City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 2 Feb 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 2.2.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

Description

2.2.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

A

Okay, uh welcome to the uh february 2nd 2023 parking traffic and safety.

B

Meeting uh before we get started, I do want to highlight that on uh february.

B

15Th we will be having a woodbury avenue traffic calming public.

B

Project meaning at the new franklin school at 6, 30 pm. This is a regular parking traffic and.

B

Safety meeting, so we will have public comment: uh we're going to limit it to three minutes for.

B

Each person at the start at the uh meeting on the 15th will be more of an open dialogue, so I.

B

Just uh if anybody's here just for that meeting, I want to make sure you know about the uh other.

B

Upcoming meeting, because it'll be more of a back and forth, and interaction on that specific project.

B

And uh could we take the role please mary lou mcelwain here steve pesci here mark syracuse.

C

Here, harold whitehouse erica wagonik here, deputy police chief mike maloney here fire.

D

Chief bill mcquillen here public works director, peter rice, here, city manager, karen conard, here.

D

Chairman andrew bagley here, and could we see the financial report please.

E

Mr chairman, I'll move that we accept the financial report. Second, all those in favor aye aye, any.

B

Opposed okay and uh you'll notice in the packet, I think eric. If you could advance one page, we do.

B

Have um at a request at the last meeting kind of a parking transportation, some of the server services.

B

That are provided to the community through the revenues generated from the parking department.

B

And that's also in the budget documents for the city, as well as the some of the other planning.

B

Documents- but we just put it here for easy reference with that. I'd like to start the public.

B

Comic we're going to limit it to three minutes each and uh who would ever like to go first.

B

Just come up to the microphone and state your name and address, and what you are talking about.

F

My name is eliza hewitt and a 26th.

F

I'm here tonight to address the update and recommendations on the middle road islington.

F

Street speed limit reduction. I strongly oppose the recommendation to raise this current speed.

F

Limit on these two streets from 25 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour, I have appeared before you.

F

11 times since july, 2020 begging you for a speed limit reduction, and so I'm not going to go through.

F

The entire history of this effort to provide a safe neighborhood for pedestrians and cyclists.

F

In the area of middle road and islington street, I will simply remind you that middle road is made.

F

Up of 138 residences between beverly hill and mid middle street, it is classified as a neighborhood.

F

Connector street and all the streets in portsmouth with such classification have a speed limit set at.

F

25 miles per hour except middle road and islington street, if you raise the speed limit to 30 miles.

F

Per hour, I would like to remind you that your own 2014 sportsmith bicycle and pedestrian plan.

F

Adopted by the city council states on page 17. quote: high traffic speeds make it uncomfortable to.

F

Walk in portions of portsmouth speed is a threat to pedestrian safety. High traffic speeds can cause.

F

Stress for pedestrians, walking along the street, pedestrians have an 85 percent chance, 85 percent.

F

Chance of death or serious injury when hit by a vehicle traveling at 40 miles per hour, as opposed.

F

To a five percent chance when hit by a vehicle traveling at 20 miles per hour, end quote and from.

F

Your own walk, friendly policy adopted by the city council, maintain reduced motor vehicle traffic.

F

Speeds in residential areas, you have reduced the speed on middle road and islington street.

F

Now, please maintain it. Data from your study shows an average speed reduction of two miles per hour.

F

Along these roads and fewer cars going over 40 miles per hour, perhaps to you not significant, but.

F

For neighborhood streets that get upwards of 10 000 cars per day, it is significant. Research shows.

F

That cars going two miles per hour, slower allows for an x 20 feet extra feet of braking distance.

F

Per car and 40 extra feet for a truck and per your own 2014 bike. Ped plan fewer cars going over 40.

F

Miles per hour significantly reduce the likelihood of death if hit so. My questions to you are.

F

Have the roads been found to be more dangerous as a result of reducing the speed? Has anyone.

F

Complained about the speed limit reduction and I'd be interested in the audience to know.

F

um Raise your hand, please, if you would like to see the speed limit, be raised to 30 miles.

F

Per hour on middle and islington streets to me, keeping the speed at 25 miles per hour is.

F

A no-brainer if dpw wants to continue to work towards physical measures to reduce the speed.

F

Through the cip, then that's great, but for now you have enough information to vote tonight to send.

F

A request to the city council for an ordinance change to reduce the speed limit permanently on.

F

Middle road and islington street 25 miles per hour. I have one closing paragraph I'd like to.

F

Read in closing, I've heard a lot of people in the city, including, I believe you, mr bagley, talk about.

F

Making portsmouth more like amsterdam or europe in its appearance and bike pedestrian safety, so.

F

I googled amsterdam speed limits out of curiosity, and this is what I found from the dutch review.

F

Quote in december 2023, the speed limits placed on 80 percent of the roads in amsterdam will be.

F

Reduced significantly from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour, several major cities in the netherlands have.

F

Rallied against the high number of road fatalities caused each year, hoping it will become safer for.

F

Cyclists and pedestrians, the new speed limit at 30 kilometers per hour, equates to 18.5 miles.

F

Per hour, so yes by all means, let's become more like amsterdam. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause].

G

My name is roy helsel, 777 middle road, riverbrook condominiums.

G

Every time when the police park in front of our condominium, the cars go, the speed limit.

G

As soon as they see him, coming from the church up above and when I pull out of there.

G

To get on middle road by the time and the cars up passed by the church there, I can't even get out.

G

Of my driveway and that car is right on my bumper twice now, since they put this at 25 miles an hour.

G

I've had people pass me over the double lines, because I'm doing 25 miles an hour.

G

The cops they stay there and nobody goes over the speed limit, hardly as soon as they leave.

G

That light changes by the ball field two times. I guess they must know when the cops leave, because.

G

They start doing 40 and 45 miles an hour down that road, and I tell everybody, push the button.

G

On the crosswalk they just put that in there and cars they can't slow down fast.

G

Enough to let those people cross they have to go through and I've seen many times that happens so.

G

They use that as a route 33 highway. That's all I have to say thank you very much.

H

Good evening paul mantle 1490 islington street, I don't really prepared remarks.

H

It's nice to see the city is the technology when they want to use it. um I asked this group.

H

Especially the chairman to be consistent when the city wanted to raise parking fees.

H

uh Mr bagley didn't want to race, they wanted them lowered, so they were when the city staff.

H

Wanted to raise um outdoor dining fees- mr bagley said no. We want them lowered.

H

So I'm asking the chairman and the and this committee not to raise the speed limit on.

H

Islington street, but to keep it where it is, keep it at 25.. Why raise it? You have a habit.

H

Of going against city staff, I want you to be consistent, um not to mention that, where the.

H

Barrier is on wvdx. Road aligned with islington street is specifically against.

H

The approvals done by the planning board and has been for four years and nobody in the city staff.

H

Or administration is concerned about it that a developer in town went against his uh approved.

H

uh Planning, so that's all, I have to say.

D

What your last name m-a-n-n-l-e.

I

Good evening, everyone uh justin richardson 586 woodbury avenue.

I

um I'm here just to speak in support of the plans, and I know there is the meeting coming up on the.

I

15Th for safety improvements on woodbury avenue. Thank you for putting that uh forward. It's it's.

I

Great to have a proposal to look at right now I don't know- and I won't go into detail today- I'm.

I

Not sure if it's the perfect plan, but it's definitely a step in the right direction. I.

I

Wanted to bring one issue to your attention and I I gave two handouts there that show the.

I

Area that I'm talking about right next to where I live uh at edmond avenue, joins uh and there's.

I

No there's a bus stop there and I've shown the location there's no crosswalk there. Also. I live.

I

On the west side of woodbury avenue, the sidewalk ends right at that location. So anyone on the west.

I

Side of woodbury has to cross over, but there's no crosswalk. I know there's some parents at the.

I

German states that are very concerned about that issue. They don't want their kids to have to play.

I

The woodbury avenue roulette and try to cross in the morning so I'm hoping that um the folks can.

I

Take a look at that and maybe revise this plan a little bit for the um the hearing. That's on the.

I

15Th and I look forward to seeing you all again then, and one question also to think about- I don't.

I

Know whether the islands include the opportunity to put in landscaping some of the traffic islands.

I

In the area are really nice and it'll be great if there were a couple opportunities for that I'd.

I

Certainly volunteer to help with the design and maintain one if it were in front of my house so.

I

Thank you very much for doing this and look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you. Justin.

J

Francesca marconi fernald, I reside at 1000 maplewood avenue. I also have a business at.

J

177 mechanic street in the south end I'm going to tangent off everyone else before.

J

Me I'm going to talk about the camper van issue. um I saw the draft that was in.

J

The um the agenda I like this draft, this draft is a good. It's a really good start. Campervan.

J

Lifestyle that I have seen that's a lifestyle that these people have chosen. I'm not going to discuss.

J

Someone brought up the fact that maybe the campervan people are homeless or whatever I.

J

Did double check with crossroads and in 2022 they were never at capacity at any date. So I kind of.

J

Did a little research on that the camper vans I'm talking about are the ones that are um they're.

J

Really nice ones they're lovely, but I don't think that they should be on the residential streets in.

J

Our neighborhoods they do disrupt the uh the flow of the neighborhood. I can speak for the south end.

J

It disrupts there's a lot of folks that do not have any off-street parking for their homes.

J

And they're parking on the street, there are employees of all the businesses down there.

J

That come and go and we've gotta we've got a good flow, tuesday's trash day. Don't park too.

