City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 5 May 2022

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From YouTube: 5.5.2022 Parking & Traffic Safety

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5.5.2022 Parking & Traffic Safety

A

Oh yeah, sorry there's the light.

B

It's got hey good morning. Everyone welcome to the parking and traffic safety committee. Today is.

C

Thursday may 5th uh I'm steve pesci and councillor bagley, who has uh is our chair.

C

Has asked me to uh fill in and facilitate as chairman this morning we're expecting that council.

C

Bagley may participate remotely either by phone or zoom, but I don't think he is logged in at this.

C

Point ben's going to check. We do have a quorum at this point, though, with five of our members.

C

um Mark's online too and mark is online excellent, mark syracusa, so we'll call to order and uh ben.

D

If you have turned our remote participants on we'll, do a call to order an attendance role.

A

So mary lou mccowan here steve pesci here mark syracusa.

A

Harold whitehouse yeah eric oregonic here uh public works director peter rice here.

A

And chairman bagley, I don't see the chairman on there.

E

For a second, please here sorry, I have to attend something.

C

Okay, thank you counselor all right, so I believe we do have a quorum.

C

We will continue on and I'm reminding myself and to everyone who's going to speak and participate.

C

Today, to speak up and use the microphones as possible, so we can all participate completely.

C

We will start with a financial report, please, mr chairman. Yes, sir, I give the usual financial.

F

Report approval I'd like to ask a couple of questions in reference to the foundry garage.

F

I see the revenues are way up. Is that? Because of a transfer from the high-end overseas garage.

A

A piece of that is definitely that we've also got bridge lot closed right now, so we're seeing some.

A

Increased traffic over there and public awareness is up. We've also seen a whole lot of new folks.

A

Coming on to the downtown employee workforce program, our our length of stay at that garage is.

A

Over eight hours, which means the majority of folks that use that garage are probably are working in.

A

Those in those positions- so that's that's very good news to have- and we have a conservative.

A

Budget always yeah. Mr chairman, one more question here at the last meeting it was mentioned by.

F

A committee member to put a better looking sign coming down out of market street to direct you to.

F

The foundry garage: can you comment on that? Please, I don't believe we put a vms at the russell street.

A

Triangle yet, nor I'm not sure if we've decided exactly whether we're going to do that or not.

A

It may have to do with how much how many signs we have in stock, but certainly we could take.

A

A look at that and see if that's going to be a good idea again this year, all right.

F

Mr chairman, I move the uh financial report be accepted as presented motion accepted. We have.

F

A second second mary lou. Second, all those in favor will have to do a roll call vote. All of our votes.

C

Today will have to be roll call, madeleine mccowan, yes, steve pesci, yes, mark syracusa.

A

Yes held white house, yes, erica wegonik, yes, public works director, peter rice, yes and chairman.

A

Chairman bagley yeah great, thank you move to the public comments section of the meeting.

C

So I'd like to welcome people uh to move up to the microphone we'll start with the people in the room.

C

And welcome you all this morning and please ask you to.

C

Try to be concise with your comments, I think we're going to have a lot of comments this morning, so.

C

Welcome thank you and introduce yourself as well good morning. My name is elizabeth brader property.

G

Owner 159 mcdonough street I'd like to speak to a few different things and I'll be quick.

G

First for the neighbors regarding speeding issues, the report supports the ideas which.

G

Could be implemented? What is known is that a reduction in speed by five miles per hour in lower.

G

Speed scenarios makes a difference as to whether a child, an adult, a senior or an even an animal lives.

G

Or dies at impact and reduces the force on the driver by about two thousand pounds creating.

G

Welcome islands, as I call them to neighborhoods, as has happened at some of the areas, is a great idea.

G

However, the islands need a sign on a pole on the island which says welcome to the neighborhood.

G

Please drive 25 miles an hour or less less is more. I saw the recommended signs, I think, stick to the.

G

Point that we want people to drive slower in some of the areas could there could be exit islands.

G

That say, you are exiting the neighborhood and show the increase in speed the problems with all the.

G

Islands in speed tables is that many drivers see them as traffic calming and are annoyed by them.

G

Not as a way to protect neighborhoods from accidents and fatalities, neighborhoods are.

G

The reason for the islands and the speed tables the goal is to reduce speed, increase, respect for.

G

The neighborhoods and reminding drivers to do that with a very basic sign regarding the rrfd.

G

At islington and vine, I think it's a great idea, but I think that's a little bit of a blind corner.

G

There- and there may be need to be something to alert drivers, traveling east, that there's a.

G

Crosswalk ahead and that I do notice that there are a lot of pedestrians and cyclists who seem.

G

To cross there now that the weather is nicer, the rrfd at the african-american burial ground.

G

May accomplish a few things. It could allow a pedestrians to cross more easily and safely.

G

Many going downtown who cross down there seem to cross willy-nilly. They are all over the road.

G

They get out of their cars and just cross at night. It's very, very difficult to drive through there.

G

um The an rrfd may work as a traffic calming measure where, where the location is presented, what.

G

I found is that state street isn't too clogged on that end, especially in the summer and cars.

G

Seem to turn onto state street from maplewood after they've traveled through what I call the.

G

Traffic light gauntlet and they seem to pick up swede quite readily because they're frustrated so.

