Latest news with #NewHampshireDepartmentofTransportation
Malaysian Reserve
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Court Sides with Advocates for Derry Rail Trail Tunnel in Lawsuit Over Historic Rail Corridor
Complaint Cited New Hampshire Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration in Violation of Federal Regulations in Plans for Construction of Exit 4A I-93 Expansion CONCORD, N.H., July 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Committee to Save the Derry Rail Trail Tunnel and Rails to Trails Conservancy celebrated a victory today in response to their lawsuit against the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration challenging construction of Phase 2 of the Exit 4A I-93 expansion in Derry in order to protect the Manchester & Lawrence Railroad Historic District and the Derry Rail Trail. The complaint, filed in August 2024, centered on a design change, proposed by NHDOT and approved by FHWA earlier that year, that removes a previously approved tunnel that would have protected the historic right-of-way from a six-lane exit road, replacing it with steep approaches, an at-grade crosswalk across six lanes of traffic, and a circuitous route that abandons the historic railroad corridor. Ruling in the advocates' favor, United States District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro 'enjoin[ed] the defendants from performing construction in the immediate proximity of the Historic District that would in any way foreclose or substantially hinder the completion of the' original design, which included a tunnel to preserve the Manchester & Lawrence Railroad Historic District and allow further development of the Derry Rail Trail. 'This is an important turning point. The court's decision validates the Committee's concerns that NHDOT and FHWA violated federal law when they abandoned the original design plans for the expansion of Exit 4-A on I-93 that included the underpass. This has caused unnecessary delays and expenditures that could have been avoided if the agency had taken the time to engage with tunnel supporters. We're looking forward to more intentional engagement as the updated designs for the corridor are pursued,' said Dave Topham, president of the New Hampshire Rail Trails Coalition and a member of the committee that brought the lawsuit. 'We are pleased that the court agrees the actions NHDOT and FHWA took were in direct violation of federal law. Their proposed design obliterated the historic rail corridor, while introducing unnecessary safety hazards to people who will use the trail and those on the road. As we work with NHDOT to pursue the common-sense approach that the underpass offers, the necessary engagement with concerned citizens can be ensured if a staff person at NHDOT competent in rail trail design is made responsible for the many rail trails the Department is involved with,' said Alex Vogt, a retired NHDOT engineer. In response to the court's decision, the Committee will seek to coordinate with NHDOT to implement the originally proposed design that includes an underpass in the project to allow for the planned expansion of the Derry Rail Trail through the Manchester & Lawrence Railroad Historic District. This decision prioritizes minimizing harm to the historic railroad corridor by providing a tunnel for the Derry Rail Trail along the corridor's original alignment. This design also provides significant safety benefits to the many thousands of people who are expected to use the Derry Rail Trail. 'As NHDOT and FHWA take the next steps outlined by the court, the Committee looks forward to engaging directly with agency staff to ensure that the historic corridor is protected and safety is prioritized for everyone who uses the trail and the roadway. NHDOT has a policy requiring this outreach, which has never been followed, and the state's Rail Trail Plan calls for a person at NHDOT to be responsible for the state's rail-trails. Assigning this responsibility now will help to ensure that this project is implemented effectively and efficiently,' said Topham. The Court held that FHWA's 'spaghetti loop' design violated historic preservation protections provided by federal law—specifically, Section 4(f), which forbids using federal funds for transportation projects that will damage parks or historic sites, unless there are no prudent and feasible alternatives that would avoid the historic site and the project includes all reasonable measures to minimize harm to the site. The court held that FHWA and NHDOT did not properly consider whether its new design minimized harm to the same extent as its original design plan, which advocates say will also improve the safety of the future rail-trail connection and create better trail system linkages. 'The court's decision is an important victory for rail-trails across the country, underscoring the importance of ensuring that transportation projects are designed in ways that minimize harm to historic places and trails. Federal laws like Section 4(f) are important tools in the protection of many rail-trail corridors, which create access to safe spaces to walk, bike and be active for millions of Americans—preserving these historic assets as spaces that make it safer for people to get outside and get around their communities,' said Ryan Chao, president of RTC, the nation's largest trails, walking and biking advocacy organization, and the foremost legal advocate for rail-trails in the U.S. The Committee to Save the Derry Rail Trail Tunnel is a New Hampshire not-for-profit corporation comprised of experienced cycling advocates and cyclists from throughout New Hampshire who are concerned about the safety of rail-trail users and the preservation of historic railroad corridors. Rails to Trails Conservancy is the nation's largest trails advocacy organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong—dedicated to building a nation connected by trails, reimagining public and historic spaces to create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike and be active outdoors. The Committee and RTC are represented in the lawsuit by WilmerHale, an international law firm. Contact: Committee to Save the Derry Rail Trail Tunnel Contact: Bob Spiegelman, 603.490.0012, robertspiegelman@ Rails to Trails Conservancy Contact: Brandi Horton, 703.307.8891, brandi@
