Saturday, March 30, 2013

New effort to replace Hinsdale bridges is the latest in a longstanding series of attempts - SentinelSource.com: Editorial

New effort to replace Hinsdale bridges is the latest in a longstanding series of attempts - SentinelSource.com: Editorial: The towns of Hinsdale and Brattleboro are in two different states geographically separated by the Connecticut River. But functionally, they ar…

Granite Staters Commute Longer Than Most, Paying Quarter Billion In Income Taxes To Massachusetts

http://stateimpact.npr.org/new-hampshire/2013/03/28/granite-staters-commute-longer-than-most-paying-quarter-billion-in-income-taxes-to-massachusetts/

Concord launches single-stream recycling | Concord Monitor

Concord launches single-stream recycling | Concord Monitor

Northern Pass misses another route deadline | Concord Monitor

Northern Pass misses another route deadline | Concord Monitor

Still without financing, Concord Steam makes backup plan to stay put | Concord Monitor

Still without financing, Concord Steam makes backup plan to stay put | Concord Monitor

Saturday, March 23, 2013

US roads bridges and other utilities get a D+ grade

US roads bridges and other utilities get a D+ grade

Nashua's tower among 149 FAA will close to meet budget cuts | New Hampshire NEWS06

Nashua's tower among 149 FAA will close to meet budget cuts | New Hampshire NEWS06

Raiding dedicated funds has become all too common a practice for state budget writers - SentinelSource.com: Editorial

Raiding dedicated funds has become all too common a practice for state budget writers - SentinelSource.com: Editorial: Early this month, the New Hampshire House Finance Committee began work on the 2014-15 state budget. Its starting point is a budget proposal is…

DOT sets hearing on replacing Route 153 bridge

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Shea-Porter to tour shipyard, hold press conference on sequestration

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Friday, March 22, 2013

Nashua Municipal Airport tower slated to close

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Shipyard furloughs delayed on the day of sequestration rally at Prescott Park

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Monitor Board of Contributors: Why would we want to bet on being losers? | Concord Monitor

Monitor Board of Contributors: Why would we want to bet on being losers? | Concord Monitor

Editorial: Casino-crime link is well established | Concord Monitor

Editorial: Casino-crime link is well established | Concord Monitor

N.H. House votes to oppose privatization of state prisons | Concord Monitor

N.H. House votes to oppose privatization of state prisons | Concord Monitor

House vote to kill casino bill may reveal nothing | Concord Monitor

House vote to kill casino bill may reveal nothing | Concord Monitor

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Better luck next time, Gov. Hassan, Rep. Campbell | SeacoastOnline.com

Better luck next time, Gov. Hassan, Rep. Campbell | SeacoastOnline.com

Editorial: Shrinking Payout; State’s Share of Gambling Revenue | Valley News

Editorial: Shrinking Payout; State’s Share of Gambling Revenue | Valley News

New Hampshire lives on water, by Thomas Burack - SentinelSource.com: Guest

New Hampshire lives on water, by Thomas Burack - SentinelSource.com: Guest: There may be no better way to see how our environment supports a vibrant state economy than to consider our reliance on water. First, tourism …

Casino revenues: Who will resist the temptation? | New Hampshire OPINION01

Casino revenues: Who will resist the temptation? | New Hampshire OPINION01

Voters say yes to bridge replacement, road repairs

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Nashua's snow budget almost gone | New Hampshire NEWS11

Nashua's snow budget almost gone | New Hampshire NEWS11

More oil is spotted in Nashua River | New Hampshire NEWS07

More oil is spotted in Nashua River | New Hampshire NEWS07

Senate passes expanded gambling bill | New Hampshire NEWS06

Senate passes expanded gambling bill | New Hampshire NEWS06

Residents resoundingly approve wastewater plant bond Authorize spending $2.5m on project in 632-129 vote

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NH Senate passes bill to remove Merrimack toll

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Warner voters okay $129,000 for surveying, design services for Exit 9 project | Concord Monitor

Warner voters okay $129,000 for surveying, design services for Exit 9 project | Concord Monitor

Editorial: Pay for infrastructure? We can’t afford not to | Concord Monitor

Editorial: Pay for infrastructure? We can’t afford not to | Concord Monitor

Monday, March 11, 2013

Transportation Investment Needs

Government Relations Update-Infrastructure Needs 
By Darren Benoit, ASCE-NH Government Relations Chairman

This session of the New Hampshire legislature will be critical for funding our State’s infrastructure. ASCE has long been an advocate for the investment of our nation’s infrastructure. As a minimum, we need to consider the investment needed in order to arrest the deterioration of our transportation resources.

