2001 SESSION

01-0070

01/10

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 11

ANALYSIS

This house concurrent resolution urges the United States Department of Transportation to evaluate regional transportation infrastructure links.

01-0070

01/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

Whereas, on January 1, 1994, the United States of America joined with the Dominion of Canada and the Republic of Mexico in creating a hemispheric trading zone under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); and

Whereas, NAFTA recognized the importance of efficient international transportation throughout North America as an integral element to a healthy economy; and

Whereas, Congress has recognized the importance of international corridors and border crossings in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21); and

Whereas, Atlantic Canada, northern New England, upstate New York, Quebec, and Ontario comprise the northeastern portion of North America; and

Whereas, through NAFTA the northeastern region is developing closer ties; and

Whereas, east-west travel in the northeastern region is difficult and dangerous; and

Whereas, the people of the northeast region deserve transportation systems that will permit them to travel safely and efficiently and to sustain their families and communities through safe and efficient regional transportation links; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the house of representatives, the senate concurring:

That the general court of the State of New Hampshire hereby urges the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation to study the sufficiency of the transportation links on east-west axes from Halifax, Nova Scotia through Maine and Quebec to the Windsor, Ontario-Buffalo, New York region and from Halifax, Nova Scotia through Maine, northern New Hampshire and Vermont and eastern and central New York to the Windsor, Ontario-Buffalo, New York region; and

That such study evaluate the economic potential of the northeast region without significant changes in its transportation infrastructure and that such study evaluate the economic potential of the northeast region with significant changes in its transportation infrastructure including such factors as safety of transportation, efficiency of transportation, proximity to European and central North American markets and points of production; and

That the Federal Highway Administration of the United States Department of Transportation conduct such study in conjunction with the Dominion of Canada and such governmental agency or agencies as the Dominion of Canada may designate to participate in such study including but not limited to Transport Canada; and

That copies of this resolution be forwarded by the house clerk to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, Transport Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Revenue Canada, and to the congressional delegations of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York.

Approved: May 1, 2001