G

That would be my encouragement for an rrfd at that place. Washington retreat should remain a two-way.

G

Or be paired with atkinson's sleep going in the opposite direction, as requested by the person.

G

Who presented this? It's been a two-way, since I can remember it's only a short distance proposed.

G

To become one way, and it is likely to be used as a two-way anyway, we see that on salem street.

G

The condos that are closer to the end of salem street use that as a two-way, even though it's not.

G

I am concerned that if it becomes a one-way that you may see people when the bridge goes up using.

G

It as a two-way in regards to the neighborhood parking program, I'm looking forward to hearing the.

G

Report of how often and what is being monitored during the two-month extension of this program,.

G

Prior to it being moved forward to the city council, thank you. Thank you.

H

Good morning, everyone, my name, is liza hewitt. I live at 726 middle road, miss hewitt. Please do.

A

Draw the microphone a little bit closer. Thank you, as you probably know by now, I'm here to comment.

H

On the agenda item involving middle road traffic calming, I want to thank the speed limit committee.

H

Peter and eric for hearing my concerns, I urge the committee to pass the trial for traffic calming.

H

On middle road to include the installation of an rrfb at the riverbrook condominium, crosswalk.

H

And lowering of the speed limit for middle road from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour.

H

The proposal says that you are also going to be reinstalling. The temporary traffic calming.

H

Measures from 2020 to 2021.- I assume these are the bollard bump outs, while I'm not entirely.

H

Sure that these had any impact on speed, I guess it does no harm to install them again.

H

I will just say that the side of the road heading out of town, where the bump out area was more.

H

Narrow the ability of cyclists to navigate a path down the side of the road was affected.

H

And they often swore quite loudly as they were, forced out into the line of traffic at those.

H

Points the other side was not affected because it was wider with the parking it's something to.

H

Think about, I have a list of questions for the committee which I hope will be answered.

H

During your discussion period, including what area on middle road will be the 25 mile per hour.

H

Will the 25 mile per hour speed limit in compass will that be from islington street to middle.

H

Street, when will the trial period end? I'd like to have a date like september meeting.

H

October meetings, so that you know the residents know when, when that area of trial will be what.

H

Will the criteria be for considering lowering the speed limit permanently and what are the benefits.

H

Of a trial period for middle road versus just lowering the speed limit by ordinance.

H

Along with islington and parrot, I guess I do not need to ask the question of why you are.

H

Not I guess I do need to ask the question of why you are not bringing in ordinance change to the.

H

City council for 25 miles per hour on middle road, when you need to bring that ordinance for change.

H

For islington and parrot avenue anyway. Finally, I feel the need to address the proposal as it looks.

H

In the packet to lower the speed on islington to 25 miles per hour from spinning to maplewood.

H

I kept thinking I wasn't reading it correctly. Why would you not lower the speed on the entire.

H

Length of islington street, I really hope that you meant to say 25 miles per hour on islington street.

H

Period, you have the ballpark at the end of the street, it's dangerous for every one of those.

H

Children playing at that ballpark and at the playground also please remember that when the.

H

Skateboard park is built at the stump dump. All of those children will be crossing islington.

H

In that location, on skateboards and on bicycles, a mother also contacted me with concerns about.

H

The speed on islington at the old powder house, because there are a group of children, apparently.

H

Crossing from the other side to wait for the bus, if it was not your intention to make islington.

H

Street 25 miles per hour from middle road to maplewood, please reconsider! Thank you.

H

And I have my questions here printed out just so you have them. Thank you. Thank you.

I

Good morning,.

I

Get my glasses on here. My name is andrea ardito. I live at 121 northwest street.

I

um So I wanted to come this morning to discuss with you about maplewood avenue.

I

Two weeks ago I was walking through the intersection of maplewood in hanover.

I

When I was hit by a car, I pressed the walk sign, waited until it indicated, and just for.

I

Good measure, as I always repeatedly tell my kids to do, I looked both ways before stepping out.

I

I was in the middle of the intersection when I was hit. I didn't see the driver until she made.

I

Contact with me, she was going that fast. My shoe came off my foot and flew into the air.

I

A witness told police that, right before the driver made contact, I had stepped back. He said.

I

If I hadn't done that, I might not be here, I have no memory of this. I like to think that somebody.

I

Was looking out for me and with good reason other than some bruising, I came out unscathed.

I

I wish I could tell you that this was an isolated incident, but it is not a year and a half ago.

I

On father's day, my family and I walked across the bridge overlooking north mill pond on maplewood.

I

Avenue after a dinner out, we saw my then 15 year old, son's friend fishing on the bridge. We chatted.

I

For a few minutes and then proceeded towards home, no sooner had we walked into our street.

I

When we heard a sickening crash, a driver with too much speed and too much alcohol in his system had.

I

Collided with the bridge narrowly missing this teenager fishing, the house that I live in and the.

I

Family that resided there for nearly 50 years had the most terrible loss of all on maplewood avenue.

I

Not far from where my son's friend was fishing, a little girl ruth gardner five years old was.

I

Struck and killed by a car, a horrific, horrific tragedy. It is my firm belief that we must do.

I

Everything in our power to make sure these examples I have just given you do not repeat.

I

Maplewood avenue is an arterial road that is also a neighborhood road. Children walk to school.