For the benefit of any that missed our December meeting with Transportation Commissioner Chris Clement, the Commissioner provided a fiscally responsible evaluation of state transportation needs. The Commissioner identified four key areas where investment will be needed in order to sustain New Hampshire’s infrastructure from further deterioration and the costs associated with that investment. Key areas included yearly miles of paving, red-list bridge repair, I-93 widening investment, and transportation operation costs.

In order to provide a regular pavement maintenance program for the major state roads approximately 500 miles of road need to be resurfaced each year. This allows an eight to ten year cycle and minimizes the number of roadway miles requiring more expensive rehabilitation or reconstruction. Additional investment to meet the 500 mile threshold is $12 million. For comparison, to bring all poor condition roads to good condition would require an investment of about $615 million.

Each year there are bridges added to the list of red-list bridges. A reasonable goal is to remove the same number of bridges from the list through rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.  Additional investment would also shorten the time it takes for a municipality to fund bridge improvements. Investment needed to match the bridges repaired (removed from the red-list) with the bridges added to the list each year would be about $15 million of additional investment. For comparison, to fix all current state red list bridges would require about $680 million.

The I-93 widening project between the Massachusetts border and the I-293 break in Manchester has been identified by the State Legislature as the top infrastructure investment priority and is one of the keys to the economic vitality of the State. In order to finance the remainder of that project an additional $250 million is needed. This would require about $22 million in additional bonding investment.

In addition, the State maintenance and preservation program will be short $25 million dollars per year beginning on July 1, 2013 due to a reduction in funding previously available through the sale of a portion of I-95 to the Turnpike system. This is a significant cut in Department revenue that could result in a substantial number of layoffs if not rectified.

The total additional revenue needed to meet these four goals is approximately $74 million.

$14 million school renovation plan before Goffstown voters | New Hampshire NEWS0612

$14 million school renovation plan before Goffstown voters | New Hampshire NEWS0612

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The gas tax hike: One 'beeelion' dollars! | New Hampshire OPINION01

The gas tax hike: One 'beeelion' dollars! | New Hampshire OPINION01

Gary Rayno's State House Dome: Budget numbers not easy to crunch | New Hampshire NEWS0604

Gary Rayno's State House Dome: Budget numbers not easy to crunch | New Hampshire NEWS0604

Shipyard employees to be hit hard by sequestration | New Hampshire NEWS02

Shipyard employees to be hit hard by sequestration | New Hampshire NEWS02

PolitiFact: Honeywell CEO on target on debt size

PolitiFact: Honeywell CEO on target on debt size

Letter: Risky gamble from Hassan | Concord Monitor

Letter: Risky gamble from Hassan | Concord Monitor

Letter: A plan to improve Chichester’s roads | Concord Monitor

Letter: A plan to improve Chichester’s roads | Concord Monitor

Letter: Where’s the money? | Concord Monitor

Letter: Where’s the money? | Concord Monitor

Friday, March 8, 2013

Businesses signal fears about Nashua Airport tower shutdown | New Hampshire NEWS02

Businesses signal fears about Nashua Airport tower shutdown | New Hampshire NEWS02

More to gas tax hike than meets the eye

More to gas tax hike than meets the eye

Manufacturing rallies with decreasing gas cost

Manufacturing rallies with decreasing gas cost

Crews expected Friday to move derailed coal cars, repair damaged track in Nashua

Crews expected Friday to move derailed coal cars, repair damaged track in Nashua

Storm causing commuter and road closure problems

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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Merrimack tolls: Outlets offer an outlet | New Hampshire OPINION01

Merrimack tolls: Outlets offer an outlet | New Hampshire OPINION01

Financing for a new Nashua highway exit near Mass. border could be tricky | New Hampshire NEWS02

Financing for a new Nashua highway exit near Mass. border could be tricky | New Hampshire NEWS02

NH House stands tall with gas tax vote

NH House stands tall with gas tax vote

Gas tax increase passes Statehouse hurdle, more lay ahead

Gas tax increase passes Statehouse hurdle, more lay ahead

Bridge takes shape: North span float-in goes smoothly

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Wastewater, sewer upgrades carry $1.71b price tag: N.H. cities, towns to make improvements over next 10 years

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Ways and Means Committee recommends N.H. House kill 2 casino bills | Concord Monitor

Ways and Means Committee recommends N.H. House kill 2 casino bills | Concord Monitor

15 cent hike in N.H.’s gas tax endorsed by House, 207-163 | Concord Monitor

15 cent hike in N.H.’s gas tax endorsed by House, 207-163 | Concord Monitor

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

HB 617-Road Toll

HB 617 passes the House today 207-163.
 
