New Hampshire Department of Transportation
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The State of New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) is a government agency of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The NHDOT is under the executive direction of Commissioner of Transportation Carol A. Murray. Murray has resigned and is expected to leave office before March 1, 2007. The main office of the NHDOT is located in the J.O. Morton Building in Concord.
[edit] Duties
NHDOT's general functions, as provided in NH RSA:21-L, are:
- Planning, developing, and maintaining a state transportation network which will provide for safe and convenient movement of people and goods throughout the state by means of a system of highways and railroads, air service, mass transit and other practicable modes of transportation in order to support state growth and economic development and promote the general welfare of the citizens of the state.
- Developing and maintaining state owned land and buildings, except as otherwise provided by law, and cooperating with the Department of Administrative Services in preparing a long-range state capital improvements plan.
- Performing any regulation of transportation activities required by law which is not within the jurisdiction of another state agency.
[edit] History
From 1905 to 1915, the responsibility for highways and bridges was vested with the State Engineer. From 1915 to 1950, the NHDOT was the "Division to the Highway Department", which was established under Chapter 103 of the New Hampshire Laws of 1915. In 1950, the department became the "New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways", established under Part 9 of Chapter 5 of the New Hampshire Laws of 1950.
On February 18, 1986, the Department of Public Works and Highways was reorganized under Chapter 402 of the laws of 1985 (RSA:21-L), as the Department of Transportation. This reorganization of the department added the Transportation Division of the Public Utilities Commission (Bureaus of Rail Safety and Common Carriers) and the Aeronautics Commission.
Additional agency reorganization under Chapter 257 of the New Hampshire Laws of 2004 changed the Division of Aeronautics to the Division of Aeronautics, Rail, and Transit.
[edit] Divisions
Under the 1986 reorganization plan, five Divisions were created within the Department:
- Project Development - plans and designs transportation projects and oversees their construction
- Operations - the NHDOT's largest Division is responsible for the maintenance of state highways and bridges, and the maintenance and operation of the State's turnpike system
- Administration - is responsible for support activities in the Department, including accounting, auditing, purchasing, budgeting, contracts, information technology and the print shop
- Public Works and Transportation - responsible for architectural and engineering design and planning of State-owned facilities other than those of the University System
- Division of Aeronautics, Rail and Transit - works with Federal, state and local agencies to preserve and promote various modes of transportation outside of the mode of automobile/truck and highways