J

Close to the corner so sully can pick up your garbage. You know we try to be.

J

um Cognizant of what everyone's doing we got, boats launching hey, the boats are coming out.

J

Everybody gets a text or an email. Okay, don't park, we'll put a cone out once the boat goes.

J

Through parking is good for everybody, camper it just it pushes the residential parkers out it.

J

Pushes the employees out- and it just disrupts the flow of it and again it's a lifestyle that.

J

These people have chosen, and that's fine, but it puts a strain on everyone and it just it's.

F

J

I've had people come on my property and get rid of their trash. Now, I'm not talking about.

J

The trash can in front of my restaurant, I'm talking about the trash out back.

J

Where it says private property, no trespassing, they come on and they're putting their trash. In my.

J

Can I get it they're disposing of their trash, but I'm entitled to some privacy when it says private.

J

Property, I'm also entitled to not have to deal with their dog poop, which gets in my recycling.

J

Buckets- and I'm not talking about when I put my trash cans to the road, I'm talking about again.

J

Coming on posted out back, my employees are not even in this area. um I believe that the camper van.

J

Draft is good. The only thing that I might make a recommendation about is to make sure.

J

That there's something in here that addresses a vehicle that is pulling one of those little.

J

I think it's called a teardrop camp camper. That's the only thing. That's.

J

Missing from the draft, otherwise I like the draft and it would allow the police to have.

J

Some good teeth and be able to enforce them thanks for your time. Thank you francesca.

K

My name is ann cummings and I live at 520, sagamore ave.

K

And I'm here to ask again to please lower their speed limit on sagamore ave. The speeding has.

K

Gotten out of control numerous times during the day, it becomes like a speedway traffic.

K

Heading out of town on sagamore towards rye can be quite dangerous as numerous vehicles.

K

Speed up as they approach the bend in the road for little harbor road, intersects, sagamore, ave too.

K

Many times those vehicles heading out of town are speeding and they don't even notice the flashing.

K

Lights at the crosswalk at the intersection and nearly hit people standing there waiting to cross.

K

While those flashing lights, while those flashing lights on the signs at that, crosswalk should cause.

K

People to slow down far too many times, they're going fast enough that they can't that many times.

K

They can't stop or barely have time to actually stop due to their speeds once they get through.

K

That intersection they speed back up to get out of town. This also happens as traffic coming into town.

K

From the rye direction, they speed up coming up the hill and then even more so as they reach the top.

K

Close to the intersection where the entrance to tide watch is their speeds, just don't slow down.

K

And then they come to the crosswalk from that direction. Too many cars are going fast.

K

Enough that they barely have time to stop for those already in the crosswalk, this crosswalk.

K

Is heavily used by many people walking or riding their bikes down little harbor road, some pushing.

K

Baby strollers some walking their dogs and kids riding their bikes along that road. There are.

K

A number of children in this area, as well as a high number of walkers and bike riders who.

K

Use the sidewalk, as well as the bike lanes on sagamore ave and not just in the warmer months.

K

Drive down sagamore avenue, you'll inevitably see this in all seasons. I've seen several times very.

K

Recently, where vehicles were heading out of town and they came around the bend where sagamore ave.

K

And little harbor road intersect, traveling at high rates of speed and have nearly run.

K

Into the stopped school bus, letting kids off in the afternoon at sagamore court, imagine.

K

What that would be like if they should not be able to stop and they plow into that bus.

K

As I wrote, this, several trucks sped up the hill and continued on at the speeds.

K

To get into town through the crosswalk one of those trucks sped right through the crosswalk.

K

While the lights were, while the lights were flashing and someone was in the crosswalk.

K

Having a police officer come park on this road somewhere to monitor the traffic does not come.

K

Close to conveying what those of us who live on sagamore ave deal with daily, you need to live.

K

Here to experience this road, I bought my house on sagamore ave in the spring of 2003 and I can tell.

K

You it was a very different road back, then traffic was quieter and the volume was nothing compared.

K

To today it has become a main route in and out of town and those of us who live on this town street.

K

Deserve and need something to be done with regard to making this road safer for all of us, I'm asking.

K

You to please lower the speed limit to 25, as it is just about everywhere else in town and then I'm.

K

Asking you to please monitor and enforce the speed limit. Thank you very much. Thank you. Man [applause].

L

Good evening rick beckstead 1395 is noon street, uh but speed seems to be someone of a topic in.

L

The city, I think, we've gotten used to that a few years back state of new hampshire, actually gave.

L

Us a blessing where we were able to go and finally enforce roads at 25 miles an hour and it seemed to.

L

Be something I guess that we were doing sagamore, definitely being one of the middle in islington.

L

Street I can only speak more or less on behalf of living on islington street, since the speed limit.

L

Had went down to 25 miles, I had trick-or-treaters come to my house. I've been my house for 20 years.

L

It's never happened before, there's no crosswalk there or anything else, but family and children.

L

For the first time felt safe on that road, and we should continue that- I see people walking more.

L

And more every single day, we've got a ball field down the road we've got to park down.

L

The road, hopefully at some point we're going to have a skateboard park down the road, it's being.

L

Utilized more and at 25 miles an hour definitely makes it safer. I want to know what the difference.

L

Is between my road and and pebble hill road? Now people will say that there are trucks and.

L

Trailers and stuff, what do you think services on islington street down at 800 plaza? What do.

L

You think brings the cvs, trucks and material. What do you think brings sherwin-williams hannaford's.

L

We have three gas stations, those trucks, roar up and down both day and night on islington street.

L

To go and fulfill and fill the tanks that are underground for all three of those servicing.

L

The city islington street, if it's a service road, no different than middle middle, is the exact same.

L

Way when they can't go down as far as islington, they actually go down middle and then they turn.

L

On to the other section of the road to be able to go and service our entire community, these through.

L

Ways need to be safer at 25 miles an hour couple of months ago. I actually stopped peter rice and.

L

I thanked him for including all of islington street for the study and I told him how much.

L

We appreciated admired it and how safer it was. In that conversation, I had had a conversation.

L

When I was more involved in city government about actually potentially taking 30 miles, an.

L

Hour and turning them all into 25 mile an hour, there are 25 communities that are out there. I.

L

Hope that portsmouth will one day be a 25 mile, an hour community. Thank you. I think you're right.

C

Foreign thank you for uh for being here to listen to us.

C

My name is thomas gross. I live on 295 dennett street, which is right on the corner of thornton.

C

Right there at hunter hill- and I'm I'm here tonight with a very specific request for you.

C

um A request for an opportunity actually, uh because the problem at dennis street is not.

C

Just a problem of speed I mean certainly I can tell this- is a problem throughout the city, but.

C

The problem is one of speed and low visibility, and that's hard to to gauge when all you do is.

C

You put up just a radar sign to determine what the average speed is, but what happens is right. There.

C

At hunter hill, the road actually takes a 15 degree actually 17 degree turn to the south. I measured it.

C

And it's a hill, and so it drops down now one day I was out there in front of my house and a dog.

C

Had run through somebody else's neighborhood, a dog got out and was coming across the street. Somebody.

C

Came right over the hill couldn't see him because it's not just a matter of speed. It's a matter of.

C

Visibility, they came right over that hill and hit that dog. Now I've been in combat and I've held.

C

Wounded soldiers before and this dog was suffering to this dog was suffering and broke. My heart and.

C

It didn't die right away and the owners came out, took him to the vet and, of course it had to put.

C

Him down there was another day when I was out in front of my house when a woman was getting a child.

C

A baby about a seven month old, baby out of her car and a woman came along and took the door right off.

C

um And almost there I did not hit her. There was two other occasions when I wasn't there.

C

When somebody backing out of the driveway just shy of the hill, now there's somebody coming over.

C

The top of that hill didn't see him didn't really. You know right hand, turn obviously worse at night.

C

And definitely worse, in the late afternoon, when you're coming down down the street and the sun is.

C

Right in your eyes, so all I'm asking for. I know you did a side visit two days ago. I wasn't there.

C

And my opportunity that I'm asking for is to show you to convince you all. I'm asking is for that.

C

Opportunity to let me know when you're coming out, I'm going to spread some cards around, maybe give.

C

One to mark he and I were in the fire department over in newcastle together and what I want to do.

C

Is ask you to come out, so let us walk you through and show you why we think this is not just a speed.

C

Problem but there's something else going on, because it's my con. My conviction that if we.

C

Can all agree on what the problem is? The solution will appear itself, but we won't all agree on the.

C

Problem until you get to hear from everybody who's really there, so please do me that favor schedule.

C

A time I'm going to leave my contact information, all the neighbors want to talk to you. We didn't.

C

Know about this visit the other morning. We really want to talk to you and that's the.

C

Only opportunity that we're asking for thank you very much I'll pass those around. Thank you, thomas.

C

Okay archie here. Thank you, sir. Thank you.

F

Forever, thank you. Thank you all very much.

M

Good evening elizabeth brighter property owner 159 mcdonough street, as well as 177 bartlett street.

M

They spend a lot of time walking in portsmouth. I personally think 25 miles across the board. Would.

M

Be wonderful because then they'll be doing 35 when you make it 30 they're doing 40 45.! I did want to.

M

Talk about the phasing where you make going right on red and you're crossing the street with an.

M

Advanced an advanced white for the pedestrians. I feel that I know that this I've seen all the.

M

Little things, thank you um eric for putting in all the videos and stuff, but the reality is is.