I

They bike, they run, people walk their dogs and enjoy the charm of this walkable section. So.

I

Close to the downtown there is a portsmouth school district bus stop at the end of northwest street.

I

There is a unh bus, stop maplewood simply put, is heavily used and is very dangerous.

I

In essence, the speed in which people exiting the downtown and those coming in flying over the hill.

I

By prospect street can leave you feeling, like you, are playing dodgeball both on foot.

I

And attempting by car and bike to pull out of northwest.

I

Marsh and dennett street displayed despite a blinking speed, sign, sometimes crosswalk marker.

I

And blinking light cars. Cars still use a high rate of speed for this small road.

I

The sidewalks feel very close to cars, especially on the north mill bridge. There's no protection.

I

From the sharp corner by the old cindian cleaners- and it is easy for a car to misjudge the curve.

I

We saw that in my previous example, when I cross the intersection on deer and maplewood, I jaywalk.

I

Now I cross the road by the green elephant. My reasoning, at least I can see the cars coming.

I

Ever since my children would walk to school, I would tell them to step back as cars turning right.

I

To exit town often have a wheel on that sidewalk, I'm not someone who has degrees in such things.

I

But I can tell you this: isn't working it isn't safe. There will be more close calls, if not worse,.

I

I am asking for anything and everything you can do to problem solve and alleviate this. I have lived.

I

Off maplewood avenue for nearly eight years now, this isn't the first time I've come forward to.

I

This committee, nor the first time other residents of and off maplewood avenue, have asked for help.

I

It's just the first time my fear of being hit happened, speed bumps near.

I

The trifecta intersection of northwest denent and march and at the bottom of prospect, street.

I

Would be amazing, I've seen them make a difference further down, maplewood heading towards woodbury.

I

If you can't do that, can we do rumble strips in that area and again at the crosswalk.

I

Finally, as you look to work on the north mill bridge, please put in safety measures like a guard.

I

Rail and wider, more substantial sidewalks, please do not make it more arterial than neighborhood.

I

Please enact weight neighborhood area bylaws to not allow massive trucks from wanting to cross.

I

The new bridge, as I shudder to imagine, semi trucks barreling down maplewood. As for what happened to.

I

Me I'm eager to hear how you can help make a difference in the safety of maplewood avenue.

I

For not from what I have been told from others in community media pages,.

I

What happened to me happens frequently. That should be alarming to hear for all.

I

Indeed, this is a warning alarm that must be heated. Thank you.

C

Is there anyone else new rick.

J

Good morning rick beckstead 1395 islington street. I almost got tears in my eyes from listening to.

J

That story- and this is what this committee is for to hopefully be able to help solve some of these.

J

Issues in portsmouth many years ago, the state had given us a gift. I had learned working with eric.

J

Eby over the many years that I've been involved with the city that we have been able to enforce.

J

uh 30 miles an hour down to 25 mile an hour I mean, and the woman that just spoke is a 25 mile an hour.

J

Speed limit um I'm grateful for the consideration of the 25 miles an hour on islington street.

J

But under the proposed plan it will leave between spinney road and the ball field. At the current 30.

J

Miles an hour and we're all aware that most people, even my own children, that I taught to.

J

Drive said it was okay to be able to drive it five miles over the speed limit, and we typically do.

J

I just want to go and let the committee know what you are leaving out is 53 homes.

J

Which are families which are residents of this community.

J

Two multi, and actually I counted three as I was making my way here this morning,.

J

Three multi-family units, where we have retirement communities that are there and condos.

J

And I have great concern for those residents. I wanted to give a comparison so, like I said there.

J

Are 53 homes and three multi-family units a comparison on on beverly hill, which we.

J

All know is at 25 miles an hour is an unsafe road, consists of 25 homes, one church and one preschool.

J

They are bombarded by trucks, deliveries, local traffic and shortcut traffic.

J

Everyone, I'm agrees to even excuse me, um isn't street is subject to similar conditions. um I was actually.

J

Woken up this morning at 5, 30 by trucks coming into the city, whether it be hannaford's, whether it.

J

Be sherwin williams, they do the best they can when we actually communicate with the managers of those.

J

Stores- and they do tend to slow down from time to time, but it is a main, thorough way which again.

J

Consists of many homes under the proposed travel this for this road to go from 25 to 30 at spinney.

J

Road, what will end up happening is the traffic will see the 30 mile an hour signs. They will.

J

Accelerate going up a hill both day time and night time now we learned as an example on aldridge.

J

Many years ago, when we made the alterations and narrowed that and put the lines in and the fog.

J

Lines on the side we eliminated the center lanes because, typically and again, with eric eby's help.

J

We had gone and met with challenges that it tends to be a perception of people driving.

J

Faster, almost like on a highway, a drag strip was one way that it was actually described.

J

And you will have that very thing happen when you go to change from 25 to 30, with the proposed.

J

Plan that you have in place last year working closely and again, I have for many years with.

J

The city of portsmouth we had gone and also learned from bill watson and from peter rice.

J

That a 25 mile an hour road was acceptable for sharrow's anything above and beyond that at 30.

J

Miles an hour is a condition not met for sheryl use and was and was strictly uh discouraged.

J

Islington street has no bike lanes islington street from the bridge street lot to planes.

