1. (a) Each applicant shall have a score in this qualifying category, and the points awarded under this section shall count towards the total HC designation score.

2. (b) Municipalities shall receive a maximum of 10 points for completed, ongoing, or planned implementation of qualifying public transportation projects, which may include sidewalk, or other walkability infrastructure improvements that are intended to support the development of workforce housing and other types of housing necessary for the economic development of the statute, as outlined below:

   1. (1) Completed eligible improvements shall receive 2 points in this program if they were completed within the 6 calendar years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation;
   2. (2) Ongoing investments in eligible improvements shall receive 2 points in this program if the municipality is amidst the development or construction phases of the project and it will be completed within the next 6 calendar years following the application for HC designation; and
   3. (3) Planned or future eligible improvements shall receive 2 points in this program if the municipality has completed the planning stage of the project and has an obligation to move forward with and complete the project within 9 years following the application for HC designation. A HC designation renewal application, which occurs every 3 years, shall demonstrate measurable progress of such planned projects.

3. (c) Completed public transportation improvements, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure enhancements shall meet the following minimum standards, while ongoing and planned improvements shall meet the conditions outlined in Bea 504.08 (b)(2) and (3) and demonstrate a defined path or plan to achieve the below criteria:

   1. (1) Attain all necessary local approvals and permits;
   2. (2) Attain all necessary approvals and permits from the New Hampshire department of transportation;
   3. (3) Comply with Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II, 28 CFR Part 35, and the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design accessible at https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/
   4. (4) Be available for year-round use; and
   5. (5) Provide a direct connection of one mile or less between a residential zoning district of a municipality and a downtown, town center, village center, retail area, commercial area, public school, public transportation, open space, or other amenity or community center area.

4. (d) Additional considerations as to whether a project shall be considered planned, include but are not limited to:

   1. (1) Whether the applicant municipality has a pending application to the New Hampshire department of transportation for transportation alternative program funds;
   2. (2) Whether such improvements are under construction;
   3. (3) Whether the applicant municipality has a CIP reserve fund which shall fully fund such improvements under the municipality’s active CIP;
   4. (4) Whether the applicant municipality has entered into a public-private partnership to undergo specific improvements;
   5. (5) Whether the applicant municipality can demonstrate that it has planned for the installation of public transportation, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure based on its inclusion in the municipality’s active CIP;
   6. (6) Whether the applicant municipality can demonstrate that it has planned for the installation of public transportation, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure based on discussion of such improvements in the municipality’s master plan; and
   7. (7) Whether the applicant municipality has appropriated through its local governing body the municipal engineering costs for the project.
5. (e) The department shall review the qualifications for public transportation, sidewalks, and walkability infrastructure in (f) below, prior to each HC designation application round which shall be publicized prior to the commencement of each application round.

6. (f) Implementation of public transportation, sidewalks, or other walkability infrastructure shall include the installation or expansion of any of the following:

   1. (1) Fixed route bus service;
   2. (2) Intercity bus service;
   3. (3) On-demand transit services, other than rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft;
   4. (4) Sidewalk;
   5. (5) Complete street;
   6. (6) Shared-use path;
   7. (7) Rail trail;
   8. (8) Recreation trail; and
   9. (9) Activities funded under a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).

7. (g) A maximum of 4 bonus points shall be awarded to applicants that can demonstrate the following:

   1. (1) Whether an applicant municipality has adopted a complete streets policy or program, valued at 2 points; or
   2. (2) Whether an applicant municipality demonstrates that it has implemented qualifying public transportation, sidewalk, or walkability infrastructure in the 6 calendar years preceding the municipality’s application for HC designation in or adjacent to infill locations in downtowns, town centers, village centers, and other community center areas as shown on the NH community center area GIS layer on the New Hampshire geodata portal accessible at, https://www.nhgeodata.unh.edu/datasets/5e007caee50e428d8bb62e31baf6c0de/explore, valued at 2 points.
8. (h) The department shall make additional bonus points available based on department priorities and best practices and shall be publicized prior to the commencement of each application round.

Source. #14043, eff 8-8-24