M

That people are not very smart when they cross the road, so I don't know if there's a way where those.

M

Phasing corners are that you can put the no right on red sign a little lower so that people actually.

M

See it there's a lot of no right on red signs that come on there's the one on middle street. It's way.

M

Up high, I know it's there, but I don't think half the world knows it's there, because people go right.

M

On red, even when it is red, so I don't know if that would be more helpful to have them lower. I don't.

M

Know what the rules are on that? So, if you're going to be phasing and allowing pedestrians.

M

To go first, we don't want the cars to go right on red and then say: oh, I shouldn't have been going.

M

um About the overnight camping, I'm very familiar with it. When I leave meetings at night, I walk.

M

Through the park and then I walk along paradise and have often encountered people in trailers.

M

I like the ordinance, but I would like to suggest that, since we are a a lot of these people come in.

M

Mercedes campers they're very nice they're, like 200 000, campers parked out there. So I.

M

Think it would be nice if we had some place for them to go, maybe at peace. Maybe we could.

M

Encourage someone to open a campground out there, a lot of people think that one of the.

M

um The safeway storage place is renting out their spaces behind them to people who are campers. It's.

M

Not really a campsite, I don't think it's legal, but we do see people who are actually spending.

M

The night there there's a difference between renting a spot to just leave your camper. There.

M

And renting the spot and actually staying there, so I think it would be nice if we had some way.

M

To accommodate campers, maybe give them a list. There's a campsite. Somebody list at the last.

M

Meeting somebody listed the the online place where the campers can find out where to park. um I think.

M

It would be good to give to add for portsmouth go to these sites which are closest to us or whatever.

M

um So what was passed out to you was the original ordinance for residential parking and the second.

M

Page is the legality behind it. So at the meetings when the residential parking comes up, there's.

M

Always a lot of hoopla about what's allowed and what's not allowed, so I looked it up. I.

M

Spent some time on the lovely internet and found this legal document that explains that cities can.

M

Create residential parking- and they can do it pretty much any way they want, because you can.

M

Also create other things as well. So that's just for you to read and possibly put on the agenda.

B

Thank you, elizabeth.

N

Hey everyone. My name is steven stavis. I don't currently live in portsmouth, but I am.

N

The business manager for hearth, food garden, which is the whole first floor of the new.

N

Six deep and hollow building- and I'm here I'm requesting having some 15-minute mobile pickup.

N

Spots around the building, either on daniels or or penhallow, and I look forward to working with you.

B

O

Good evening my name is robin hussledge. I live at 27 rock street and I am here to speak about.

O

Actually, what liz brought forth? um We were part of the neighborhood parking program where you know.

O

We got our stickers and we had space to park on the streets and it really helped with finding a.

O

Parking spot when we get home from work on the streets that we live on, um so that's when it's.

O

Course they removed all of those signs, and then we noticed there were these new signs that came up.

O

That were resident parking signs um on hanover and there had been some old signs that I had noticed.

O

On on like pearl, but you know I those never nobody ever talked about it, and I thought you know those.

O

Were you know old and didn't pertain so then you know in looking and doing a little bit of research.

O

Find that surprised, I was really surprised to find there's actually an ordinance in the city for.

O

Resident parking and it's on hanover from bridge street to brewster, and it's also on pearl and.

O

um Both sides of um between brewster and bridge and on pearl street, on the easterly side and so.

O

While we're waiting for some sort of solution for a resident parking program that can be rolled out.

O

That you know for different neighborhoods. We have a problem since those neighborhood parking signs.

O

For, like rock street, doesn't have any of these new resident only parking signs, so we are flooded with.

O

Cars again, we have people circling looking for the free parking, we're back to pretty much square one.

O

Before we had the neighborhood parking program, so I'm here just to ask for you guys to maybe explore.

O

Taking an existing ordinance and expanding it to the most heavily affected streets.

O

um From bridge to brewster thereabouts that and um there's some other streets in there with pearl.

O

And there's there's hill and um oh, what's that other little side street parallel to hanover a.

O

Little spit of a anyway just the most heavily affected areas. If you could consider expanding.

O

The signs for those areas, because it does make a difference when those signs are there so and until.

O

We can come up with a full-fledged neighborhood parking program or resident parking program. I'd.

O

Appreciate it oh and I'm totally in favor of 25 mile per hour on islington, I walk islington.

O

All the time to catch the bus- and uh it's made a world of difference- I can actually safely cross.

O

From rock street, to the other side, where I pick up the bus and before I really couldn't it was.

O

You had to run across so I really appreciate keeping that at 25.. Thank you. Thank you. Robin.

P

uh Stephen parsons 160, essex ave. I lived there with my wife and two young children.

P

um Essex ave is the connector between islington and middle road and I'm totally in favor of.

P

Keeping it at 25 or go to 20.. um I always hold my breath when I have my five-year-old walking across.

P

The bridge on middle- it's scary, it's scary, having two kids in your hands walking across that bridge.

P

And uh really really like to keep it at 25.. Thank you, stephen.

Q

280, south street, I have a couple questions. I noticed that this committee already accepted.

Q

The financial statements, but I do have some questions related to that um one of.

Q

The things I'd, I guess I'd like to call you to your attention, since nobody asked any questions.

Q

um Would be um the difference between the high hanover garage and the foundry garage? Now, as we.

Q

All know the high hanover is being repaired, and it is, it is only at two-thirds capacity.

Q

So when you look at the amount of revenue coming in, you would expect that that would be down.

Q

Actually, it's up so my question is: how is this being measured and how is this being calculated.

Q

um Also, I would like to call your attention still the factor that the foundry place.

Q

Transient, which should be up because of the hanover being closed, is still below.

Q

50 percent, which is where we are in the year and the the transient and the fun the foundry.

Q

Place passes, which were moved over about almost two years ago in anticipation of.

Q

Them closing the hanover garage are still only at 50 percent, so um I guess my question would be.

Q

um uh How are we looking at this, and uh it was also mentioned in the council that we were we.

Q

Were around 70 capacity, so I would really like to know uh council bagley how you got that number.

Q

uh The next thing I like to uh mention is uh I, as a resident and I'm sure all the restaurateurs and.

Q

Merchants in the area would be interested on your answer to the heart food garden for a designated.

Q

Parking space only uh the last thing uh would be the uh olives documentation on the woodbury avenue.

Q

um uh Stop sign situation. I know you're having another meeting and I know that the.

Q

uh The residents have received from uh mr eby a 71-page report to look at this on, stop signs.

Q

So I would uh I'm very interested to see um how this works with a parking and transportation.

Q

And also how the? How enforcement of all of this stuff that we're doing would fit into.

Q

uh With the uh with the police department, um one thing that caught my eye on um on the hard hat.

Q

um uh Item that was in here was enforcing speed. Limits is much more effective.

Q

Than putting stop signs in or putting other stuff in, so I would like to know how um how.

Q

The city is collaborating on this and uh how they're going to move forward on that. Thank you.

R

Good evening esther kennedy 41 pickering ave and you know I look. I asked when I was a counselor.

R

To really have everyone look at 20 miles an hour throughout the whole city when we're talking about.

R

Bike lanes and pedestrian walkways, and I was told that we couldn't do that because of the state laws.

R

But I would encourage us to look at. It would be very simple for people that are visiting.

R

For safety of our streets, and also for um there will be no questions, I would really consider you.

R

All to think about 25 miles an hour for the whole city. You heard it from different streets tonight.

R

But if we as a citizen know that everything is 25 miles an hour, then there shouldn't.

R

Be any questions I mean? Sometimes it's really hard to figure out what speed is.

R

At what street? Because their signs are changing different streets have different expectations.

R

um You know I'm fortunate because of natural occurrences. My street people automatically.

R

Have to go slow, they don't have a choice. So they're going about five miles an hour.

R

And I'm very fortunate with that, but um I just really encourage you to really think about the.

R

Big picture, and maybe it's time to say we're going to make every street in the city 25 miles an hour.

R

Or less and then we can move on, and I wonder if once we do that, would we really need to.

R

Have some of these traffic calming things that we're gonna have to spend tax dollar money on.

R

Or just by naturally, by making it that way, there'll be no questions. Everyone would know.

R

It would be done and we can have look at more things that mr bagley has requested.

R

About vibrancy and and walkability and bicycles, so I guess um I would really hope that you would.

R

Consider as a committee to make it all 25 miles an hour. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause].

B

Is there anybody else in the room that would like to speak.

B

And uh kevin: do we have anybody on zoom.

B

Well, uh robert sorry,.

S

Oh you're doing zoom I didn't mean to is this okay, um yeah I'll wait? Mr combs can.

B

Can we just hold on just a moment we'll call on you? We have one more speaker in the room.

B

Go ahead, thank you. uh Lenore wise bronson, 828, woodbury avenue.

S

um I have a lot of notes here, but I won't, I won't go into all of them, but I think I think.

S

I'm here, because uh the most important point I'd like to make is that I've heard all of the.

S

Arguments over the over the decades against stop signs. People, uh don't stop people, don't like them.

S

um It increases emissions from the cars and so on and so forth, but we have them all over the city.

S

And it it it's really baffling to think that we have over a mile of residential street and also.

S

An elementary school and motels and so forth on woodbury avenue without one stop a whole mile with.

S

23 accesses and egresses, and then at least 50 driveways, and over the years I've seen.

S

So many accidents and near accidents, when I hear people bring up what I you know, we've had people.