J

Baseball field is right now at 30 miles an hour. You're gonna do at least two thirds of that at 25.

J

Miles an hour, and I I believe it's going to end up having a drastic effect with no bike lanes. There.

J

And it is a sharehold road. I witness every day very close calls that are on there when it comes.

J

To bicyclists, please, when the motion comes forward, I would like to see an amendment made to include.

J

All of islington street to be able to make all the residents and all the portsmouth safer. Thank you.

C

Thank you, rick. Is there anyone else in the room that would like to be? Yes, sir?.

K

Good morning, my name is richard smith, from 93 high street in portsmouth.

K

And I just have a couple of items: uh one is cape boarders on hanover street. They.

K

Go down right in the middle of the street, so it doesn't seem very safe that they'd be going down.

K

I'm not sure how you can believe that, but I think it it it's a good idea to.

K

Not have that happen. Another um thing I'm concerned about is the corner market hand.

K

Over and bell, especially like out of state cars when they're coming into town down market.

K

They're, not really they don't give a right away. So I think it's an accident just waiting to happen.

K

Another item is buses down high street between hanover and deer.

K

That corner a lot of cars are parked and it backs up traffic. I think it's really a safety hazard.

K

And there are residents, including myself on high street and there's a lot of speeders.

K

It's a shortcut.

K

Those are just a couple items next time. I'll probably have a couple more.

K

If I appreciate your attention to these, thank you. Thank you.

C

Okay, we'd like to offer opportunity for those who are remote.

C

To give any comments, okay, so we have five hands raised, we'll start with annie pobo.

C

Good morning, annie.

L

Good morning, can you hear me yes, perfect? Thank you. um First, I want to thank the woodbury resident, who.

L

Just chaired for experience, um I I agree with her and I I feel really sorry for what happened to her.

L

um I walk a lot around and I ride my bike so I'll completely um understand her feeling from fear.

L

When I moved to portsmouth in the summer of 2000, I um I had a car, I didn't have a bike then, and I.

L

Drove my car everywhere and I hated being stuck in traffic and having to find a parking spot in town.

L

So over the years I've changed my um I've changed my behavior and again that's my personal story.

L

Without saying that, everybody should do the same, but for me the smart solution has been.

L

To get a bike for walk as much as possible, I'm grateful! I live not far from downtown.

L

But for the short trips um two miles one mile three mile um I go to spinnaker um I'll go to.

L

Library post office- I have to say I would carry but um for those short trips I use my body and.

L

um I'm grateful that um we're gonna hear the presentation today about the bad game.

L

On dental street and that I could answer your survey questions, it's very important that.

L

We're all included in this process that we can see viking and portsmouth as a bigger story.

L

Not just little clusters of bipolar projects here and there um I ride my bike for everyday.

L

Purposes not, as you know, I don't wear again. I know like that, but wearing my jeans, my bike, so it's.

L

Important to connect all the neighborhoods and to make it safe for everyone, so ministry would bury.

L

uh Maplewood, um when I write an essay- oh my gosh, isn't it um I I have to be proactive or I have to.

L

Be on the defense, I don't know, that's the correct word, but um a lot of my girlfriends don't want.

L

To ride because they're scared, um but it would make a lot of things much easier if we could all.

L

Make our streets more complete, um so anyways, thank you um and I just want to say thank you.

L

um To all those people here in this committee um for giving the time to our community.

L

Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next, up with the hand up is jonathan sandberg, please do state your address.

M

Hey um my name is jonathan samberg. I live at 160, barbara street and.

M

I work at the high school. I've worked at the high school for the last 15 years and I ride.

M

My bike there, almost I've, ridden my bike up there almost every day, every school day for the last 15.

M

Years along middle street- and I have a lot of things- I want to say about middle street- but I.

M

You know trying to keep it short because I'm respectful of your time, but um I do want to.

M

Say you know there's a lot of important reasons why I do ride. um It saves me money, it's good for.

M

The environment reduces my carbon footprint. I feel good about that. I feel good about not.

M

Contributing to climate change to air pollution, to um making the roads more, I'm not making the roads.

M

More dangerous by driving a 2000 pound v vehicle at 40 miles an hour. People do personal, [, __, ] and.

A

Oops, I muted the wrong one. How about that? Sorry, sorry, jonathan.

M

Somebody else was, it seemed like somebody else was jumping in there. Am I wrong all right any case.

M

But most importantly, it saves me time I can get to school, the mile and a half. I can do it in about.

M

Six minutes, which is a lot faster than I could do it in a car, and I know it's faster because I pass.

M

A lot of people on my way there and the reason I can pass them is because I can use the right lane.

M

To bike lane past people who are stopped at uh are cute at the lights.

M

And I can go around them when I get to the to the light at jarvis and coming out of.

M

School, it saves me even more time, because um you know the traffic coming out of school on.

M

After school is incredible, it would take me another 15 minutes if I were driving it.

M

Takes me six minutes on my bike, um and um a lot of that is because of the bike lane um before.

M

I rode my bike before there was a bike lane and I could not pass all the cars on the right because.

M

They were, they would the cars would be against the curb and so there's nowhere to pass them, except.

M

For if I were to go on the sidewalk um now there's the bike lane, it makes it much more convenient and.

M

um And I think that a lot more people would use it if there was more of it was protected. That said,.

