HB 535-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2015 SESSION
15-0300
06/05
HOUSE BILL 535-FN
AN ACT relative to signs advising motorists approaching highway emergencies.
SPONSORS: Rep. Byron, Hills 20; Rep. Hansberry, Hills 35; Rep. Pantelakos, Rock 25; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18
This bill requires the department of transportation to post signs on certain highways advising motorists to give one lane of clearance to emergency vehicles in the breakdown lane.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
15-0300
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen
AN ACT relative to signs advising motorists approaching highway emergencies.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Signs Advising Motorists Approaching Emergency Vehicles in the Breakdown Lane. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 37-b the following new section:
265:37-c Signs Advising Motorists Approaching Emergency Vehicles in the Breakdown Lane. The department of transportation shall post signs on all state highways at state borders, advising motorists to give one lane of clearance to emergency vehicles in the breakdown lane.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBAO
15-0300
01/21/15
HB 535-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to signs advising motorists approaching highway emergencies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Transportation states this bill, as introduced, will increase state highway fund expenditures by $280,438 in FY 2016, and $10,000 in FY 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures, or state, county, and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Transportation states the proposed legislation requires the Department to post signs on all state highways at state borders advising motorists to give one lane of clearance to emergency vehicles in the breakdown lane. The Department states the proposed legislation would require the manufacture and installation of signs at approximately 100 locations (6 interstates, 60 numbered routes, and approximately 40 unnumbered highways). The Department notes the proposed legislation would require three different sign sizes based on the type of highway the sign would be posted upon: 8.5 x 14.5 foot signs for interstate highways; 4.5 x 7.0 foot signs for high volume numbered routes or major border crossings; and 2.5 x 4 foot signs for low volume numbered routes and unnumbered highways or minor border crossings. Assuming the manufacture and installation of the required signage would occur in the first year following the passage of the proposed legislation, the Department estimates this bill would increase highway fund expenditures as follows -
Type of Sign |
Number of Signs |
Cost Per Square Foot |
Square Footage Per Sign |
Cost Per Sign |
Total Cost | |
Interstate Highways |
6 |
$125 |
123.25 |
$15,406.25 |
$92,438 | |
Major Border Crossings |
32 |
$125 |
31.5 |
$3,937.50 |
$126,000 | |
Minor Border Crossings |
62 |
$100 |
10 |
$1,000.00 |
$62,000 | |
100 |
$280,438 | |||||
The Department estimates subsequent maintenance costs of the signs at approximately $10,000 in FY 2017 and each fiscal year thereafter. Although this estimate includes costs associated with routine maintenance and replacement of signs damaged by storms or accidents, the Department notes the useful life of highway signs to be between 10 and 15 years and states the replacement costs of these signs would be deferred to a point beyond the scope of this fiscal note.