NH Gov's $3.7B transportation plan follows early 2016 trend

Dive Brief:

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan has submitted a $3.7 billion, 10-year transportation plan to the state legislature to repair deficient bridges, complete the widening of Interstate 93, as well as other roads, and resurface an extra 200 miles of road per year, the Associated Press reported.
Hassan said her plan "balances competing needs" while remaining within the confines of the budget. Transportation Commissioner Victoria Sheehan cited the proposal for its financial constraint while maintaining the Department of Transportation's priorities around infrastructure preservation, maintenance and safety.
After Congress approved additional funding to states in late December, the AP reported, Hassan added several millions of dollars for bridge preservation, repair and replacement projects to her plan, which covers fiscal years 2017 to 2026 and includes approximately $2.56 billion in federal funding.

Dive Insight:

The one loser in Hassan's plan is mass transit. Legislators rejected a $4 million allowance for a study on bringing commuter rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester, the AP reported, with critics questioning the economic benefits. Proponents, including the governor, of expanding commuter rail service say it's necessary to attract industry and young people to New Hampshire.

Hassan is the latest in a rapidly expanding line of governors introducing major infrastructure plans since 2016 began. Last week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced a $100 billion statewide infrastructure plan that he says will create more than 250,000 jobs. The projects include the Penn Station renovation project, a $22 billion investment in upstate roads and bridges, the addition of a third track to the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line, and a $1 billion plan to expand the Javits Center.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal last week also announced a $10 billion, 10-year transportation investment plan, $2.2 billion of which covers an 18-month program to resurface roads, replace and repair bridges and widen and otherwise improve select interstates.