S

Had someone in a in a wheelchair dogs cats um a lot of near a lot of near misses, I uh stop sign.

S

At the corner of farm and woodbury has been taken out twice who the people who hit it hit.

S

It sort of broke off and flew into my yard, once almost sitting me and my dog as we were there, I.

S

Just so many examples in vividly in my mind, and I don't when so it's very hard for me. For example, if.

S

I'm in city hall and I go down junkins to have to stop seven times, which I did the other day.

S

And I purposely looked at who was coming from either side and the only traffic I saw in that.

S

Whole seven four-way stop stretch between junkins and middle, where it was on miller three cars.

S

Literally, that was all I saw the whole time and a lot of signage. A lot of the.

S

The yellow signs for you know children, so we don't have that. We have bus stops.

S

School bus stops on woodbury with absolutely no signage, no crosswalk, no signage. This crosswalks.

S

That we do have are faded or the one, for example, at farmland, is at the top of an incline and as.

S

The gentleman from dennett was talking about. You know when you have an incline or a hill.

S

And someone can crests it, you can't expect them to see the stripes on the ground and there was.

S

A woman who was hit in front of st catherine's church and you know, landed on her face. I don't.

S

Know what actually happened to her in the end, but in the middle of those that crossing and I've gone.

S

Over and over this at meetings, I have two messages in my phone. In my all, my voicemail one from brad.

S

Lown and one from ken smith from five years ago and ten years ago on this committee telling us.

S

That they were going, we heard they've heard us we're going to do something about this and that.

S

Has not occurred, so I'm just, please include, stop signs and also just like on maplewood.

S

And just like the entry to the liquor store a speed, hump speed humps, because if we have.

S

People swerving them out around nice islands they're going to be swerving into the into.

S

Pedestrians, maybe into bicyclists up onto the sidewalk I mean we've had just such an.

S

Array of accidents- I don't even you know, I know I'm going on and on, but I thank you leonard and.

B

We'll talk about this more okay, I'm sorry! We just really coming meeting and we'll have a.

B

Dialogue, thank you for it. So it'll be appreciated. I hope you can attend that one [applause], okay.

B

I think we're jason combs.

B

Go ahead, jason when you're ready.

T

T

My name is jason combs we're residents at 834 middle road since 2010., I'm here to speak to.

T

Raising the speed limit, I've been a road back to 30. and before I begin, I just want to thank the.

T

Committee for all the work done today, but I also want to echo the comments that have come before me.

T

Who have opposed raising the speed limit? As you noted, the data may not support it, but there has.

T

Been a noticeable difference since lowering the speed limit to 25., I walk every single day. I walk.

T

Down middle road, I walk across the street, I walk down essex or sheffield, and I know what it's like.

T

To cross that street, um in my experience there were only two experiences this past summer, where.

T

Cars had to jam on their brakes as I was crossing the crosswalk in 2021. It was a common occurrence.

T

At least weekly that someone would jam on their brakes and you would hear the screeching as I.

T

Was crossing the crosswalk and I would fear that the car that was stopping would be hit. I was very.

T

Scared to be honest with you to walk with my son in a carriage across the crosswalk, because people.

T

Just did not respect the crosswalk and did not respect the speed, even with the rf fb in place and.

T

My husband even witnessed a minor fender bender when a car stopped to let him cross, but the car.

T

Behind him did not. The traffic during the day has also seemed to been slowed with the reduction of.

T

The speed limit, or at least it feels that way, my office, I have a home office, faces middle road and.

T

Like sure, there's this one jeep that mid morning accelerates by our house every morning and drives.

T

Me crazy and a lot of commercial vehicles that have seemed to have forgotten that they've gotten.

T

Off the highway, but in the grand scheme it feels much safer to be out to be walking and to be in.

T

My front yard, with my almost three-year-olds there isn't enough bi-directional traffic to.

T

Make pinch points effective? We saw this with the bollards. um Instead, it felt like the bollards were.

T

Created created this game for motorists that were annoyed to hit them and there was noise throughout.

T

The day in the evening um and the thought of taking away street parking in the name of road.

T

Narrowing is not an acceptable alternative. We we moved from state street into this neighborhood to.

T

Not have to deal with these types of situations, there's so much focus on the average and the.

T

85Th percentile, but what about the times of day the speed limits in excess? What about traffic.

T

I don't feel like I, I don't want to feel like I live in a big city. To be honest with you, I.

T

Don't want to feel like I'm on a roller coaster when I'm driving home going over.

T

These crazy speed haunts, I asked the committee to reconsider, raising the speed limit back to.

T

30., let's focus on less drastic changes like making the speed limit indicator flash ours.

T

Does not and I've noticed that there's a big difference between ours in other cities that.

T

Have that let's look at narrowing the quarter, radii coming off beverly or changing it to no.

T

Turn on red and creating gateway treatments for entering the neighborhood or at crosswalks all.

T

Of these things could help if woodstock vermont can do it. If kennebunkport maine.

T

Can do it if newport rhode island can do it if, if amsterdam, the most populous city in.

T

The netherlands can do it, we can do it. Thank you for your consideration. Foreign [applause].

B

Is there anybody else on zoom that would like to speak? If, if so, raise your virtual hand.

B

Okay, seeing no further speakers, I'm going to close the public comment.

B

uh Presentations, I don't believe we have any tonight on the agenda and moving on to new.

B

Business, a sagamore avenue, speed reduction measures, request by resident sample motion.

B

Moved to refer to staff for an evaluation and a report back some of second uh any discussion.

B

uh Go ahead, steve I I would just ask eric when you're out there with the data, I think.

U

The comments about the little little harbor road point is a real important point, and that can you.

U

Make sure your data focuses on that point on the carter. Thank you, yeah we'll do that area.

B

See no further discussion, all those in favor bye any opposed.

B

Item b daniel street request for 15-minute space for her food gardens by business owner.

B

Sample motion move to table request for further evaluation, still moved. Second.

B

Any discussion mary lou- yes, I just wanted to at some point. We talked about looking at all.

V

The 15-minute spots in the downtown area- well, I'm talking to him on current uh the 15-minute.

V

Spots in the downtown area, um we approved two spots at moe's across the street, from.

V

The new hearth, restaurant and they're well used there aren't any 15-minute spots on penn hollow.

V

um There are a couple on state street and most of the parking areas in that direct.

V

Parking spots in that direct area are to the kiosk. There are very few stand-alone meters.

V

So um I would like to look at the whole picture before we do another approval for 15-minute spot.

E

Yes, for stevens benefit because he came here tonight eric. Could you speak to the.

E

Utilization of the two spots that remain on daniel in the vicinity of this this place.

E

Yes, as last summer, when we were looking at moe's requests on keeping the parking spaces.

W

We monitored the 15-minute spaces out there and we saw that they were being used primarily.

W

During midday, uh customers coming in to pick up sandwiches at moe's the rest of the day, they.

W

Weren't used much at all, in fact, from the video observations we saw a lot of vehicles pulling.

W

Into the spaces realizing it was a 15-minute space and then pulling back out because most.

W

People are looking for a longer term parking in this area, other than midday when they're picking.

W

Up sandwiches they're, it's the spaces, aren't being utilized to their best effect. So so I think I just.

E

Like to close on that thought, by saying we, this is something we can certainly evaluate and and and.

E

um Monitor now that there'll be additional takeout type related business in the area.

X

um I would be interested to know: can we move one of the two spots in front.

X

Of mo's to the other side of the road, if, if that kind of balances the use a little bit.

X

Things like that could be done yes, but they're in the ordinances, so anything any change to them.

W

Has to go through, you know this committee's approval and then ultimately city council.

W

And we are still looking at the 15-minute spaces on state street, with the opening of richardson's.

W

Market because there's two there and there's been a request to move those around as well.

V

How many space, how many 15-minute spaces are being requested for this.

E

All right, it said some, some yeah is it up? Mr chairman, can I ask a question of stephen.

E

When do you, when do you plan to open, or so we can start to monitor the area.

E

Come on over to the microphone, if you don't mind thanks, it's a big question: yeah, we are hoping.

N

End of march early april- but you know we were supposed to open november last year so um but.

N

We're looking for realistically end of march and again we're open to many options. I didn't know if.

N

Some spots could be, you know, turn into regular parking after you know the big rush of breakfast.

N

At lunchtime the the loading zone area could be some temporary parking between certain hours and.

N

Then after 5 pm, possibly but we're willing to you know, look at any options, really we're just trying.

N

To alleviate the congestion of it's a big space there's you know a lot of seats, a lot of there's.

N

Takeout windows on both pen held and daniels that we hope to use not for opening, but you know.

N

Within a month or two, and it would be great for people to just come up, grab their food and go and.

N

um We know that can be a struggle. Thank you. Thank you, stephen. Thank you. Any more discussion.

B

I'll just add that um you know: we've reviewed a number of 15-minute parking spaces throughout.

B

The city- and we typically don't see they are the highest and best use of our parking.

B

Inventory so I I think you know we're going to do a study, we're going to evaluate everything.

B

um But we're going to follow the data and I don't know if the data.

B

Is going to support this or not so we'll see what it has to say.

B

uh All those in favor aye, aye aye any opposed.

B

Under excuse me, old business overnight, camping on city, streets and property proposed draft.

B

Ordinance to restrict sample motion move to approved draft of ordinance changes.

B

And send to city council for first reading. Oh second, thank you. We need to make her first.

A

Good idea motion to approve the draft of orense changes and send the cities for uh first reading.

