Legislative Update
Legislation and State Committees where BWANH is working for you!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
HB-1182: OHRVs on Public Roads
This bill was enacted on July 1, 2020 and deals primarily with creating a commission to study the on-road usage of non-traditional motor vehicles and funding many state safety projects. Laws would be changed to allow “Roadable Aircraft” and Off-Highway Recreation Vehicles (OHRVs include dirt bikes, ATVs, UTVs, Side-by-Sides, and golf carts) to use public roads in any part of the state with some restrictions.
BWANH and NHRTC sent letters to the commission strongly opposing OHRV operation on public roads. However, the commission has yet to meet. With only five members currently seated and the quorum being nine, no action has been taken to date.
COMMITTEES
BWANH participates in the following statewide committees:
State Rail Trail Plan Advisory Stakeholder Committee
Following the Advisory Committee meeting on August 4, a series of draft documents were distributed for member review. NHRTC forwarded them to all NH rail trail advocates with ten organizations responding with comments, questions, and additions. These were compiled by NHRTC and BWANH then sent to the consultant on September 15 for review and action.
An offer arranged by the NH Rail Trails Coalition to have the Rockefeller Research Center at Dartmouth provide input to the economic impact study was accepted by NHDOT and GPI. The consultant contract awarded to GPI is being amended to allow this free service to be provided as a sub-contractor.
One well-known member on the Advisory Committee has resigned from his position of NH Bureau of Trails Chief. Chris Gamache has been the “go-to person” in the Bureau for decades. He has taken a position with Polaris, a major manufacturer of OHRVs and snowmobiles. No word yet about who will replace Chris within NHBOT or on the SRTP Advisory Committee.
This SRTP project is under the control of NHDOT with the $200,000 project awarded to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI). For the latest info and meeting minutes, please visit the project website at https://www.nhrailtrailsplan.com.
Complete Streets Advisory Committee (CSAC)
These meetings were halted in February and there is major concern that there are no definitive plans to resume this Committee any time soon. NHDOT did communicate about a meeting happening in September where CSAC contributors will be able to participate in the review of the Ped-Bike Master Plan reports. BWANH sent a letter of concern to Commissioner Sheehan stating that we believe the CSAC should be resumed ASAP and to please consider allowing an interim temporary representative to host these meetings. So far no response has been received from DOT. More info on these meetings are here: https://www.nh.gov/dot/programs/bikeped/advisory-committee/index.htm
Statewide Trails Advisory Committee (STAC)
There is currently no update on when the next meeting will take place. Based on previous schedules, it should be scheduled for sometime in the fall. Minutes from previous meetings are posted here: https://www.nhstateparks.org/about-us/commissions-committees/statewide-trails-advisory-committee
Traffic Safety Commission (TSC)
Again, there are no definitive plans on the next meeting that we are aware of. It should be scheduled soon, probably sometime in October or November. More info on these meetings is here: https://www.nh.gov/hsafety/links/traffic-safety-commission.htm
WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE NH LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS? Here is a primer to help you. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.
Bike-Walk Alliance of NH
2 Whitney Rd., Suite 11
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: 603-410-5848 | email: info@bwanh.org