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Suicide prevention signage installed on Piscataqua River Bridge
May 17—Following a string of suicides over the Piscataqua River, officials this week installed new signage on bridges aimed at reducing such attempts, but some locals and mental health advocates say more needs to be done. In less than two weeks, from late April to early May, three people died by suicide after jumping into the river. Two jumped from the Piscataqua River Bridge that carries Interstate 95 between New Hampshire and Maine, and another from the smaller Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, according to state and local law enforcement. Kelly Hartnett, vice president of community relations at Portsmouth-based Seacoast Mental Health Center, said seeing so many deaths in such a narrow window of time is "definitely unusual" compared to trends over the last decade. "I have not experienced this type of event in that frequency," in about six years on the job, Hartnett said. On Thursday, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation installed six signs on the larger bridge — three each on the northbound and southbound sides — Hartnett said. She said the agency, which assists with some crisis calls on and around the bridges, had already been working with the Portsmouth Police Department to install signage and other preventative measures. "We had been working on that initiative prior to the unfortunate events. That kind of accelerated the efforts," she said. The signs bear a relatively simple message: "There is hope. YOU MATTER. Text. Call. Chat. 988." That number rings the national suicide and crisis lifeline, which connects individuals with a live counselor and local resources. "It's a step forward, but we are looking now to add nets or some kind of barriers. That's the evidence-based model, having both (signs and barriers)," Hartnett said. When an individual plans to die by suicide, they often do so hastily or impulsively, so a clear and quick message helps get through to those in crisis, Hartnett said. When more time is created between someone planning and acting, crisis teams have a better chance of intervening. In that sense, even physical barriers that appear scalable require additional effort and help create a buffer in time, she said. Multiple studies have shown that safety barriers are extremely effective at reducing the suicide rate on a particular structure and, in some cases, the overall suicide rate within a community. This latest string of suicides came as crews began installing safety fencing on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Augusta. That project is expected to cost about $1.35 million and is slated for completion in July, according to Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson Damian Veilleux. The fencing was mandated by the Maine Legislature in 2023 after a number of similar bills had failed to pass. The project was delayed slightly by testing to determine the fences' potential impact on the bridge's overall wind resistance. CALLS FOR MORE More than 1,600 local residents have signed an online petition calling for safety nets to be installed on the Piscataqua River Bridge. "In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the threat of suicide is painfully real. The Piscataqua River Bridge offers a tempting means for individuals considering suicide," organizers wrote in the petition. That petition was created on May 12, shortly after a minor — later revealed to be a Sanford High School student — jumped to his death. Police pulled his body from the water around 6 a.m. that morning, about nine hours after his empty car was found on the bridge. Friends, family and classmates gathered on Wells Beach Wednesday for a vigil honoring Jonathan "Jony" Hunter, a 16-year-old football player, Seacoastonline reported. There, his loved ones said there had been few to no warning signs that the teenager, known for his big heart, had been struggling. Hunter's death came less than two weeks after an earlier pair of suicides that took place April 30. New Hampshire State Police responded to a call of a stopped car in the Piscataqua River Bridge's northbound breakdown lane and determined that an unidentified man had jumped to his death, the department said in a written release. A few hours later, police in Portsmouth got a report of a missing person. The next morning, officers learned that a person matching that description had jumped from the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, the local department said. Tyler Dumont, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Department of Safety, said the state police are "working closely" with partner groups to create additional suicide prevention methods, and he urged anyone struggling with thoughts of self-harm to call the crisis lifeline at 988. "The Department remains committed to doing all we can to reduce suicide risks and promote safety for everyone in our state," Dumont said in a written statement. ------ IF YOU NEED HELP IF YOU or someone you know is in immediate danger, dial 911. FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at FOR MORE SUPPORT, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@ OTHER Maine resources for mental health, substance use disorder and other issues can be found by calling 211. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lane closures coming next week at Bedford tolls
