News
2020-09-01 - Public Comment Period for MPO Public Participation Plan Update
The Rockingham Planning Commission announces the release for public comment of a draft update to the agency’s Public Participation Plan (PPP). This plan sets out the policies, goals and approaches for public participation as part of transportation planning activities conducted by the Rockingham Planning Commission.
A 45-day public comment period for the Draft Public Participation Plan begins Tuesday, September 1st, 2020 and concludes on Friday, October 16th, 2020. A public hearing to consider the updated plan and any received comments is scheduled for Wednesday October 14th, 2020, beginning at 7:00 PM and held virtually given public meeting restrictions due to COVID19. The Planning Commission will meet after the public hearing to vote on adoption of the Public Participation Plan.
Link for Public Hearing and Plan Review: https://publicinput.com/2020PPPUpdate.
View the Draft Document: MPO Public Participation Plan - Draft August 2020
The Rockingham Planning Commission is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) serving twenty-seven (27) communities in southeastern New Hampshire. The core role of the MPO is to ensure local input in the planning and programming of federally funded transportation projects. As part of this role, the MPO is required to implement a proactive public participation process that provides complete information, timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and early and continuing participation of the public in developing plans.
Hard copies of the document are available at the RPC offices and will be sent to interested parties by request. Written comments will also be accepted through close of business on October 16th, 2020 and may be provided through the publicInput.com link above or in email or hard copy addressed to:
Rockingham Planning Commission
156 Water Street
Exeter, NH 03833
Email: sbogle@therpc.org with Public Participation Plan in the subject line.
[Public Notices][Transportation]
2020-07-21 - Project Solicitation for the Long Range Transportation Plan
The Rockingham Planning Commission is the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the region and, in that regard, is responsible for identifying and addressing transportation service and infrastructure needs at the regional level. This includes the development and maintenance of the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) which establishes regional transportation goals and project priorities to meet these goals over the next 20 years. The highest priority projects from the LRTP are submitted to NH DOT as part of the Ten Year Plan (TYP) process and proposals selected for inclusion in that document undergo early preparation work. Once a project in the Ten Year Plan advances to the first four years, it is included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) where funding is dedicated specifically for design, engineering, and construction.
The Rockingham Planning Commission is updating the list of transportation projects in the Plan and prioritizing projects in to recommend for the next State Ten Year Plan cycle that NHDOT will begin this fall. These updates require community involvement in identifying local transportation issues and needs throughout the region, which are then prioritized and submitted to NHDOT for the Ten Year Plan. Please visit the MPO Project Solicitation and Selection page of the website to review the current process and project lists to ensure that priorities from your community are included.
In that regard, please confirm via email (to transportation@therpc.org) or letter from City Council/Selectboard or Community/Agency Administrator the following by September 1, 2020:
- That any project in your community that is currently on the Long Range Plan Project List remains a local priority (please provide any updated information available).
- If there are multiple projects listed for your community, please establish the relative priority of each.
- Finally, if there are new project proposals to submit for consideration, please complete a Project Application form (hosted by Microsoft Forms). Project forms and guidance can also be accessed by going to the MPO Project Solicitation and Selection page at the following link: http://www.therpc.org/projectselection.
- Full details on the project solicitation and selection process are available on the Project Solicitation and Selection page of the RPC website and will be kept updated as we get further into this process.
Please contact Dave Walker (658-0514 or dwalker@thrpc.org) at RPC if you have any questions about the information in this letter or need assistance with project information and submittals. Given the ongoing pandemic, RPC staff will be available for virtual meetings in July and August with interested Town Administrators and other community staff to discuss the process and potential projects. Given the important role of the legislature in the Ten Year Plan process, it is also recommended that you make your local legislators aware of the transportation needs and priorities of your community.
2020-06-19 - Wildcat Transit Public Hearing Notice
Public Hearing Notice: Wednesday, June 24 at 5:30 pm. "Due to UNH budget reductions and the conclusion of NHDOT supplemental construction mitigation funding provided by the Little Bay Bridge project, Wildcat Transit will be making service reductions on all routes effective with the planned restart of service for the 2020-21 academic year in late August. Wildcat Transit will reduce service frequencies during both full service (including weekends) and reduced service periods. Visit our website at www.unh.edu/transportation for schedule details." Click this link for more information (PDF).
2020-06-17 - RPC Newsletter - June 2020
In this newsletter: Remote Meetings, Highlights from the RPC Annual Meeting, NH Planners Assoc Spring Conference, North Hampton and Little Boar's Head Village District: Coastal Hazards and Adpatation Master Plan Chapters, Hayden and Quinlan Award Nominations Deadline Extended, Amtrak Enters Phase 1 of Restoration of Downeaster Service, Composting: A Way to Reduce Trash in our NH Landfills, and more!
2020-06-01 - Deadline Extended! Hayden and Quinlan Awards Nominations Are Still Being Accepted!
The Rockingham Planning Commission is extending the deadline for nominations for the James Hayden Award and Daniel Quinlan Award. Due to the current challenges we are facing during the health crisis, we recognize that it may have been difficult to coordinate and develop submissions for the awards. In addition, we have decided to push back the awards ceremony to Fall 2020 in the hopes that we could have an in person gathering to present the awards. Therefore, the nominations will NOW be accepted through Saturday June 20, 2020.