B

It's a motion: do you want a second, then I'll? Second, that all right any discussion, uh mr.

Y

Chairman, yes, uh I know you and I had had a discussion about it, but I'd like to just.

Y

uh Hear on the record have it that uh you know. I think this. uh While I understand that this is the.

Y

Quality of life issue for some of the uh the the neighborhoods. um This may also be a larger issue.

Y

Where um we have an issue surrounding housing and that some employees, you know utilize these types.

Y

Of vehicles and live in them because of the high cost of living in the area. um I I say that because.

Y

I know that there's a city employee who works for me that uh that utilizes one of these vehicles and.

Y

um That haven't been said, I think it's certainly something needs to be discussed.

B

Thank you, chief erica we've reached out to any social service agencies.

X

To see I you know, I feel like there's some tension here between catering to van life.

X

uh Advantaged van life people moving into neighborhoods and.

X

Biasing and making it hard for the unhoused to live their lives, and so I I hope we could.

X

Reach out to social service agencies to make sure that we're not causing other problems.

B

To be further discussion, I'm going to have some comments at the end. Yes, I.

V

I think we need to work on this some more before we draft anything to send to city council. I think.

V

This is a larger discussion of where people who are in there are converted school buses that.

V

I know people are living in and they're there overnight. um My concern is where human waste is.

V

Going where trash is going and where these people can go, if we tell them to get off the streets, I I.

V

Do see them all over, especially in the summer, and I would say since 2020 there's been an increase.

V

On parrot avenue and the municipal lots I've seen up to 10 bands in that area and they're, not all.

V

Converted to school buses, and obviously social media has worked on this issue for portsmouth, so.

V

I I just would like some more information about where we're intending for people to go. Where can.

V

They park their vans overnight. If we make changes on the city, streets and the city parking lots.

A

Mark yeah, I made a motion that can make a friendly motion to.

Z

Go for it change it, send it to the city for reevaluation and for a study just a second degree.

B

And I I appreciate you amending the motion that was going to be my suggestion. I've heard from.

B

uh Quite a few people, this is a challenging issue with, let's say, multiple layers to it. I do think we.

B

Need to come up with a solution to the problem, but I don't think we have a solution for the.

B

For the problem that the city council would be able to support as it's written now, so I think.

B

The city might be able to investigate some other localities that have addressed this issue and see.

B

If they may have some some feedback that we can incorporate into a motion that we can bring back.

B

Is there any further discussion.

U

So the revised motion is ascended back to city staff. Is that I'm kind of confused.

U

What the amendment here is a motion, but I have the city uh study. It.

Z

City staff, city staff, city city staff, what prompted of it go ahead? Peter I'm sorry.

AA

I'm not sure this is really something that uh that dpw staff is geared towards.

AA

um This may be more appropriate to refer to the planning board or the planning department.

AA

Or legal I I did speak with legal um and and they would be the staff who suggested that they.

B

Might be able to take a a look at it and maybe make some suggestions. It's a general amendment.

Z

Steve peter, well, it prompted me to do this was what chief said about you know one of his staff.

Z

You know living or using utilizing.

Z

That vehicle, you know it's not the whole idea.

Z

I got at the beginning was: this: is all about tourists? You know on a website or.

Z

An app, but it's more than that, based on what he just said, so I think it needs further study by.

Z

The city where what what department it goes is up to the city, manager or city council.

B

And I did speak with the legal department and they thought that they might be able to reach.

B

Out to some other communities and possibly come up with, uh you know a more robust solution for us.

Z

That's a motion: is there a second, it's a nice, simple language, but I I feel like.

Z

It might be too simple for the you know: kind of complex problem, yeah.

B

I think that's a good uh summary uh all those in favor all right any opposed.

B

Excuse me uh old business, uh woodbury avenue traffic call me an introduction of proposed plan.

B

For section between rockingham avenue and echo avenue sample motion move to continue discussion.

B

At next month's meeting obtain feedback and input at the public meeting with the neighborhood.

B

So I moved second any discussion.

A

X

I I think the medians are great. I think I really like the design in general there's.

X

Some places where there's a median and then a crosswalk like one driveway down and I'm.

X

Curious, if it's possible to make those median pedestrian refuge, medians and crosstalks with the.

X

um Medians and then there's also a couple places where it looks like new crosswalks.

X

Are being added and I'd love to see bump outs at those crosswalks to kind of go in that same.

X

Direction but I think it looks great yeah. Those are the types of details that we can work out in.

W

The final design on most of woodbury- this is just a sidewalk on one side, so we'd have to.

W

Probably construct them other sidewalks to make a crosswalk come through yeah. That is part of the.

W

Advantage to median islands that it does that provide that opportunity for crossing as well.

B

All right, all those in favor aye aye any opposed hi I'm in favor. Sorry, I should.

E

Have said I and then I'll post, I'm not sure everyone voted, uh did everybody vote on hi.

B

I don't have enough microphones, I think, there's no posts. Oh sorry, steve just a question for the.

U

Team, what are the, what are the end points of the carter that you're going to be presenting.

U

On the 15th both ends, could you just give the to and from that that's in the uh diagrams in the.

W

Packet, this is one end of it here that at dennett street intersection. Yes, this is the dennis street.

W

Here- and uh there is a proposed meeting island at this location- we love that okay, uh then going.

W

Working your way up to this is going past 95. This is the rockingham ave. Intersection would be a.

W

Meeting island at this location yep, this would just be paint on this side of the intersection.

W

That keep working your way up. This is the edmund ave intersection to be a proposed meeting island.

W

There another one up closer to the church at st catharines and then another one here on the.

W

Opposite side of farm lane, this is the crosswalk that may be able to be moved over to the island.

W

Or the island to the crosswalk? Yes, possibly well, it's in an intersection there, though just media.

W

Will make uh turning movements and another one here farther up? The idea was to space these about.

W

Four to five hundred feet apart in order to get a consistent uh slowing of traffic out on the street.

W

This is the intersection of maplewood, where there's a existing median island.

W

uh Just past maplewood be a couple more meeting islands, and this is the intersection of echoaf.

W

And there wouldn't be anything proposed beyond that, because the traffic signal.

W

Beyond that, thank you and I appreciate that we're looking at the whole carter.

U

Comprehensively, I think, that's really helpful, so I look forward to being at the meeting on.

U

The 15th and having back and forth with the community on the design. Thank you.

B

All right, moving on uh item d, dennis street request for traffic calming by resident and.

B

This is the uh when we had the site visit on earlier. I think it was this week. It was tuesday.

B

So um I'll see if anybody wants to make a motion of sorts, I think there's a motion to I'm going to.

Z

Make a motion to uh I have a pilot study program that we talked about peter, give a second kind of.

Z

A vague motion we talked, I I talked about a pilot program. I I recall that discussion.

AA

um I suggest, uh or I'd make a motion to have uh staff report back on what they suggest.

AA

um Would be a potential traffic calming element in that area?.

AA

Second and then, and then once that's done, we could then pilot it to see if it works.

AA

Okay yeah: let's motion to study, I second peter's motion any further discussion.

B

All right, um well, hopefully, we'll come up with a good.

B

Solution to so the traffic all those in favor all right, I I any opposed.

B

uh Item d, islington street middle road speed limit trial, six months report back.

AB

Good evening pts, I'm tyler reese the associate engineer with public works and I'm here to.

AB

Present the data that we have collected over the last six months for the speed limit trial.

AB

So some background next slide. Please uh two speed limit reduction trials were approved by.

AB

This committee, on may 5th of last year, islington street from the route 33 road to spinney road. It.

AB

Was reduced to for 225 miles an hour from 30. those signs were put up on june 20th of last.

AB

Year and middle road was reduced from 30 to 25, and those signs were put up on may 26th of last year.

AB

Next slide, please, so why was there only a trial on half of islington street, um currently new.

AB

Hampshire state law only allows speed limits to be set to 25 with an engineering or traffic study.

AB

Which commonly utilizes the 85 out speeds of vehicles traveling along an existing section of.

AB

Roadway islington street from spinny to maplewood is more dense, more urban and we have previously.

AB

Recorded speed data indicating the traffic flows are already at or below 25. As such, we had.

AB

A reason to lower the limit to from 30 to 25. islington street from greenland to.

AB

Spinning did not have any of this data. We have recorded speeds higher than 30 miles an hour.

AB

In these areas, as such, we initiated this trial to determine any impact of lowering the speed limits.

AB

So this is a map of the islington street corridor that we were studying. We had.

AB

Two of our stealth counters out one near the entrance to the rail trail.

AB

At 1474 islington street and one near barberry lane at 1207 islington street.

AB

So, like I said earlier, we used our stealth recorders so that we could get an actual speed.

AB

Reading of vehicles going along this corridor, we averaged the self recorder out there for.

AB

About six to seven days at a time except for december, where some weather events snow mostly.

AB

Meant that we only have them out there for one or two days at a time to get fair and accurate data.

AB

So, as you can see from this list of average speeds on 85th percentile speeds in this.

AB

Section at 1474 islington street near the rail trail entrance there has been a small.

AB

Variation in upper 85th percentile speeds they've decreased by about a mile an hour.

AB

uh Since the speed limit was lowered in june.

AB

This slides for the same location, 1474, islington street, and it shows the percent of vehicles that.

AB

Are exceeding the posted speed limit, as well as the percent exceeding 40 miles, an hour which we.

AB

Consider high level speeders, as you can see. Obviously, when you reduce the speed limit by.

