10 Day Comment Period and Hearing for Revised 2017-2020 TIP Amendment #4
2018-05-14
The FY 2017-2020 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a prioritized list of federal and state funded regional transportation projects developed by NH DOT and representatives from the communities of the Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) region. To comply with Federal Highway Administration guidance regarding a recent court decision on the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard, the RPC announces its intent to amend the TIP to revoke Amendment #4 as adopted on April 11th, 2018. The MPO will then reapprove Amendment #4 omitting changes to projects that would require the MPO to conduct a full air quality conformity analysis. In this instance, this will require that project 29608 (Epping) not be considered as part of the proposed changes. These revisions will account for project changes and maintain consistency with the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). To maintain consistency between the TIP and the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), the project list of the LRTP will be updated in conjunction with the changes to the TIP. The project specific changes to the TIP and supporting documentation can be found on the Rockingham Planning Commission website at http://www.rpc-nh.org.
A 10-day public comment period for the Amendments begins Monday, May 14th, 2018 and concludes on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. A public hearing to consider the changes and any received comments is scheduled for Wednesday May 23rd, 2018, beginning at 5:30 PM at the RPC Offices (156 Water St, Exeter). The Planning Commission Executive Committee will meet after the public hearing to adopt the changes to the TIP.
As of July 20, 2013, all of New Hampshire is unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (the 2008 ozone standard) and as of April 6, 2015, the 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (the 1997 ozone standard) is revoked for all purposes, including transportation conformity purposes in the Boston-Manchester-Portsmouth (SE) NH area.
Consistent with the RPC’s Public Participation Process, this notice and comment period is also intended to meet FTA requirements for public comment on the programs of transit projects put forward by NHDOT, UNH and the COAST and CART transit systems.
Copies of all documents are available at the RPC offices, on the website at http://www.rpc-nh.org, and will be sent to interested parties by request. Written comments will also be accepted through May 23rd, 2018 and may be addressed to:
Rockingham Planning Commission
156 Water Street
Exeter, NH 03833
Email: transportation@rpc-nh.org with TIP/Plan amendments in the subject line
For more information contact David Walker at (603) 778-0885.
