The governor shall develop a statewide transportation improvement program as required by 23 U.S.C. sections 134 and 135, as amended. The governor shall revise and update the program every 2 years. Adoption of the STIP and revised STIP shall be as follows:
I. Each metropolitan planning organization and rural regional planning commission shall reach agreement with the department of transportation relative to funding unified planning work programs consistent with 23 U.S.C. sections 134 and 135 no later than December 1 of each even-numbered year. Each metropolitan planning organization and rural regional planning commission shall provide a regional transportation improvement program (TIP) priorities to the department of transportation no later than April 1 of each odd-numbered year. Such plans shall include public involvement and education to ensure early and adequate input from residents, municipalities and any other interested parties in New Hampshire.II. The commissioner shall submit the tentative STIP in accordance with the state planning process as required in 23 U.S.C. section 135 to the governor's advisory commission on intermodal transportation no later than September 1 of each odd-numbered year.III. The governor's advisory commission on intermodal transportation shall conduct at least one public hearing in each executive council district to present the tentative STIP to the public and to receive the public's comments and recommendations regarding the program. The governor's advisory commission on intermodal transportation shall submit such program along with the commission's recommendations to the governor no later than December 1 of each odd-numbered year. Each metropolitan planning organization and rural regional planning commission should conduct an informational meeting after the commission submits its recommendations to receive the public's final comments and recommendations regarding the proposed programs before adoption by the governor.IV. The governor shall submit the STIP to the general court to be acted on no later than January 15 of each even-numbered year. The STIP shall be enacted by the general court by June 1 of each even-numbered year.V. Each metropolitan planning organization and the department of transportation shall continue its public involvement program by conducting public comment periods and public hearings as required by 23 U.S.C. sections 134 and 135, as amended for the regional TIP and statewide STIP.VI. Each metropolitan planning organization shall approve the regional TIP and the department of transportation shall incorporate the TIPs into the STIP in whole, and submit the STIP for federal approval as required by 23 U.S.C. sections 134 and 135, as amended.VII. Three times per year, the STIP and TIPs shall be amended to make adjustments to projects whose scopes, schedules or budgets need to be adjusted. The department of transportation will prepare and release STIP/TIP amendments to the metropolitan planning organizations and rural regional planning commissions.VIII. The metropolitan planning organizations shall have 60 days from the receipt of each amendment to prepare, receive public comments, approve and transmit the updated TIPs to the department of transportation. The department of transportation shall incorporate the TIP amendments into the STIP in whole, and submit the STIP for federal approval as required by 23 U.S.C. sections 134 and 135, as amended.Amended by 2023, 79:107, eff. 7/1/2023.1994, 283:1, eff. July 1, 1994.