M

Myself, I'm I'm comfortable riding in traffic. I grew up riding in a more urban area um and um what.

M

I do want to say is about the protected park. um The parking protected park from cass street right.

M

I want to say the part that um I ride from cat street to um the school bath and from cass street.

M

To um to lincoln, um where it used to be parking protected, that's actually not that useful, because.

M

There's only like five or six cars that are ever parked there and that doesn't.

M

Provide very much protection, five or six part cars, and it's not that hard to go around them.

M

um The most important part is is for me is as you approach south street intersection.

M

And um going down towards jarvis drive jonathan jonathan: do you want to go.

C

Jonathan, do you want to summarize your comments.

C

You're all right, that's what I want to say. Okay, thank you.

A

Okay, so we have thank you all right. Thank you. Okay, next up is paul. Spieler.

D

Hi I live in 112 court street and I wanted to comment on.

D

Court street rogers street and parrot, which I know is on your agenda. I I find it strange that there.

D

Were no school zone signs on either uh rogers or parrot and that particularly the area between.

D

Richards and rogers, where there are baseball fields, a library and a school, don't have any.

D

Any uh speed limit posted so it reverts to your normal speed limit of 30. and, of course it.

D

Succeeded when there's a school dance there, people take off like they're riding in rocket ships.

D

The speed limit posted on court is twenty um nearest broadway bank.

D

And it's not posted again going from middle street into court or from pleasant.

D

I think court street now is probably the most densely or will be certainly when the new housing.

D

Opens will be the most densely populated street in the city, and it seems bizarre to me that with the.

D

Amount with the number of people there on the one hand and secondly, the uh the amount.

D

Of traffic that picks up since it's used as an alternative way of getting out of the city.

D

um That there aren't any speed signs posted. um I just mentioned these things for consideration by.

D

Committee, thank you. Thank you. There are no more hands raised. Any final comments from.

C

Anyone online or in the room somebody did just raise their hand. Sorry matthew, glenn,.

N

Hello, uh matt, glenn, 34, harrison ave. Sorry, I'm not able to be there in person. um I had read.

N

Through the packet and I saw a proposal for um crosswalk islands at rockingham and woodbury.

N

um What concerned me was the addition of a left-hand turn lane uh from woodbury to rockingham.

N

um It's just uh unnecessary to give another lane over to cars. There would really narrow the.

N

Bike shoulder: that's there I feel like a much better use of the space would be a protected.

N

Bike lane for that 95 underpass, so um well, I hear lots of discussion about speed limits. I think.

N

uh You know lower speed limits are great, but um narrower roads are even better. I hope to make wood.

N

Projects moves forward to um maybe reduce the lane here or there and slow the cars down that way to.

N

Make maplewood safer, um but I'm also concerned about bike lanes that don't have protection.

N

Because what we have on maplewood now is you know, bike lanes outside of park cars.

N

No visual barrier, and so it still feels like a fast road for driving.

N

So I'm looking forward to the middle street presentation.

N

I hope that flex posts go back up soon and I just want to point out. There was a very well vetted.

N

Plan with lots of public input that gave us the parking protected by claim, so I hope.

N

There's an equal chance to participate once we see something from the consultant for a way to.

N

Move forward in a safe way and return some kind of space for bicyclists on that outbound portion.

N

Of middle street that currently has nothing. The survey was very open-ended and very difficult to.

N

Figure out how to answer um you know giving input on what doesn't exist. Basically, so.

N

That's it. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for the work you do have a good day.

D

Thank you matthew. We do have one more person with the hand raised rebecca mcbeef.

C

Good morning good morning, thank you. I really just wanted to say how much I appreciate the department.

D

Of public works and the members of the board working on the calming effects that'll road from.

H

Little street to beverly hills really had some progress made last year. I'm looking for the.

D

Over to some of those pylons or flexible posts being set up and the crosswalk signs.

D

And just thank you very much and I'll look forward to hearing the rest of the presentation.

A

And that looks to be it great. Thank you. So I'd like to close the public comment period.

C

We'll move on to item number five. Thank you. Everyone for your comments, very appreciated.

C

um So uh eric are you going to lead us on number five? Oh, you can bring your presentation sure.

C

Yeah, um I think deb you want to go through your presentation, sure welcome deb. Thank you.

O

Good morning my name is debbie finnegan. I am I'm a senior project manager for wsp.

O

We were hired by this by the by portsmouth to.

O

Take a look at a lot of data as well as field conditions to to determine what.

O

Should be done on the outbound lane of middle street if you can go to the next slide, please.

O

This is just project staff, peter rice, eric eby and tyler. Reese were very helpful.

O

With providing me information to work through this study next slide, please.

O

The project goals were to.

O

Next, uh it was to conform to the uh city council directive from 2021.

O

We there wanted to be determined if the plans that were originally built out there were.

O

Acceptable or could we modify it and and maintain the federal state funding for this project.

O

Thanks most of you know the project background. This project went on the tip in 2010. There was.

O

Project funding provided in 2015 public meetings in 2016 and then a design, as well as the bid.

O

And the project was completed in 2018. there were modifications which were the bollard removal, 2019.

O

And then additional modifications were completed, which included covering certain pavement markings.

O

Adding crosswalks and rectangular rapid flashing beacons and other signs in 2021.

