Project Description:
New Hampshire?s transportation system is in trouble. The funding structure is not adequately providing for the necessary resources to maintain the system in a state of good repair and maintenance, the almost complete reliance on oil continues to impact our ability to sustainably support our environment and our wallets, and, perhaps most importantly, there is a general recognition that the existing modal mix is inadequate to accommodate the demands projected to be placed on transportation in the future.
Over the next few years, the structure of federal funding is expected to change dramatically with greater focus and support for multi-modal approaches and sustainability. New Hampshire, in part due to the unavailability of a dedicated transportation funding stream for anything other than highway projects, is already leaving available federal dollars on the table. Our problems are likely to be exacerbated in the coming years due to the unavailability of state general funds to be used as state match as well as population increases which put some regions into different federal funding categories.
A functioning and effective transportation infrastructure is essential to a society operating within a sustainability framework. Our transportation system must be flexible and diverse to support New Hampshire?s goals in carbon emissions reduction, in economic development, in social service provision, in maintaining diverse housing options and to maintain a healthy lifestyle including access to health services. The transportation system is a necessary support system to almost all of society?s activities.
However, the challenges encountered in seeking to form an effective infrastructure are great, too great for any one organization or sector to address. Short term perspectives are not enough to meet the challenges ahead, and no resources exist to define and communicate a long range transformation plan for our transportation system to all stakeholders.
This project seeks to elevate and define the necessity for changes to our transportation system as a condition to change in other areas of society. It is especially critical that public awareness of the transportation system?s role and current stresses be strengthened through a common messaging framework in order to over-come short term thinking, restrictive state budget frameworks, and other challenges. This project proposes that a cross-sector coalition of businesses, service providers, government, and advocates, acting in an informed and cohesive way, can help New Hampshire address the broad and systemic challenges of our transportation system. This new coalition, Transportation Solutions New Hampshire (TSNH), will be formed to analyze existing issues, provide factual information resources, and to initiate policy changes toward a sustainable transportation system.
We will build on existing research and resources developed in and out of state (i.e. The NH Climate Change Task Force Report, NHDOT Draft Long Range Transportation Plan, NHDOT Multimodal Plan, State Transit Coordination Plan [Nelson-Nygaard Report], regional needs assessments from United Ways and regional planning commissions) to educate leaders around a common frame of understanding of transportation needs and opportunities. We will work with ongoing and forming efforts in the state (the State Coordination Council for Community Transportation, the Transportation Finance Commission) to ensure success. Transportation Solutions New Hampshire will use this common frame to unite leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors as a collaborative group to develop a comprehensive vision of a future transportation system and the necessary steps to implement it. The long term goal of the project would be to create a sustainable transportation system that meets the needs of all NH stakeholders.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
