The information contained in this article is not intended as legal advice and may no longer be accurate due to changes in the law. Consult NHMA's legal services or your municipal attorney.
Municipalities have a wide variety of transportation needs. Some communities may be concerned about safety at an intersection with a history of severe crashes. Some may wish to address congestion along a vital commuter corridor. Other communities may be trying to figure out how to complete a local rail trail project or make improvements to their Main Street to better meet the present and future needs of the community. In New Hampshire, one of the primary ways to address local and regional transportation needs is for a municipality to propose a project for consideration in New Hampshire’s Ten-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (or “Ten-Year Plan” for short).
Under the provisions of RSA 228:99 and RSA 240, the development of the Ten-Year Plan occurs every two years and is a partnership between the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) and the state’s nine Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs). The NHDOT programs projects in the Ten-
Year Plan for infrastructure of statewide significance (e.g. interstate projects, major bridge reconstructions, etc.) whereas the Regional Planning Commissions facilitate a “bottom-up” process to ensure that local and regional transportation priorities around the state are included in the Ten-Year Plan.
How much funding supports local and regional projects in the Ten-Year Plan?
Currently, approximately $60 million of federal transportation funding is allocated statewide every two years to support local and regional transportation
projects prioritized by Regional Planning Commissions in the Ten-Year Plan. Out of this $60 million, each Regional Planning Commission is provided with
a regional allocation based on their respective shares of population and roadway lane mileage. Most Regional Planning Commissions have an allocation ranging from $5 million to $10 million for each Ten-Year Plan update cycle.
What is the schedule for the development of the Ten-Year Plan?
The Ten-Year Plan is updated on a two-year cycle, with work on the next plan beginning as soon as the last is signed into law. The process involves soliciting
new projects, evaluating and ranking new projects, and identifying which new projects should be recommended for inclusion into the draft Ten-Year Plan.
Once a draft Ten-Year Plan is produced, additional review and comment takes place. While dates may vary, the general schedule for the Ten-Year Plan process is detailed in the table on page 35.
How does a Regional Planning Commission evaluate and prioritize projects for the Ten-Year Plan?
Each of the nine Regional Planning Commissions has a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a full Commission comprised of municipal representatives.
The TAC and Commission evaluates and prioritizes Ten-Year Plan candidate projects. Through this process, the municipalities of each region effectively determine what the region’s project priorities are for the Ten-Year Plan.
All Regional Planning Commissions use the same set of statewide project prioritization criteria, which are reviewed and updated as needed before each
Ten-Year Plan Cycle. However, each RPC assigns its own weighting to the criteria to account for unique regional needs. The categories include Economic
Development; Equity, Environmental Justice and Accessibility; Mobility; Natural Hazard Resiliency; Network Significance; Safety; State of Repair; and
Support.
| Date/Time | Year | Activity |
| Spring | Even Year | RPCs send Ten-Year Plan project solicitation correspondence to municipalities and regional stakeholders. |
| Summer | Even Year | Project submissions are due to RPCs. |
| Summer-Fall | Even Year | RPCs facilitate engineering review for scoping, feasibility determination, and cost estimate. |
| Fall | Even Year | RPCs evaluate and rank projects, adopt initial project priorities, and submit them to NHDOT for review. |
| Fall-Winter | Even Year - Odd Year | NHDOT evaluates the RPCs’ consulting engineer’s scoping, feasibility determination, and cost estimate. The NHDOT may concur or offer an alternative cost estimate. |
| March | Odd Year | RPCs adopt and submit final project priorities for the Ten-Year Plan to NHDOT. |
| Summer | Odd Year | NHDOT releases the Draft Ten-Year Plan. |
| Fall | Odd Year | Public hearings to review the Draft Ten-Year Plan are held around the state, hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation. |
| Fall-Winter | Odd Year - Even Year | Governor reviews the Draft Ten-Year Plan and may or may not make changes. |
| Winter-Spring | Even Year | State Legislature reviews the Draft Ten-Year Plan, holds additional public hearings, and may or may not make changes. |
| Spring | Even Year | Governor signs the Ten-Year Plan into law and the cycle starts anew. |
How does the public inform the development of the Ten-Year Plan?
The public plays an essential role in the development of the Ten-Year Plan. The projects submitted by municipalities for Ten-Year Plan consideration often
address longstanding local concerns brought forward by the public. Frequently these projects arise from municipal master plans, road safety audits,
corridor studies, and other planning processes that include a public engagement component. Once a project has been proposed for inclusion in the Ten-
Year Plan, one of the project evaluation criteria used to evaluate Ten-Year Plan projects is “Support” which is based on documentation (e.g. letters of support, inclusion in approved plans, etc.) about how the project is supported by municipal officials, local stakeholders, and the general public. A project that
does not have demonstrable public support is unlikely to advance in the Ten-Year Plan process.