O

And we were hired last fall. Some of the actions taken by city council were the installation of.

O

The rectangular rapid flashing beacon at aldridge, as well as a pedestrian crosswalk.

O

The designation of lincoln avenue as a bike boulevard and then they approved.

O

Moving the parking spaces from to from the middle to the curb um what was and remove.

O

From uh cabot to lincoln, and that's the section we're discussing today.

O

This is a part of the street prior to construction. It's very wide as.

O

Most, everybody knows it's not as it doesn't have any designated bike lanes or sharrows.

O

People are not happy with this configuration next slide, please. This was post construction after the.

O

Initial projects, which shows the bollards and the additional bike lanes and um providing the.

O

Bike lanes have the the hat, the green hash marks to designate that they're crossing a.

O

uh A road that's coming into the middle street in this case next slide.

O

This is what this is an example of what it looked like after.

O

It's a little hard to see, but you can see the parking is shifted to the curb.

O

On the on the outbound side of the road- and there is not a bike lane next slide,.

O

This is the rectangular rapid flashing beacons at aldridge.

O

And you can and also just provide showing that the marks that show that the bike lane is crossing.

O

A roadway have been blacked out, so these are just some of the changes that were made on the road.

O

Next slide, please just another example at cass street, of removing the parking and and.

O

The bike lanes and things like that, so just some people I mean. I know everybody drives.

O

Us every day, but just so you have an ex so get an idea of. What's going on next slide, please.

O

Our role was a third party reviewer. We, as I stated before, we did some conditions inventory, which.

O

Included flight counts and we gathered speed data and some accident data. We are here to be weird.

O

That should we also provide some of you may have done a door that we're able to do a survey with a.

O

Few of our staff going around with a survey to ask and answer questions. It was also available online.

O

We had several responses as well as email, some people email their responses directly and then.

O

After this meeting, we will provide a memorandum summarizing all of the data.

O

And a final recommendation next slide: please.

O

This survey, we had a public meeting on march 10th to discuss the project and.

O

The history similar to what you see now um at the meeting there were paper copies that.

O

You could fill out or you could take the postcard and fill it out online.

O

We conducted so it was available march 10th. We conducted our door-to-door survey on march 11th.

O

And um and then we it was available online for march 10th april 1st, uh though the summer it was.

O

The survey was summarized within terms of you know a lot of the a lot of the open-ended questions in.

O

Terms of what they like. What people liked and didn't like um as well as took a look at who.

O

Who rode their bikes and who walked, and things like that next slide. Please.

O

This is a brief summary of the results. There were 290 responses, 158 of them identified.

O

Specifically, living on middle street 97 were portsmouth rather excuse me, residents.

O

255 of the people in the as a total identified as living or working in portsmouth.

O

48 of the respondents use the bicycle lanes, at least on a daily basis and 74 percent of.

O

The people have stated they use the pedestrian combinations, if not daily every other day um to.

O

To summarize uh the the responses um there were some positive and then on the next slide.

O

Are ones that were either, I would say, negative or or in the middle.

O

So um positive, wise, which is most mostly you think of, is like the bike lanes, help provide.

O

A place for the bicycles to be um and as some of the people spoke to this morning, anything to get.

O

Somebody out of their car or it's a shorter ride. um You know it's a safer travel route.

O

When you have voonia protected lanes next next slide- and this is the other.

O

I get where this is.

O

There's a lot of of there was a lot of feedback about. You know. Everybody has.

O

A different opinion, which we all agree to, um I think in general, uh people are in favor of.

O

Of a desert, a route that shows that bicycles can be sharing the road or bike lanes um that people.

O

Are waiting for those particular pavement markings, whatever they're going to be to be added, because.

O

Right now there was several comments about that. It's kind of confusing, which I understand and.

O

And I know that the city is planning on repainting those particular pavement markings once this is.

O

Done next slide, please! Yes, sir, on that last foot you said they are dangerous who's the day being.

C

Referred to that is. That was the comment. That's a direct comment. So these are all we didn't change.

O

Any wording I didn't- I don't know they were some of these, so you know that these are anonymous.

O

Some of these are anonymous, not everybody gave their name and address, and so.

O

So the recommendation is to keep the park as one of the one of the more stated comments is that the.

O

Parking towards the middle of the road was was felt very confusing and unsafe for the drivers.

O

And the bicyclists um there are greats in the in the previously in the bike lane that people.

O

That I know are bicyclists don't want to go over depending on which direction the grate is going.

O

What I have recommended this is the lincoln street end that we there's an existing bike.

O

With an arrow sign at cabot street, that needs to move down to where actually the bike lane.

O

May that starts per my not on the left side of the page, but um I recommended I recommended using.

O

Cheryl's because there's as it's been working fine without a bike lane, however, I do know after.

O

It you can put a bike lane in so um I I did some reading and peter's right. That.

O

The person that suggested that 25 miles an hour this is somewhere between 25 and 35,.

O

Miles an hour in terms of the speed studies that were done on this road, however, that the traffic.

O

Was very light because it was done during covid, so some of it was done during covid.

O

To get back to some data, the I am not 100 sure if it was covered related or not, but in uh let's see.

O

May and june of 2021, when they did bike counts. They were somewhere between 89 and 98, depending.

