Committee votes ITL on mileage-based exit-numbering bill, citing plan and funding concerns

The Public Works and Highways committee recommended ITL (inexpedient to legislate) on House Bill 17-85, which would require mileage-based exit numbers on tier-1 highways.

Representative Timothy Horrigan urged the change as alignment with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and neighboring states, and he framed it as a user-friendly improvement for out-of-state motorists. ‘‘Mileage-based exit numbers are what out-of-state motorists expect to see,’’ Horrigan said.

Lee Baronis, administrator of the Bureau of Traffic at NHDOT, said the department has no official position but outlined practical and fiscal implications: preliminary planning exists in the draft 10-year highway plan, the change could displace other planned projects if funded immediately, and some interchanges (I-393) were omitted in the current draft. He recommended placing renumbering in the 10-year planning and GAS IT prioritization processes if pursued.

Members expressed that renumbering has merits but questioned whether the legislature should mandate it now given a roughly $1.6–2.3 million estimated fiscal impact and a multi-year implementation plan already sitting in the 10-year highway plan. The committee voted to recommend ITL; the roll call recorded 13 in favor, 1 opposed, and 3 not voting. The bill was placed on the consent calendar as ITL.

What happens next: The committee signaled it prefers that the renumbering be considered through DOT’s 10-year plan and GAS IT prioritization rather than separate legislation now; the bill was recommended ITL by committee vote.