Starting Monday, construction crews will begin work on the project to tear down the Bedford tolls on the F.E. Everett turnpike and replace the entire plaza with overhead E-ZPass sensors so drivers can eventually pass through without stopping. Commuters will face lane closures as crews work from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials said in a news release. The first phase of the construction is expected to last through June 15 and is part of a larger widening project for the turnpike. Construction workers will widen the northbound and southbound lanes temporarily just north of the tollbooths to shift traffic outside of the roadway. With traffic diverted, crews will begin construction on permanent drainage, the barrier, pavement and the concrete roadway where the sensors will be. The overhead E-ZPass toll sensors will be in place before the plaza is completely removed, officials said. The $16 million project will convert the traditional tollbooths into all-electronic tolling. R.S. Audley of Bow is the contracted construction company for the project, which is expected to be done in the fall of 2027. For more information and to sign up for free text or email updates on New Hampshire highway traffic, visit dpierce@
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
No-stop Hooksett tolls on I-93 to close for two months
Mar. 18—If you're used to driving through the Hooksett tolls on Interstate 93 without stopping, well, get used to stopping for the next two months. From April 1 to around Memorial Day, all four lanes of open-road tolls — two each on I-93 north and south — will be closed at the Hooksett Toll Plaza, state officials announced Tuesday. All drivers will funnel through the six traditional cash and E-ZPass toll booths on each side of the highway instead. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation will replace all of the equipment used to capture E-ZPass transponder signals from overhead and automatically charge motorists on their way through. The project is expected to be completed before Memorial Day, officials said in a news release. The E-ZPass system uses sensors, cameras, computer servers and software to collect and process each transaction. The system was installed in 2013. "Travelers should slow down, obey all posted signs and focus on driving," officials said. Drivers can check traffic conditions by visiting before heading out. dpierce@
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine Turnpike Authority names new executive director
Mar. 14—The deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is on track to become executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority. The authority's board of directors voted unanimously Friday afternoon to appoint Andre Briere to the position Peter Mills held for 13 years before he retired last fall. The board voted 6-0. A retired career military officer, Briere has been deputy commissioner of the New Hampshire department since August 2021. His appointment to head the Maine Turnpike Authority is subject to legislative approval. Briere's nomination comes at a challenging time for the authority. After more than a year of controversy over the proposed Gorham Connector, the Maine Department of Transportation recently assumed responsibility for the search for alternative solutions to commuter traffic congestion west of Portland. The MTA board sought a candidate with strong leadership skills, a strategic vision and a deep understanding of transportation and infrastructure management, said Chair Michael Cianchette. "Andre's extensive experience in both public service and private industry, combined with his leadership acumen, make him the right choice to guide the Maine Turnpike Authority into the future," Cianchette said in an emailed statement. The board interviewed 10 or 11 of the more than 30 applicants for the position, Cianchette said. Briere was one of three finalists. He is a 29-year Air Force veteran who retired as a colonel in 2019 with a breadth of experience in aviation, transportation, logistics, emergency management and large-scale project leadership. An Air Force Academy graduate, his military career included serving as defense attaché to the Russian Federation, representing the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is an Air Force Command pilot, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and national executive emergency manager certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He also has held executive positions in the private sector. Briere oversaw statewide infrastructure programs at NHDOT, where his last day will be March 28. The Legislature's transportation committee will hold a public hearing on Briere's nomination to the MTA in the coming weeks, to be followed by a Senate vote. If confirmed, Briere will become executive director upon taking the oath of office. Briere's annual salary will be $216,000, Cianchette said, in line with other top public sector executives in Maine. He will be moving to Maine from Concord, New Hampshire, with a $10,000 relocation stipend from the authority. Copy the Story Link
