Bill Text: NH SB230 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relative to speed limits on state roads that are seasonally congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-03 - Signed by the Governor on 06/02/15; Chapter 0080; Effective 08/01/2015 [SB230 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2015-SB230-Amended.html
SB 230-FN-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
03/05/2015 0334s
2015 SESSION
15-0975
06/01
SENATE BILL 230-FN-LOCAL
AN ACT relative to speed limits on state roads that are seasonally congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
SPONSORS: Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Prescott, Dist 23; Rep. Sherman, Rock 24; Rep. Borden, Rock 24; Rep. Emerick, Rock 21; Rep. Peckham, Rock 22; Rep. F. Tilton, Belk 3
This bill permits the department of transportation to establish seasonal speed limits on state roads under certain conditions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/05/2015 0334s
15-0975
06/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to speed limits on state roads that are seasonally congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Protection and Control Regulations; Seasonal Speed Limits. Amend RSA 236 by inserting after section 7 the following new section:
236:7-a Establishment of Seasonal Speed Limits. The commissioner may establish seasonal speed limits on roads that are seasonally congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as determined by the governing body of the municipality, subject to the following:
I. There shall be only one seasonal speed limit, of a maximum duration of 4 months, in any 12-month period.
II. The seasonal speed limit shall be no more than 10 miles per hour below the posted limit under RSA 265:60.
III. The governing body of any affected municipality shall decide whether to use a seasonal speed limit. Any municipality using a seasonal speed limit shall bear the cost of signage. However, the design, construction, and installation of such signage shall be approved by the department.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
15-0975
Amended 03/16/15
SB 230-FN-LOCAL FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to speed limits on state roads that are seasonally congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Safety, Department of Transportation, and New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill, as amended by the Senate (Amendment #2015-0334s), may increase state revenue and increase state and local expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no impact on county expenditures, or county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Safety, Department of Transportation, and New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill allows the Department of Transportation to establish seasonal speed limits on roads that are seasonably congested by pedestrian and bicycle traffic as determined by the governing body of the municipality. The bill specifies the use seasonal speed limits would be determined by the municipality and that any municipality using a seasonal speed limit shall bear the cost of signage. Additionally, the bill specifies the design, construction, and installation of the signage shall be approved by the Department of Transportation.
The Department of Safety states to the extent passage of the proposed legislation were to increase the number of speeding violations issued, state revenues would increase. The Department is unable to estimate how many additional speeding violations would be issued as a result of the proposed legislation.
The Department of Transportation and the New Hampshire Municipal Association state this bill would increase state and local expenditures proportionally to the extent seasonal speed limits were instituted by municipalities. Although the Department and the Association are unable to estimate how many municipalities would choose to implement seasonal speed limits, they are able to estimate costs associated with the implementation of a single seasonal speed limit. Assuming the need for four signs and assuming the seasonal nature of the reduced speed limits would require the use of driver feedback (YOUR SPEED IS XX) signs to be effective, the Department estimates local expenditures necessary to implement a seasonal speed limit to be $26,000 as follows:
Engineering and Traffic Investigation
$10,000
Cost of Four Signs Combined with Driver Feedback
$12,000
Sign Installation (labor)
$3,000
Sign Removal (labor)
$1,000
Total Cost Estimate to Implement a Seasonal Speed Limit
$26,000
Once implemented, the Department states the annual costs would be limited to the yearly installation and removal of signage of approximately $4,000 per fiscal year.
