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FB: Maureen Mann-NH House of Representatives Contact: mmann@metrocast.net.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Cuts to the Department of Transportation



In the past week, the Republican majority of the Finance Committee of the NH House voted to approve two major changes to the DOT. First, they have taken an innocuous bill about changing a name or address on a drivers license, and replaced the original content with removal of the DOT from the state budget. Second, members of the committee have approved a cut of $88 million from that budget. This is a projected 42 percent cut in funding which includes a $4.8 million cut in winter maintenance. 


Cuts to the DOT budget mean a massive lose in federal funds coming to NH.  Most major DOT projects--Route 93, the Sarah Long Bridge in Portsmouth which carries nuclear waste from the Navy Yard, etc--are based on 80/20 funds [80% federal and 20% state].  This is money NH residents have paid in federal taxes which we get back in federal grants. Currently NH sees a return of about 77 cents on each dollar paid by NH residents. Without our part of the match we will see less return and there is a serious threat that projects in progress will stop.

Route 93 is a prime example. The federal and environmental permits for Route 93 expire in 2020. If the work is not completed by that date the project stops dead.  It will take years to acquire new permits and meanwhile our neighbors in VT, ME and MA have all budgeted for increased infrastructure spending.  When heavy duty contractors such as Pike and Continental leave NH we will not get them back until projects elsewhere are done. Meanwhile, residents, tourists and business drives will sit in construction for hours.

This is a state which claims to support business. Yet poor roads and construction on Route 93 are already creating a problem in attracting new business to NH. One of the first questions asked of those recruiting businesses to NH is when Route 93 will be completed. Studies show that what really attracts business is an educated workforce, dependable and adequate transportation infrastructure, and universal high speed internet access.  

According to an article in the March 19 Union Leader, $68 million of the cuts is mostly in personnel; half of DOT regular employees will be laid off. What the article does not explain is that over 60 percent of DOT employees are private contractors.  The people who build and reconstruct our highways, plow our roads, clear our ditches and cut brush along highways will be unemployed.  Some are small independents and some are huge contractor. Is this how we treat those who have worked long hours to ensure public safety during the enormous and frequent storms of this winter?”

Downshifting to our towns is another affect of the cuts.  The 4.2 cent increase in the road toll last July, combined with the current DOT budget, insured not only the completion of Route 93 but included increased funding for the six state highway betterment districts and additional funding to cities and towns. Those local costs will be downshifted to our communities which will result in more pot holes and less repair and reconstruction. We will also see closure of welcome centers and rest areas, limits and reductions in paving, closing of red-lined bridges or offers to communities to take some over. Good thing the repeal of the road toll, sponsored by our local reps, failed by such an overwhelming vote.

This is just one example of the “cut spending” mantra not being the solution, but the problem.

http://mobile.concordmonitor.com/home/16134371-108/dot-warns-lawmakers-budget-cut-would-mean-loss-of-321-employees Concord Monitor
http://mobile.concordmonitor.com/home/16134371-108/dot-warns-lawmakers-budget-cut-
would-mean-loss-of-321-employees Concord Monitor
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150318/NEWS0621/150318983/1010/news06 Union Leader

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My wife has worked over (31) years for the DOT and has never witnessed such a blatant attempt at dismantling the agency. The hostility towards the Dept. heads and the State workers has taken an entirely different low road. Recently, the Deputy Commissioner for the Dept. hand delivered the requested budget employee and services reduction amendment to the House Finance and Budget committee. He was greeted by the committee members, who proceeded to threaten him with arrest for mail fraud, even though he was hand delivering the document. The contempt by these so-called unpatriotic N.H. legislators directed towards him was jaw-dropping to say the least. These imposter Republican Conservatives, Tea Party and Free Staters are playing a dangerous game, if they think the residents of New Hampshire will allow them to secede from the union, they will be in for a rude awakening.