The public is also welcome to attend and provide comments at any TAC or Regional Planning Commission meetings where the evaluation of Ten-Year Plan candidate projects takes place. All Regional Planning Commission meetings and TAC meetings are open to the public under the provisions of RSA 91-A.
When the Draft Ten-Year Plan is released, the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Intermodal Transportation, or GACIT (which is essentially another name for the Executive Council), holds a series of public hearings. Typically, there are more than 20 public hearings held around the State to garner feedback
on the projects included in the Draft Ten-Year Plan. At the conclusion of these public hearings, the GACIT takes stock of the public comments received
and often makes revisions to the Draft Ten-Year Plan in response. There are also public hearings held during the legislative approval process, before the
Ten-Year Plan is signed into law.
What are some notable recent examples of projects included in the Ten-Year Plan around the State?
Central NH Regional Planning Commission - Project 41578 in Boscawen - Multimodal and Safety Improvement to King Street between High Street and
US 3/4 Intersection When the Town of Boscawen updated their Master Plan, there was a fair amount of discussion about King Street, which serves as the town’s main street. At the northern end, US Route 3/4 had an unusual configuration and a crash history. There were safety concerns with turning traffic at intersections and driveways. The Economic Development Committee noted opportunities along the corridor and tied potential transportation improvements to land use and zoning, envisioning new life in their town center. The vision included enhancements to the streetscape and capitalizing on a connection to the Northern Rail Trail.
The Central NH Regional Planning Commission initiated a corridor study which evaluated traffic data, included public meetings for input and visioning, and produced recommendations for the corridor. The study resulted in a Ten-Year Plan project proposal that was ultimately selected for inclusion in the Ten-Year Plan. Boscawen is now just a few years away from construction. The design phase underway now is fine tuning how improvements to the roadway can help meet a range of community needs, from safety, mobility, economic development, and quality of life.
Lakes Region Planning Commission - Project 43352 in Belmont – NH Route 140 (Depot Street) and Main Street Intersection Improvements
NH Route 140 was originally constructed in 1987. A NHDOT study on NH Route 140 in 2000 resulted in a Ten-Year Plan project for improvements to the NH Route 140 and Main Street intersection. Unfortunately, funding challenges in the state resulted in the project being removed from the 2009-2018 Ten-Year Plan.
In 2010, the Town of Belmont held a Design Charrette to address the ongoing safety concerns with this intersection, and in 2013 the Lakes Region Planning Commission completed its own NH Route 140 corridor study. This work led to the project entering the 2017-2026 Ten-Year Plan with a project scope that included adding in a divided right-turn lane. In September 2024, there was a NHDOT Public Information meeting held to review the five preliminary design alternatives, while soliciting input from the public on the two alternatives that were selected to advance to final design. Those alternatives are to realign and
reconstruct the intersection or convert the intersection into an all-way stop control. In 2025, the environmental review process will begin along with a
right-of-way (ROW) Public Hearing, with final plans being completed in 2026, resulting in a 2027 construction date.
Nashua Regional Planning Commission - Project 42593 in Amherst – Baboosic Greenway North Rail Trail Extension
The Baboosic Greenway North in the town of Amherst will extend approximately 1.6 miles along the abandoned B&M Railroad right-of-way between Walnut Hill Road and Baboosic Lake Road. It will be 10 feet wide, with a proposed gravel/stone dust surface. This segment of the Baboosic Greenway is an integral part of a multi-phase project to provide enhanced multimodal mobility to all parts of the community.
The project is an outcome of a multiyear effort to establish a safe and convenient facility that provides connectivity between the historic center of the town
(Amherst Village) with the important recreational amenities at Baboosic Lake and with Amherst Middle School and Souhegan Regional High School. This
path will provide a safe and convenient alternative to riding or walking on busy roadways and will allow connections via bike and pedestrian facilities on
very low traffic roads to most areas of the community. This project was introduced in the 2021-2030 NH Ten-year Plan and construction is scheduled for
2027.
North Country Council - Project 40640 in Colebrook – Main Street and Sidewalk Reconstruction
The Colebrook Project 40640, located along US Route 3/Main Street, is entering the construction phase. Initially submitted through the North Country Council TAC as a Ten-Year Plan project in 2015, this project will reconstruct approximately 2,700 feet of Main Street and include sidewalks. The project is designed to enhance mobility, improve safety for all users, and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Colebrook.