O

On the day, and then for some reason after the fourth of july weekend, they dropped off to be like.

O

Between 55 and 71, not 100 sure why that is, but it was fairly consistent. So there is some people.

O

Driving riding on this road, the traffic seemed light, but it was also during covid.

O

Next slide, please, uh this is just, and so people know the blue is parking.

O

The the um the dark, blue or purple is handicapped parking. The red is a no parking zone.

O

And then so that that describes the the parking situation um and then the last one.

O

At the beginning of this particular project, change it to a share of the road or a bicyclist.

O

Bicycle symbol, sign that is, those are the recommendation we have now in next page.

O

And since it was short and sweet, I guess I'm looking anybody. I guess from this group to ask any.

O

Questions, I'm not sure I just want to just to be clear. Your recommendation is to leave the modified.

P

Configuration but then to supplement it with shareholders, correct and science yeah. Thank you.

O

For asking that question and signage and signage? Yes, mr chairman, I have one question. Yes, harold.

F

I'm still confused about whether we have to return any federal or state funding in reference to the.

F

Changes that we've made so I I can answer that um I know former mayor reached out to the state.

P

And the state was clear in their response that we needed to do this study and meet with them.

P

To to review our results of this study, so now you know that we're going to we're going to bring this.

P

Through this committee, we'll get it to council, but we're going to get it to the state as well.

P

um I believe the state is going to be fine with it. um You know it's it's. It really was a matter.

P

Just to make sure we weren't missing something that was um obvious in terms of safety um and.

P

You know the analysis based on what I've heard deb say um is that it's an acceptable approach.

P

um So we could leave the configuration as it is, with the supplement of signage and.

P

Zeros, so I believe you know we'll review it with the state. um I believe it should be. They will be.

P

Accepting of it um but we'll uh you know, we will report back to council once we've done that so.

F

When will final decision be made, how long will it take for the state to make that decision.

P

It's really a concurrence from the state. I don't know it's not like.

P

They have to go to governor's council or anything like that. It's it's purely.

P

um You just said, I guess thank you.

O

And we'll include that the other. The other item that I didn't add was the accident data.

O

We did get some accident data and they were, there were not very many accidents and my.

O

Recollection is none of them involved bicycles on this particular stretch of road. I can't speak.

O

Beyond this particular project, so any other questions concerns thoughts. Just a question.

C

For peter, could you clarify that for the group to the overall resurfacing restriping schedule.

C

Is that coming up this year or no no uh we'll be painting we'll be repainting the lines.

P

As soon as the temps are, temperatures are starting to come up. uh I believe they're.

P

Looking at starting the long lines next week- but this will be- this will be the last section they do.

P

But the final, the big payment job is, is going to be another year or so out. There'll be a public.

P

Process, because if we propose to do modifications, uh you know we'll need input, and this committee.

P

Will be involved in that? Could I just ask this repainting this year going to include re-blacking.

C

Some of the blacked out yeah, some of it because it's confusing it's worn off a little bit.

C

Yes, erica um when the the repaving project, my understanding was, this was in effect.

E

A pilot effort to understand what would happen when the road.

E

Was reconstructed? Is this a road reconstruction in a year or is it just a repaving.

P

It depends on what the the general policy direction from the council from the public is.

P

A reconfiguration of the roadway is much more expensive than just repaving.

P

Right so we would need to make sure we have adequate funds to be able to do whatever.

P

Is desired at the end of the day.

P

So you know at this point: it's not determined.

C

Peter, are you looking for sorry mary, I was just wondering: are we going to continue to discuss this.

Q

On down the line, or is this the end of the discussion? No, this is the end of the discussion.

P

Okay, microphone peter. Are you looking for just a summary motion and recapsuling re, encapsulating.

C

The recommendations of the consultant and that that would be what we proceed with this year.

C

That's what you're asking for from this committee well at this point, this was a council action that.

P

Was asked for us to do okay, so it's really! It's really not something that the committee needs to.

P

You know you, can you could give your opinion, you could you could if you, if the committee.

P

Wants to do a you know, a motion to support um the proposed recommendation. um That would be fine, but.

P

Really, since it was a council initiative, this is something that the council will be. uh You know.

P

The one accepting so at the end of the day, it's it's uh bringing it to them and accepting it right.

Q

Then I'll comment on it. I I don't think there's any solution, easy solution.

Q

For this stretch for a bike lane, whether you're driving on middle or you're biking on middle, it's.

Q

It's a winding road. It I think, there's difficulty from one then to the other. It's hard to get.

Q

Out of for people to get out of driveways it's hard to get out of cass street.

Q

It's hard to get out of any of the side roads, so I I think that we have to go with.

Q

A basic solution now, which would be the sharrows and better signage. I do think that the lines.

Q

Need to be redrawn, because that does make it confusing to see the difference in the pavement.

Q

On that stretch of road, but I've driven it and I've biked it and I don't think, there's any easy.

Q

Answer for this corridor, mary lou will you I almost feel like it would be wise for us as a as a.

C

Group to have a motion where we accept the results of the consultant, which include uh installation.

C

Of shiro's signage and then the public works department's, planned repainting of striping and.

C

Re-Blacking of black things- and that's that's the end of the discussion for this year so.

C

If is that akin to what you're saying you just made, the motion, did you.

