills 19; Rep. Hinkle, Hills 19; Rep. Barry, Hills 19

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

ANALYSIS

This bill changes the authority of the commissioner of transportation to reconstruct certain toll plazas on the Everett turnpike in Bedford and Merrimack.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-0776

06/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to tolls on the Everett Turnpike.

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

1 Turnpike System; Authority Granted to Commissioner of Transportation. Amend RSA 237:2, IV(c)-(d) to read as follows:

(c) Reconstruction of exit 11[, formerly exit 8,] in Merrimack to remove the current toll plaza [providing] and existing toll collection equipment on the southbound on and northbound off ramps.

(d) [Construction] Reconstruction of the main line toll plaza in Bedford, to provide for additional toll collection lanes and additional toll collection equipment.

2 Turnpike System; Authority Granted to Commissioner of Transportation. Amend RSA 237:2, V to read as follows:

V. Make improvements to the central New Hampshire turnpike, including, but not limited to, the [addition] reconstruction of [a] the Merrimack industrial interchange, [including] exit 10, to remove the existing toll plaza and toll collection equipment[, and a 1.5 mile access highway between U.S. Route 3 and Camp Sargent road].

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

07-0776

Revised 02/12/07

HB 592 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to tolls on the Everett Turnpike.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Department of Transportation indicates this bill will decrease state restricted turnpike fund revenue by $2,434,000 in FY 2008, $2,458,000 in FY 2009, $2,482,000 in FY 2010 and by $2,506,000 in FY 2011. The Department further indicates this bill will increase state restricted turnpike fund expenditures by $1,335,000 in FY 2008 and $1,297,000 in FY 2009 and decrease them by $1,342,000 in FY 2010 and by $1,383,000 in FY 2011. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or expenditures.

METHODOLOGY:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) states this bill amends the authority of the DOT Commissioner to eliminate the toll collection facilities at exits 10 and 11 in Merrimack and reconstruct the mainline toll plaza in Bedford on the Everett Turnpike. The DOT states the Bedford mainline plaza will not require expansion since it was recently expanded in 2005. The DOT assumes it will take two years to complete the toll plaza removal and assumes a 1.0% growth in annual traffic and revenue for FY 2008 and beyond. The table below shows the decrease in restricted turnpike revenues, the toll plaza removal costs, and decreases in annual toll collection costs.

	FY 2008	FY 2009	FY 2010	FY2011
Turnpike Revenue	$(2,434,000)	$(2,458,000)	$(2,482,000)	$(2,506,000)
Turnpike Expenses:
Toll Collection Costs	$(1,265,000)	$(1,303,000)	$(1,342,000)	$(1,383,000)
Toll Plaza Removal	$2,600,000	$2,600,000	$0	$0
Total Expenditures	$1,335,000	$1,297,000	$(1,342,000)	$(1,383,000)