AB

Five miles an hour, the percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit increases. However,.

AB

The interesting data to note is the percent of vehicles exceeding 40 has decreased from 2.5.

AB

Down to about one to one and a half percent.

AB

This location, 1207 islington street, near barberry, as you can see, uh speeds after we load the speed.

AB

Limit have fluctuated slightly from 31 to 33, whereas they were 33 before the speed.

AB

Limit was lowered. 85Th percentile speeds have also decreased by one to three miles an hour.

AB

As you can see here, the percent exceeding the limit began at 80 miles or 80 percent 78 percent.

AB

um While the speed limit was 30 and that obviously increased as we lowered the speed limit, um the.

AB

Percent exceeding 40 went from around four percent and it has decreased, but it has fluctuated. I mean.

AB

Next slide, please so on to middle road, we have three locations for our stealth records. We had.

AB

860 middle road near the church and sweat ave, we had 376 middle road near spinney road and we had.

AB

127 middle near ward place. Additionally, we had our two speed feedback signs, which continuously.

AB

Collect speed, data of outgoing and in-going traffic, and these are located near the chase home.

AB

So at 816 middle road, near sweat, ave and the church we in may before when.

AB

The speed limit was 30, we recorded the averages of 33 and 85th so 37.

AB

um We saw a two mile, an hour decrease in both the average and the 85th percentile.

AB

When we lower the speed limit, uh this is good. This is where the speeds on middle road are.

AB

The highest as you get cars coming off of greenland road. This is what we like to see.

AB

As you can see, the percent exceeding the limit is mirrors, isn't in the street when you lower.

AB

The speed limit the percent exceeding the limit increases. uh It's also worth.

AB

Noting that the percent exceeding 40 mile has gone from 3.6 down to an average of 1.7 about.

AB

376 middle road near spinney, you can see that the speeds have decreased um 33 down.

AB

For about 32 to 31. and the 85th percentile speeds have decreased by about a mile an hour.

AB

AB

Foreign, as you can see here, the percent exceeding the limit uh began around 81 and it has increased.

AB

As we decrease the speed limit and the percent exceeding 40 again at 3.1 percent and has a.

AB

Decreased steadily, although obviously in october it went back up to 3.1 percent.

AB

December we did have this radar was out for some slight weather event. It.

AB

Was a rainier day, then we would like to get ridic get recorded data on so.

AB

That does help to explain some of the decrease in speeds in december.

AB

At 127 middle road, near ward, we got average speeds of 28 and 80 fifths of 32 before the.

AB

Speed limit was lowered and this speed has stayed fairly consistent throughout this trial. This is.

AB

The slower end of middle road- it is more densely urban pact and it's closer to the downtown area.

AB

As you can see, this is also the only spot on middle road, where the percent exceeding the.

AB

Limit does not reach 90 miles an hour or 90 percent. Sorry yeah we're not going that fast.

AB

uh But still at the percent exceeding the limit when we load the limit is in the 60 to 80 range.

AB

uh It is an anomaly here that the percent exceeding 40 did increase for a few months.

AB

During this trial, um these point one percent- this is a very small amount of cars. I believe that the.

AB

0.3 in november was only 17 cars, so this really is just the fastest people. On this section of road.

AB

So these are our speed feedback signs. This is the one that faces outbound traffic near the chase.

AB

Home you can see that red line right there on may 26 shows when we drop from 30 miles an hour to 25.

AB

For the limit the average speed from january to may 26 is 32.28 and the 85th percentile speed is.

AB

36.81 the average speeds for the rest of the year once the speed limit had been lowered were 32.14.

AB

36.79, which means that the average speed is decreased by 0.14 miles per hour and.

AB

85Th percentile speeds decreased by 0.02 miles an hour. Obviously, this data is slightly skewed.

AB

As you can see that those dipped days right there, those outlier points, those are snow.

AB

Events where traffic tends to travel slower, if you remove these snow events from the data you see.

AB

Decreases of less than a third of a mile, an hour for both the 85th percentiles and the averages.

AB

This is the inbound lane near the chase home. As you can see, it's the same sort of story.

AB

Although it is a little bit better news here, we saw average speeds decrease from the free.

AB

Trial to the to the during trial of minus 0.65 miles per hour for the average and minus 0.6.

AB

With each fifth percentile, which is higher than the outbound speeds, which is again, this is good.

AB

This is the higher speed traffic that is coming off of greenland road that we have been a little.

AB

Bit more successful in slowing down slightly and again, if you remove those snow event, outliers.

AB

You get decreases of around 0.8 miles an hour a little bit less than one mile an hour.

AB

So unfortunately, this the data that we have collected has shown that this trial has had a.

AB

Limited effect on the average and 85 percentile speeds. On a positive note, we have seen some.

AB

Lowering of the percentage exceeding 40 miles an hour which is our high end, speeders, the average.

AB

Of all of our locations over the percentage of vehicles going over 40 has dropped from a 2.7.

AB

Average to a 1.6 average, which is certainly good news. However, the data does show based on.

AB

Current industry standards for setting speed limits that both these roads should be posted.

AB

At 30 miles an hour, physical measures will be needed for meaningful reductions in speed.

AB

With that, it is over to the committee. Thank you. Thank you. Tyler.

B

Anybody on the committee would like to make a motion.

A

We can make a motion, discuss it and then modify it if need be. If anybody's reluctant.

V

Okay, I'll make a motion that we discuss this.

E

Let's go now, we know, I think you got to pick one where I think we're going to discuss.

V

Increasing that it's a 30 returning can we move that say it again, a second for discussion purposes.

AA

I'm sorry I said I will second for discussion purposes. Yes just for discussion purposes and.

B

Does anybody want to take a first crack at this one, go ahead, mark where'd this start and then.

Z

We have a committee within the committee, okay, so that started with steve and erica.

Z

So, based on your committee within the committee peter, what's your thoughts on where we're at.

X

We haven't discussed the results as a committee, yet so we don't have a committee stance.

X

Subcommittee, I don't know what we are working group or, if we're a working group, but we haven't.

X

This is the first we've seen these. It's not like. We met as a sub working group. It's a.

Z

Question now go ahead mark any ideas on physical measures need.

Z

Any ideas that we can talk about for physical measures needed for a meaningful reductions in speed.

Z

I'm just trying to open a dialogue yeah. I think this is getting to a capital project.

W

Such as reconstructing the roadway you know, constructing sidewalks or narrowing the roadway.

W

Curbing something that would make the roadway feel narrower or to break up the straight alignment.

W

Of the roadway and put some you know, the meeting islands would be an example, but on this roadway we.

W

Have so many driveways and intersections it's hard to place them in a location where you couldn't be.

W

Blocking someone's driveway so that's long term, how about short-term short-term! We have tried.

W

You've seen the what we've done in the past, we've put those um the white delineators the sticks out.

W

There to try to slow speeds, but have you seen in this results that they they haven't had too much.

W

Effect, I mean they've just been an annoyance people like to hit them, as we've heard at the.

W

Public comments, abortion causing noise. uh You know trying to narrow the roadway doing something like.

W

That it's, the problem is it's speed. Pumps are not an appropriate measure. This is an arterial roadway.

W

Carries a lot of volume coming off the highway into town? uh You know it's a it's! A primary route.

W

Where speed uh bumps are not effective or not appropriate, that's where a lateral shift in the.

W

Roadway, something that would physically force people to get out of that straight line where.

W

They're not paying attention to where they are. You know break up that that mindset of the driver.

A

Chief, mr chick, could I uh ask eric what the harm would be in leaving the uh reduced speed.

Y

Limit in place well, when we're seeing data that supports a speed limit of 30 or 35 miles an hour.

W

It's another example of a sign, just not getting much respect from the drivers and when they see.

W

The science, it's like the 20 mile hour signs on south street or any many of us other 20 mile, an.

W

Hour signs people don't obey them, it's just breeds of disrespect for the signs and it's it. It causes.

W

You do get the occasional drivers that will follow it, and then you have people, as we heard tonight,.

W

You have people passing on the double yellow because they're so frustrated, sitting behind.

W

Someone who's going 25 miles an hour on a road. That's really not meant to go 25 miles an hour.

W

It's uh you know, it develops a road rage and you have speed variants and that's what leads to.

W

Accidents, we're not seeing an accident uh history on this roadway due to speeding. So it's uh we're.

W

Trying as part of the subcommittee looking at trying to make speed limits more reasonable and.

W

To meet expectations of the roadways, so this would be going against that effort to keep them at 25..

Y

Thank you steve. I just want to step back a second and first, I I think the staff has done a great job.

U

Of collecting a lot of data, you know we, we did this to have a six-month trial, which is what was.

U

Required- and we have really good data to look at mark to your point about the committee as erica.

U

Said we've we're seeing this for the first time tonight, but I want to stress what eric just said.

U

We're trying to look at the speed limit system comprehensively and have a system, that's logical,.

U

And that people will respect and follow and that we don't have to depend on the police.

U

Doing you know focused enforcement to get people to behave on a given day when the police cars are.

U

Sitting out there, we all would like system that is rational and is equitable and logical, and that.

U

Has high rates of compliance? That's what we're all trying to get to, and I think all of us here want.

U

To have a system that's also safe for the most vulnerable users on the streetway pedestrians.

U

Cyclists, kids we're all on the same page there, but I think to me.

U

When I see the data, it does speak to the idea of willful speed limits versus practical speed.

