New Hampshire Weighs Selling Naming Rights to Bridges and Overpasses

AASHTO Journal, 7 December 2012

New Hampshire is joining the ranks of some fellow states looking to increase transportation revenue through innovative means by considering selling naming rights to the state’s overpasses and bridges.

The New Hampshire state legislature is looking at a bill, HB 1400, brought forth by Rep. Dan Maguire (R-Epsom) that would “permit the commissioner of the department of transportation to sell the naming rights for certain structures and to deposit the revenues in the highway fund.” The original bill was introduced last January, though new legislation on the matter is expected in the 2013 legislative session.

Bill Boynton, spokesman for NHDOT, told New Hampshire’s Union Leader via email that NHDOT would certainly welcome additional funding for transportation infrastructure projects, though he couldn’t speculate how much money the sponsorship program would bring in.

“We are open to any kind of innovative financing initiatives to meet our funding challenges that would help address New Hampshire’s transportation needs,” Boynton said to the paper.

Other states are bringing in revenue in a similar fashion. Ohio Department of Transportation, for example, launched its Sponsorship, Maintenance, and Advertising Revenue Targeted program this summer, which allows advertising and sponsorship opportunities at the state’s 101 rest areas (see related story: bit.ly/AJOhio). The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board also this year approved the selling of naming rights for highways, bridges, interchanges, and other transportation facilities in order to raise revenue for the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund.

NHDOT has itself been exploring new ways to bring in additional revenue to invest in transportation infrastructure. Just last month, the department announced a public-private partnership with State Farm in which the company would sponsor the Motorist Service Patrol for three years. In turn, NHDOT would include the State Farm logo to the MSP vehicles. The partnership allows MSP, which provides roadside assistance to motorists in need, to operate and possibly expand its patrol coverage area.

“This is great news for motorists who drive on I-95 and the Spaulding Turnpike in New Hampshire,” NHDOT Commissioner Chris Clement said in a statement regarding the State Farm/MSP partnership. “This public-private partnership with State Farm will ensure an additional level of safety for the traveling public for several years.”

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