NHRTC has a seat on both the Statewide Trails Advisory Committee (STAC) and the OHRV Study Commission.
STAC exists for the purpose of advising the Director of Parks and Recreation on matters related to the New Hampshire statewide trail system.
The OHRV Study Commission was established in 2022 to study OHRV use in NH and requires the commission to submit annual reports and proposed legislation.
Highlights from the February 19, 2025 STAC meeting:
1) Director of Parks, Brian Wilson, spoke in support of SB 274 – our trail funding bill. At legislative hearings, DNCR’s policy is to be neutral, but apparently those constraints don’t apply to STAC meeting. Director Wilson described the bill as a big deal and an important step that the bill was written given a full hearing, event though this particular budget cycle is not ideal. He called rail trails the unfunded component of the park system and, referencing the 2022 DOT Rail Trails Plan funding analysis, concluded that user fees are not the answer to mixed-use rail trails – general funds are. He described the 21 mile Conway branch, from Ossipee to Conway as NH’s 94th state park, and that the active mixed use would bring big economic benefit to the area.
2) DOT’s update:
- Nicole Bryant is new Rails and Transit Bureau Administrator. but DOT still understaffed.
- DOT’s study of rail trail crossings over state roads is expected to be complete by end of this year
- Conway Branch – ownership transfer from DOT to DNCR expected this spring. There will be public process to gather public input for management.
3) Discussion of PEV legislation, HB 715. Consensus in the room was that something needs to be done to regulate these devices and that a Study Commission is warranted.
4) RTP application deadline will be earlier than previous years – something to do with procedural changes with NH Fish &Game’s non-game program.
5) The seat representing the Heritage Trail is open again.
6) 2025 = NH Parks’ 90th Birthday. If anyone is planning an event involving a State Park- contact the Parks division – maybe they can participate and include the event in their celebration. One celebratory event is a statewide scavenger hunt.
7) The last 2 meetings have had representation from the NH Governor’s Commission on Disability = real enthusiasm for making trails accessible.
OHRV Study Commission
This commission meets every other month. Rail Trails have not yet been a direct topic. All documents and minutes can be found on the commission’s website.
Any comments concerns? email us info@nhrtc.org