Descriptions of these awards are provided below. If you know an individual or organization that has made a valuable contribution to the region in the spirit of these awards, please let us know.
James Hayden Award
The James Hayden Award was established in remembrance of Jim Hayden, RPC Commissioner from Newfields and longtime District Conservationist for the Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) for Rockingham County for many years. Jim retired from the SCS in the mid 1980s and became RPC Commissioner in 1988. He was instrumental in the development of the County Soil Survey and in efforts to protect the natural resource base of the County and region in the face of extensive development. He contributed to the creation of many of the essential tools that most towns still use today in planning, including wetlands, shoreline and aquifer protection overlay zoning and also promoted the use of soil and resource mapping in community and site planning. Accordingly, the Hayden Award is intended to recognize those in the region who have made significant contributions to their communities or the greater region in natural resource conservation and planning.
Daniel Quinlan Award
The Daniel Quinlan Award was established in memory of Dan Quinlan, long serving RPC Commissioners and twice RPC Chairman from Windham. Dan was exemplary over many years in service both to his Town (as library Trustee, Planning Board member and other roles) and to the regional community as RPC Commissioner and Master Plan Committee, Regional Impacts Committee and Chair for two terms. He worked to ensure the best for the Commission, but also to ensure that the Commission did its best to serve his community and region. His skill was to bring people together to solve problems. The Quinlan Award is given in recognition of those in the region who made significant contributions to sound community and regional planning and have fostered intermunicipal cooperation and collaboration in the region.
Hayden and Quinlan Nomination Form
2020-05-27 - EDA Cares Act Funding
The Philadelphia Region of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) received $259 million from the Cares Act funding. A portion of this money is available to all municipalities in the form of grant dollars.
- For a project to qualify for the EDA CARES Act funding, an applicant shall explain clearly how the proposed project would “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus” or respond to “economic injury as a result of coronavirus.”
- EDA expects to fund at least 80% and up to 100% of eligible project costs. Baseline request is 80% match share.
- Unsure if a project would qualify? The EDA continues to fund projects under its existing Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and Disaster Declaration grant opportunities, which we can discuss with you.
- REDC will work with municipalities to screen projects and to determine if a project is EDA and/or CARES Act eligible through dialogue with our EDA representative. If a project is eligible, REDC can assist in the application process and with grant administration and reporting; fees are project specific.
Click HERE to View the flyer for the program
Click HERE to download the application form
First complete the preliminary screening worksheet and then email it Jen Kimball to at Jennifer@redc.com to set up a time to review your project.
2020-05-13 - Protecting Wildlife Corridors
Plan for the future of your community by building a network of connected wildlife habitats
Protecting Wildlife Corridors: Plan for the future of your community by building a network of connected wildlife habitats. Participate in this virtual workshop on June 8 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm! To register for this virtual workshop visit: www.bit.ly/nhcorridors.
2020-05-11 - RPC Newsletter - May 2020
The RPC office may be closed to the public but the staff is hard at work planning! Topics in this month's newsletter include: Tri-State Effort to Coordinate Beach Openings, RPC in the News: NBC10's Chris Gloninger interviews Tim Roache about how Climate Change will effect Route 1, RPC Partnership with Exeter Economic Developemtn and Regional Economic Development Corp., OSI Provides Tips for Virtual Meetings, RPC Opens Public Comment Period for 2019 TIP Amendment #4, and more.
https://mailchi.mp/f1f50c854142/rpcnewsmay2020-2079213
2020-05-01 - RPC Opens Public Comment Period for 2019 TIP, Amendment #4
Virtual Public Hearing Scheduled for May 13, 2020
A 10-day public comment period for Amendment #4 to the 2019 TIP begins Saturday, May 2, 2020 and concludes on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Due to the State of Emergency declared by Governor Sununu as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with Emergency Order #12 pursuant to Executive Order 2020-08, following the public comment period, a virtual public hearing to review comments and solicit any final feedback regarding Amendment #4 to the TIP and Plan has been scheduled for 7:00 PM on Wednesday May 13, 2020. The Planning Commission will meet after the public hearing to consider and adopt the revisions. The Chair of the RPC has found that, due to the State of Emergency declared by the Governor, RPC is authorized to meet electronically. Please note that, pursuant to the Governor’s Emergency Order, there is no physical location to participate in this meeting. RPC is engaging commissioners via a Zoom virtual meeting while the general public can participate via the RPC public engagement portal. Further information is available in the public engagement portal and on the TIP Amendments page of the RPC website.
[Public Notices][Transportation]
2020-04-10 - RPC Newsletter - April 2020
The RPC office may be closed to the public but the staff is hard at work planning! Here are just a few projects we are working on around the region. Topics include: Bike Pedestrian Planning, Traffic Reduction, Water Protection, Fremont Residents Love Their Town, Seacoast Corridor Vulnerability, GIS Team Update, 2019 State Clean Diesel Program (DERA), Governor's Executive Orders, Help for Small Businesses, Local Farms: A Great Resource, and RPC Contacts.
Click HERE to read April's newsletter
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