Rockingham Planning Commission – Project 40797 in Hampton – Ocean Boulevard Reconstruction
The reconstruction of Ocean Boulevard (NH 1A) through Hampton Beach is wrapping up an extensive alternatives analysis and public engagement process to address what is a complex set of problems in a bustling tourist destination. The project will address bicycle and pedestrian safety and capacity concerns,
improve traffic flow, maintain beach parking, and mitigate the impacts of stormwater in an area prone to flooding. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026 on the first of three phases of work and will rebuild Ocean Boulevard from Hampton Beach State Park north to Highland Avenue. This segment will feature broad sidewalks, improved crosswalks and other pedestrian safety measures, a dedicated bike lane, beach parking, and upgraded stormwater management.
Southern NH Planning Commission - Project 40665 in Windham – Intersection Improvements at NH Route 28/Roulston Road
The intersection of NH Route 28/Roulston Road in Windham has an extensive crash history due to a variety of factors, including the topography of the area and the current geometry of the intersection. The Southern NH Planning Commission worked with the Town of Windham to scope a project that would include widening shoulders on NH Route 28 at the intersection to reduce run-off-road and rear end collisions; changing the vertical alignment of NH Route 28 north of the intersection to improve sight distance; and making the skewed geometry of the intersection more perpendicular. The project is currently programmed for construction in FY 2027 at a total cost of $1.985 million.
Southwest Region Planning Commission - Project 41590 in Keene – Reconstruction of NH Route 101 from East of Optical Avenue to Branch Road
Common characteristics of Southwest Region Planning Commission’s (SWRPC) regional priority Ten Year Plan projects over the past decade have been projects that address old infrastructure that is in poor condition, safety concerns, or investments in pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure where it has been lacking despite ongoing pedestrian and bicycle demand. One such project that addresses all three of these concerns is Keene Project #41590 on NH Route 101 scheduled for construction in 2027.
The project will address a perennial pavement deterioration issue by removing a concrete base installed over fifty years ago with a new road base better suited to NH’s freeze and thaw environment; replace a 1933 Red List bridge; improve poor sight distance at one of the region’s most dangerous crash locations by moving NH Route 101’s intersection with Swanzey Factory Road; and create five foot shoulders for pedestrians and bicyclist traffic where shoulder widths are currently 0-2 feet wide. The road currently serves a number of pedestrians and bicyclists including traffic from the Cheshire County Department of Corrections and affordable housing. The project is estimated to cost $17 million and required multiple cycles of funding allocations from SWRPC combined with NHDOT’s own program investments in its Red List bridge inventory.
Strafford Regional Planning Commission - Project 29604 Dover-Somersworth- Rochester - NH Route 108 Complete Streets Project
The stretch of NH Route 108 connecting Dover, Somersworth, and Rochester is a busy, five-mile-long corridor in a rapidly developing part of the state. Decades ago, this concept came out of an effort to improve access to the Spaulding Turnpike, then became its own standalone project. The three cities and a regional transit provider, the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) are the key stakeholders. SRPC has helped facilitate a regional planning process with NHDOT and the project consultant, advocate for design considerations, and collect additional data for the project. During the initial design phase, the project team toured the corridor to identify priority upgrades for bus stops and pedestrian crossings. As the project name implies, the goal is to upgrade the corridor to serve as wide a range of users as possible, improve their safety, and contribute to economic development. Conceptual plans have been reviewed by project stakeholders and the public, and the project is moving into preliminary engineering. The Strafford Regional Planning Commission is excited to continue developing this project that will transform the corridor. Additional details can be found on the project’s website: https://
www.108tricitycompletestreets.com/.
Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission - Project 29612 in Lebanon – I-89 Exit 18 and NH Route 120 Capacity and Safety
Improvements Improving capacity and safety along NH Route 120 from I-89 Exit 18 to Etna Road has been a high priority
for the region for decades. This project includes addressing the I-89 Exit 18 interchange with NH Route 120 as well as traffic flow and intersection improvements at Evans Drive, Heater Road, and Etna Road, and multimodal improvements along the NH Route 120 corridor. Many collaborative studies and data collection efforts between the City of Lebanon, UVLSRPC, NHDOT, and local businesses were completed, and an established local committee was formed years prior to the project entering the Ten-Year Plan.
his project is key to the safety of the region. In its existing condition, commuter traffic backs up daily onto I-89 leading to dangerous situations, travel delays, and driver behavior changes. On NH Route 120, vehicles are observed driving through red lights, speeding when possible, and making risky maneuvers. Interim improvements have been made to try to alleviate some of the traffic congestion by adding additional lanes on NH Route 120 and reevaluating traffic signal timing. While these additions have resulted in temporary improvements, the need for a larger improvement project remains clear. The project is currently slated for construction in 2026 and 2027.