U

Limits and seeing what the effect is and, and I respect the idea of a blanket speed limit and for.

U

Transparency, I work in durham at the university in the town of university have done that.

U

Legally or not, I don't know it's been in place several years. It seems to work, but.

U

There's a certain beauty and simplicity and logic to it, but I also when I look at.

U

Islington divided by the bypass like inner and outer to me, those are fundamentally different.

U

Streetscapes and feelings, and- and they are you know in all practical terms, arterials, so you.

U

It's not an easy call here. I don't think I wish we could just like set up some set of rules and wave.

U

A wand and everything would work, but it shows you that the data is confounding like I don't think.

U

Any of those changes are statistically significant, so we, you know, we change the speed limit.

U

But did we change behavior? Maybe we changed a percent or two of the highest speeders which might.

U

Be great and maybe that's all you need because that's the most likely to cause an accident.

U

So I respect that as well, but um the data is a little confounding. I think in the bigger picture.

U

Mark to your point, you know we got to process this as we develop the the bigger framework.

U

um But I do respect the idea of willful speed limits versus meaningful ones and enforcement.

U

You know has to be practical. We want correct. Behavior is what we want from the drivers.

U

Sure so, thank you, steve uh peter mr chair. um You know mark brought up a good question. What is the.

AA

Subcommittee's, you know discussion on this and you know where they they haven't had a chance.

AA

To really look at it, I I think you know there's enough, you know it's aspirational at times to have.

AA

A speed limit, but the subcommittee is looking at the overall speed limit of the city and the.

AA

People of a number of folks said: let's look at a 25 mile an hour overall. That is something that the.

AA

Subcommittee has been looking at, and so I, what I would suggest is that we continue the pilot.

AA

Until the subcommittee reports back so that the the speed limit can be taken in a larger context,.

AA

uh And under and have a real discussion in terms of you know, what is it that can materially change.

AA

Speed limits and how do we, you know, how do we go about setting speed limits and why they are.

AA

Such as they are in different roads, uh and and this is really not the venue to do that tonight-.

AA

um I think it's a good opportunity for uh I know the subcommittee has done a lot of work.

AA

And I believe are probably I can't remember how close they are to you know, bringing out.

AA

A report back, but I think it'd be worth you know having this discussion in that context.

AA

Does that is that a friendly amendment to extend it friendly amendment to the discussion? It would.

AA

Be to propose to continue the pilot effort until the subcommittee has had the opportunity to report.

AA

Back um and we can view this request or this recommendation from staff in the context of that.

AA

um That report back. Second, it's a long-winded motion. No, that's! I think we get the just erica.

Z

Yeah I want to clarify, I didn't volunteer for a subcommittee for a working group.

X

um You've reached it yeah, uh I I guess I had a couple of thoughts, just initial thoughts on the.

X

Data that we're looking at tonight, I'm sorry. First of all, there was a motion on the floor. Thank you.

X

Friendly amendment to a working group, instead of um I, I think it's really encouraging that.

X

The higher speeds are dampened. I think that's really really good news, because that's the.

X

Speed personally, I'm most concerned about and that's where we're going to see the most.

X

Impact if there is a crash- and personally I think it would be- I want to see an environment where a.

X

25 mile an hour, speed limit is appropriate on that road and I don't think I'm alone in that.

X

But I don't want to speak for anyone else. um I think, as the working group one of the ideas.

X

Of this pilot was to try and come up with a road environment that would lead to the behavior that.

X

Would allow for data that supports a 25 mile an hour road, so more than anything, I'm really.

X

Disappointed that we're not seeing more slower, more slowing of the speeds, I'm thrilled to see.

X

The dampening of the higher speeds, but I to me this says we need to take. We need to do more and.

X

So I guess- and you know that's one of the bullet points here and maybe that's the takeaway or the.

X

Part what we would discuss in the working group, but I I know it's a tricky problem. There are a.

X

Lot of curb cuts, but I we want speed limits that don't match driver behavior are unsafe. We don't.

X

Want that we want a safe, walkable environment on this road. That means we need to change the road.

X

So people will drive at the speed that we want them to drive. Changing the speed limit, helped.

X

A little bit, but we need to take more measure, more significant measures, peter just to just to.

AA

Kind of reinforce what you're saying uh there is money in the cip that identifies identified.

AA

For traffic calming specifically middle road um is included in that you know eric and his and.

AA

Tyler have done work to look at options relative to how to how to materially adjust the roadway.

AA

um And- and you know, I don't believe you're at a point where you can report back on on the.

AA

Recommendations for that, uh but you know it is something that I think is not you know it's not.

AA

Like never going to happen, it's something that we need to come up with a proposed solution and.

AA

And monies are being requested to be able to implement these things, so um I would hmm you.

AA

Know I I guess I'm just reinforcing your point to that. Yes, it is important and it is. It is something.

AA

That you know needs to be done to help create that environment. So you can have a 25 mile an hour road.

E

Mr chairman, can I put the working group on the spot um when do you think we for the benefit.

E

Of the public, when do you think we could have the presentation on the city-wide speed limit study is.

E

It is march too soon. Does it make sense for our april meeting? Is it in that general time frame.

X

As there is capacity at a pts meeting for yet another topic, we're ready to talk.

U

I mean whether this data tonight means that we need to edit a few things. I think we're ready.

U

I think march is possible. It's up to the chairman whether we want to do that at a regular pts agenda.

U

I think that's the plan, but we're ready, I think, let's um I think this might be a good evening.

B

Presentation- and I think our next pts meeting might be doing.

X

Cool break weeks, so we may want to reschedule to the next week if we're going to take this topic on.

B

Perhaps april then well either either march at an evening meeting or april. I just want to set.

E

Some expectations for folks looking for some closure on this, so it'll it'll, most likely.

E

Be a special meeting in march or april, but um we'll we'll work to get that information out.

B

And I'll just make a couple further comments. um So new hampshire is a dylan's role state, which means.

B

As a municipality, we're not allowed to really set rules or regulations unless conquered.

B

Explicitly gives us permission to do so, which is unlike massachusetts or maine, where they're the.

B

Opposite their home rule and they can pretty much do whatever they want. Unless they've been told.

B

Not to so that does tie our hands. um I will say I think, as a community and as this committee and and.

B

The council, you know the direction is to safer, slower speeds, whereas in the past it may have.

B

Been more towards efficiency, the other thing that we struggle with is cars are they're just better.

B

These days, they go faster, it's more comfortable to go faster, they accelerate much faster. You know.

B

From the cheapest models, all the way up to you know the expensive ones. So the speeding issue.

B

Has become more of a problem as time's gone on from where it was say 20 years ago, when cars.

B

Just didn't go as fast or feel as safe going fast, compounding that with all the extra distractions.

B

We have this day, it's created a real challenge and headache. We, I think we're seeing that just.

B

Changing the speed limit doesn't really have a big effect, but there is a psychological message.

B

That it sets, you know, we want people to go slow and and why they may not go as slow as we like.

B

The the more we can encourage them to go slow, the better. I do worry. We did have a gentleman.

B

Speak tonight about you know, drivers getting frustrated and passing on the double w line.

B

Don't know what the solution to that is, but I'd much rather see us working towards making the.

B

Speeds go down and the traffic calmer than than the opposite. So with that all in favor.

A

I just wanted to clarify what we're voting on peterson extending the pilot until we've.

AA

Had an opportunity to discuss it in the context of the overall working groups: presentation, okay,.

P

Okay um e maplewood avenue pedestrian signal phasing act, congress, hanover and.

B

Deer street status update sample motion move to place item on file effectively. Is there a.

B

Presentation no, but there there's a lot of material in the packet. I could go through.

W

And and there's some couple videos I could play if you would like I'll.

E

I'll move the motion to place on file for the purpose of discussion I'll. Second, that.

B

Mary lou, would you like to see it? Well, I, yes, uh I have seen the videos from 2022. I've read all.

V

The reports- and I know about the statistics- and I know about the you know, changes I am speaking.

V

From a personal, and also for other people who have talked to me about this intersection,.

V

Specifically, the congress and maplewood, and I do not think there should be green lights.

V

On uh crosswalks, at the same time that the crosswalk pedestrian icon is on so I object to.

V

um The manner in which we are have set up this these three intersections- um I I don't expect.

V

Any changes um from the data from the information that I've received um and have read about, but I I.

V

Don't think it's a safe way for pedestrians to be crossing uh three busy intersections.

B

Any further discussion.

B

I know we've discussed this one a lot um yeah the this is a very difficult one, because it feels.

B

Less safe in the current configuration than it did before when it was something known as.

B

A barn stance configuration, however, we've done a lot of study on this particular intersection.

B

We've done studies, um you know before we made the change and it shows that it is a safer.

B

Way to set up an intersection and and it's hard to go against the data on this because.

B

What we're talking about is, you know, people's lives here and the likelihood.

B

Of dying by getting hit in a crosswalk with this type of intersection is substantially less.

B

So I know it doesn't feel as safe as it used to, but uh what the research in the data is showing us.

B

So I I would if there was a friendly amendment, I know there's been some requests about.

B

Maybe adjusting the signage or or potentially making the crosswalk flashers closer. Somehow.

B

Maybe a secondary one, so when there is a light that people see, the crosswalk is.

B

Still flashing and that's not a solid red hand, I don't know if there's anything we.

B

Can do along those lines, mr chairman I'll, you know, we'll have staff, take a look and.

AA

See if there's an adjustment that can be made to the signage or the flashing light.