Former House Speaker O'Brien submitted an amendment to eliminate any increase in the gas tax and instead eliminate the diversion of funds from the Highway Fund to other departments. The vast majority of the diversion is the Department of Safety. They use about 90% of the funds diverted from the Highway Fund. By statute this diversion can not exceed 27%. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 120-251.
 
For background, the House has 420 members including 228 democrats and 192 Republicans. When the amendment was voted there were 371 members voting. When the Gas Tax bill passed there was 370 voting.
 
Of the 207 voting for the bill, only 15 were republicans. Of the 163 voting against the bill, 10 were Democrats.
 
The next stop will be in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Charles Arlinghaus: Understanding NH's gas tax politics | New Hampshire OPINION02

Charles Arlinghaus: Understanding NH's gas tax politics | New Hampshire OPINION02

Gas tax hike bill being debated in Concord

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Early morning float-in a success

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Editorial: A better view of downtown? It’s about time! | Concord Monitor

Editorial: A better view of downtown? It’s about time! | Concord Monitor

State House Memo: Our roads, bridges are a mess; gas tax increase will help | Concord Monitor

State House Memo: Our roads, bridges are a mess; gas tax increase will help | Concord Monitor

O’Brien: Legislators who vote for gas-tax hike could face electoral consequences | Concord Monitor

O’Brien: Legislators who vote for gas-tax hike could face electoral consequences | Concord Monitor

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Don’t fall for scheme to raise NH gas tax

Don’t fall for scheme to raise NH gas tax

Senate committee easily passes casino bill

Senate committee easily passes casino bill

Senate panel endorses nixing 1 of 3 Merrimack tolls

Senate panel endorses nixing 1 of 3 Merrimack tolls

Next bridge piece ready: North span to be floated into place starting early Wed.

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Former N.H. House speaker raises gas tax alternative | Concord Monitor

Former N.H. House speaker raises gas tax alternative | Concord Monitor

N.H. News Roundup: One small step for a casino; more flights from Manchester | Concord Monitor

N.H. News Roundup: One small step for a casino; more flights from Manchester | Concord Monitor

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Not Hassan's week: Raiding the highway fund | New Hampshire OPINION01

Not Hassan's week: Raiding the highway fund | New Hampshire OPINION01

Garry Rayno's State House Dome: Expect gambling bill to pass Senate panel | New Hampshire NEWS0604

Garry Rayno's State House Dome: Expect gambling bill to pass Senate panel | New Hampshire NEWS0604

NH casino demands a long-term view

NH casino demands a long-term view

Last time around, some in Hudson loved a casino – and some didn’t

Last time around, some in Hudson loved a casino – and some didn’t

Speedway tracking casino bill

Speedway tracking casino bill

Hudson, Salem casino proposals vary in costs, benefits

Hudson, Salem casino proposals vary in costs, benefits

NH budget would look far different without $80m in gambling revenue

NH budget would look far different without $80m in gambling revenue

Residents gather to suggest downtown improvements

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Hassan: Without revenue from a casino, Legislature will have to make difficult cuts | Concord Monitor

Hassan: Without revenue from a casino, Legislature will have to make difficult cuts | Concord Monitor

Friday, March 1, 2013

Republicans say top Democratic lawmaker right not to bank on casino licensing revenue in NH budget | New Hampshire NEWS06

Republicans say top Democratic lawmaker right not to bank on casino licensing revenue in NH budget | New Hampshire NEWS06

Nashua airport awaits Congressional action on sequestration | New Hampshire NEWS06

Nashua airport awaits Congressional action on sequestration | New Hampshire NEWS06

DOT commissioner calls attention to road, bridge needs

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Tackling stormwater issues will be costly: Permits will range from $80g to $800g annually for five years

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N.H. braces for federal budget cuts

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