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DOT draft 10‑year plan trims projects; RPC urges public to attend hearings including Brentwood forum Sept. 18
Summary
Regional planning staff reported that the New Hampshire DOT draft 10‑year plan is reduced because of funding shortfalls — staff recommended public comment at a series of Gascet hearings, including a Brentwood session on Sept. 18 — and suggested residents press legislators and the executive council about revenue and project prioritization.
Regional planning staff told the Planning Board Aug. 21 that the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s draft 10‑year plan was substantially reduced after officials reallocated funds toward pavement and bridge repair, delayed or canceled some projects and removed construction funding for major regional projects.
RPC staff said the draft plan had been roughly $132 million over budget and DOT proposed several responses: shifting federal funds to maintenance, removing construction funding for large interstate projects while allowing design work to proceed, delaying construction on a set of projects beyond 2036, and canceling certain projects from the 10‑year program. The staff member noted that several previously RPC‑prioritized projects were removed or deferred.
The regional planner advised the board that DOT is conducting a set of public Gascet hearings where the public can comment on the draft plan and suggested the town make its concerns known; Brentwood’s Gascet hearing was listed in the meeting materials for Sept. 18 at the Brentwood Recreation Center. The planner said one way to address the shortfall is through revenue changes such as toll or fuel tax adjustments — options that carry political difficulty.
Board members asked staff to circulate the hearing schedule and to alert elected officials as appropriate. The board indicated it would consider attending the Brentwood hearing and urged staff to coordinate with state representatives and counselors so local priorities are heard during the comment period.
Next steps: staff to circulate the Gascet hearing schedule and encourage public participation; board members to consider speaking at the Brentwood hearing on Sept. 18 if they wish to register town preferences for projects in the RPC area.