AA

Yeah we don't need to. We don't need a motion for that. Okay,.

V

I just think that any way that you can make these in these intersections safer, I don't think we.

V

Should go back to the diagonal cross walks for sure, but um I feel that drivers are looking at.

V

The green light and not at the pedestrian icon, and so when they come up to that point, they're eager.

V

To get out of town uh they're eager to either turn right on islington or turn right on on maplewood.

V

Those seem to be the biggest issues for me and for others who have talked to me about this. The three.

V

Intersections congress and islington street and people, including myself, are feeling that.

V

The drivers are looking at the green light they're not looking at the pedestrians.

V

Erica so we have flashing, yellow right turn arrows on on these linkedin's approaches.

W

Yes, well islington, turning on right on to maplewood, yes, yes, mr chairman, yes for folks.

E

That are watching at home or able to watch this meeting. Afterward there's a great deal.

E

Of helpful information that eric has put in the packet from a video to where other people.

E

Have used this and essentially rules of the road type information, so we would want to people to.

E

Know that there's a method to the madness and there's science that we're following here so.

E

I just want to point that out these packets can be can be full of helpful information. Thank you.

B

All right, I think we have a motion to place on file all those in favor any opposed.

B

Deputy chief um informational items from the deputy chief of police- thank you, mr chairman,.

AC

um Here in 2022, in the month of december, we had a total of 76 property damage, accidents, uh 43.

AC

Of those 76 were considered reportable, which is damage in excess of a thousand dollars. We.

AC

Had one accident involving a bicyclist and one accident involving a pedestrian.

AC

Mentioned in last month's meeting each time we have a crash involving a.

AC

Pedestrian or a bicyclist, I look at the contributing factors to that accident.

AC

I'll see if there are anything with respect to roadway designs or improvements that could be made.

AC

That was a contributing factor to that accident in neither of these cases did.

AC

I see that as the case and, unfortunately, more often than not. What we do see is that.

AC

Either the pedestrian or the bicyclist is a is that fault, so that's just worth putting.

AC

Out that each each time I do these reports, I do look at the causation of the crash and why.

AC

On a positive note, I also made somewhat of a plea last month uh against uh care driving. We have seen.

AC

Somewhat of a decrease in the last month as the end of 2022, we had a significant spike of crashes.

AC

Involving alcohol uh and injury crashes with um alcohol related in them a bit of a kick down in.

AC

The last month so anytime, I get a minute to say that to the public to talk about impaired driving.

AC

And efforts to prevent it I'll, take it so sorry for going off script but always happy to cure.

B

That message well not happy to hear that message but happy to get that message out there reinforced.

B

Item b bartlett street at thornton street mini roundabout design.

W

Yes in the packet there's a plan here of the design with the trial, roundabout will look like.

W

We'll be constructing the middle roundabout, with some rubber, curving and and filling it.

W

In with asphalt, there'll be some yellow plastic curving for the splitter islands approaching.

W

Each intersection leg, uh the crosswalks, would be moved back. We originally had hoped to keep.

W

The crosswalks at the intersection, but you know the most recent guidance on providing these mini.

W

Roundabouts is to bring the crosswalks back so there's room for a car to wait between the.

W

Crosswalk and the circle and pedestrians can cross a safer location, so this and we'll have advanced.

W

Signing which is shown here on each approach, all four approaches will get this yield condition.

W

And we are in the process of purchasing the materials to implement this on a trial basis.

W

And also, this is what the circle in the middle would look like. This will be mountable by larger.

W

Vehicles and but anyhow passenger cars, we drive around it and we've also designed.

W

This circle, so that, uh where are you uh the coast, buses and wildcat buses will be able to.

W

Maneuver around the circle without having to drive over the bumps every time so but.

W

Larger vehicles turn trying to turn left will have to drive over the middle of the circle.

W

And that's the uh the yellow plastic islands that will be used for the splitter islands.

B

Thank you eric and I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this project, uh see sagamore avenue.

B

By clean status update, yes, I just want to bring up to date with that section of sagamore avenue.

W

In the area of the leicester king, at the top of the hill coming up from uh the bridge, we've had.

W

uh Some property surveys done right away: survey of the roadway we found that we do have a little.

W

Bit of right away where we can widen the sidewalk on one side of the road but another foot and then.

W

We can do a little bit of paving on the other side and, along with some restriping of the roadway, we.

W

Can get uh four foot bike lane on each side of the roadway there, so we can improve the safety without.

W

uh Having to take any stone walls or fences or trees from the butters, so we can do a little bit.

W

Of work there to make it a safer condition and we're in the process of designing that right now,.

B

Thank you, that's wonderful to hear, and I just realized I I still ben fletcher's.

B

Thunder earlier, but I think he's going to come and talk about parking revenues for this next slide.

K

Yeah or maybe eric will just wait in the beginning, but I do just want to highlight- and this might be.

B

Something we could include in the next packet. These are revenue. um If we go down one or.

B

Back to the parking, these are revenue, numbers and percentage of the budget numbers not uh occupancy.

B

Numbers so maybe at next month's meeting we could have the occupancy levels of the garage and maybe.

B

A from a previous couple years, just to see if it's trending up or down or or what have you.

B

And then back to the sorry.

B

Do you want to speak to this one sure.

AD

So this is a slide that we commonly put in our presentations that just basically discusses the.

AD

Concept of a parking benefit district, which is defined as an area that is uh the the the groups.

AD

Benefit from parking revenues, uh the entire city is basically a parking benefit. District.

AD

As it is because um uh the revenues generated by parking- uh and you can read along with me here,.

AD

um 2.4 million offset to the general fund, which obviously is going to lower the tax burden.

AD

Transportation, planning and engineering support downtown snow removal, support waste removal.

AD

Trash pickup school bus and senior transportation coast, of course, downtown trolley, police detail and.

AD

Crossing guards, among other things, that helps us lower the median tax burden per household.

AD

By roughly 318 dollars per household this past year, so it's important that folks understand that.

AD

uh The revenues that are generated through the parking system are used to help improve the town.

E

Mr chairman, can I ask a question of ben ben? Can you speak to the large non-resident contribution.

E

To parking, and can you speak to your efforts to make the residents aware of the parking discounts.

E

For residents, uh certainly so uh the parkmobile app is now nearly 50 percent of our traffic.

AD

uh So it's it's a good figure to look at when you see the uh the resident mix. It's about 3.85.

AD

For the year, so that means more than 95 percent of our traffic downtown is generated from from.

AD

Boston over other visitor traffic, so that does put us in a good position to uh to offer discounts and.

AD

Resident rates that that aren't going to have a giant effect on the bottom line, because most of.

AD

That traffic doesn't come from uh from that pool of folks, so we did a voting drive as everybody.

AD

Knows this last uh um election, where right here at ward 3 and at each of the other awards, we've.

AD

Had a table eric was part of this, and uh and let folks know that if they use the parking.

AD

App and come down and show residency status which does require some paperwork. uh Part of that's new.

AD

Hampshire law- it's not just a matter of making folks come see us, but uh we're not we're not.

AD

Allowed to record pictures of of our light of uh driver's license things like that, so the only.

AD

Thing we're allowed to do is a test when somebody comes in and shows us the documentation. That's why.

AD

It requires a personal visit for somebody to come in and show residency, and then their plate can be.

AD

Put on a special list and when they use the app they don't have the 35 cent per transaction fee.

AD

And they also have a at this point: a 50 cent per hour reduction in the parking charge. So.

B

Yeah, so I would encourage anybody watching at home to go down to the foundry garage and sign.

B

Up for this, it's a every time you park, you're, going to save 85 cents and and the thing that's.

B

Really handy is if you're parked getting coffee with somebody and your phone will buzz and let.

B

You know that you've stayed too long, you can renew for say 15 minutes and you don't have to pay the.

B

35 transaction fee- and you can do that over and over again it's a great product yeah mark did.

Z

You have a question: god: does the city still have free parking on sundays as foundry? No, we don't no.

Z

Is that seasonal, or is that? No it's just something that is just went away? Oh yeah.

B

Thanks ben thank you ben.

B

All right miscellaneous suggestions for a new name of committee to incorporate all modes.

B

Of transportation, this is something we talked about a few, I think at the end of last year that.

B

Perhaps the name of our community committee doesn't directly reflect our focus.

B

um I don't know if anybody's come up with any better names in the meantime,.

Z

Subcommittee, this is okay, if I heard correctly weren't, we last talking about parking and.

E

Transportation safety committee meeting just changing traffic to transportation.

E

That's the last one I heard erica. There are lots of places that just have transportation advisory.

X

Committees or councils, and I feel like that's pretty all-encompassing- that's more mode neutral.

X

Than what we have now, I don't know if it's right, but it's just another idea to throw out there.

B

Maybe I'll make a suggestion that somebody email us a name to bring forward on the next agenda.

B

Then everybody will be able to see what we're thinking of calling ourselves and we can take.

B

A vote if we want to change the name, but I think the focus is we want to make sure that everybody.

B

Knows that this is multimodal and that safety is a priority and sometimes the name can kind.

B

Of set the tone for that is there and just change it to traffic safety and parking just reverse. It.

V

You're gonna mark you're gonna get an email from a third grader seven's ideas. Look at that.

B

Absolutely the more youth we can get a engagement competitors, um any other miscellaneous items.

E

The chairman I'll make a motion to adjourn. Second, all those in favor any opposed.

B

Thank you, portsmouth.