C

Chairman councillor bagley has a comment. Yes councillor, bagley, please, jordan. Sorry.

R

Oh no problem, um just a question for the presenter was when the bike lanes were initially removed.

R

They were briefly painted on the outside of the cars. Why was sharrow's more profitable than that.

R

Solution, the reason is from my perspective: is it's basically what's out there? Now it's been working.

O

Relatively well on that short stretch of road currently and that's why we did that, doesn't.

O

Mean that you couldn't do that. However, I know that change is hard for people and I think at.

O

This point: it was the best solution based on what was out there and that's what we looked at. However,.

O

That does not, and I'm not going to backtrack, for my recommendation doesn't mean that you can't put.

O

Them out there, but please understand that part of the goal which I didn't see was to paint.

O

The paint a line to designate the parking area so there'll be a lot, so there will be a line.

O

Defining the edge of the road that's further out, so people will know what that is. If that makes, if.

O

You a fog line like a vehicle like a fog line, yes, okay, so that would be the other piece too fogline.

C

Churros improve signage and repaint. It are you making the motion, I'm happy to or okay.

C

You've already said it: okay. Well then, I made the motion. Does anyone want to support that so that.

Q

We can go to the council with a clear recommendation yeah. Second, I.

B

I just want to make sure you know when this goes to council, if they accept the meeting minutes.

B

That this is clear that it's a committee recommendation, not I don't want to tie their hands.

B

To something this committee has done, I think it also needs to be clear that it's really a council.

P

Policy decision- and it's not a it's- not, it needs to be broken out separately um so that it's a.

P

Clear action, it's it's so can that be part of the motion? Yes, that's a friendly amendment. Yes agreed.

C

Okay, so with that amendment that it's clearly a recommendation, we're accepting the report and.

C

The recommendations uh is that the sense of the group that we should go around the amendment first.

F

No, it's a friendly amendment. Okay, right, all right, all right roll call vote, please marilyn mcelwain,.

A

Yes, steve pesci, yes, mark syracuse, same hail, white house, yes, uh erica mcgonig, uh yes, uh peter.

A

Rice, yes and andrew bagley, yes, thank you very much. Thank you good. Thank you all appreciation.

Q

One of the most important people in the room.

C

Okay on to item six new business item, a yeah- and this is the.

B

Yearly request for renewal of the valet parking license from the 100 club at the on hanover street.

B

They are looking for the same terms as last year, which is seven days a week, 5 pm to midnight and.

B

That's a straightforward, I guess all the conditions are in the draft agreement. That's in your packet.

B

If the committee approves it, then we go to city council for their approval of the minutes.

C

Moved by erica seconded by peter yeah roll call vote. Yes, any discussion sure what was the fee.

B

But the the fee is uh proposed to increase this year. That still needs approval from city council.

B

Yeah it was previously 675. committee does it. The fee committee has recommended an increase in the.

B

In the fee this year in the budget, yeah and the budget needs to be accepted. Okay, all right, mary.

Q

Lou, so we're voting on something that doesn't have a payment term. There's a blank on that.

Q

Page on that page, it says yes because it has not been has not gone before council yet to change the.

B

To implement the proposed new fee, okay- and I have a second question- that there's a crossover of the.

Q

Times on the signage, the loading zone is up until 7 pm and the valet parking is 5 pm to midnight has.

Q

There been a problem with valet parking at that point. No, that's what you know of yeah. Okay, we.

Q

Wouldn't get involved in that anyway, probably it's a valet issue yeah and they haven't made.

B

Any complaints you haven't heard anything parking, wise, it's okay, it's been working out well for them.

B

For several years, okay, so what if we vote on this- and it doesn't have the payment terms, can we do.

Q

That can we vote on this without with a blank, it would revert back to 675, wouldn't it peter. No. If.

A

They don't approve the change signed by the city council city cadets in the city council's budget.

P

So once the city council's budget is approved, it will be executed. It would be incorporated.

P

Into this and the and the tenant is or the person asking for this is aware of the new fees.

P

So the new fee is what uh that should be. Fifteen hundred fifteen hundred dollars.

P

So it's a significant increase: okay, okay, all right! I just wondered uh and they'll be executing this.

P

You know you're voting to approve the form in in not the contract. Okay, so you're, you guys don't.

C

Have purview over the contract per se? That's the legal numbers, we're recommending a pool of.

Q

Okay, that's my question: okay, okay, we'll call vote marilu, mccowan, steve pesci, yes, mark syracusa,.

A

Mark? Yes, sorry about that hail white house! Yes, eric wygonic, yes, police, captain maloney! Yes,.

A

Director peter rice, yes and chairman bagley, yes, okay, item b, summit, avenue.

F

Mr chairman, I move, we place the item on file.

Q

uh Why why would we put that on file? Can we hold that until eric has the chance to give us the.

C

All right: material, okay, yeah, okay. I think uh this request came to us from a resident of.

B

Summit avenue concerned about the speeding, especially when high school, is getting in.

B

And out so, we've put out speed recorders at these two locations and the data is in your packet.

B

It shows that on weekdays, the average speed is 21 the 35th 85th percentile of 25. uh to compare that.

B

To that's with the school traffic, and so we also looked at the weekend traffic and that went down a.

B

Little bit went from 21 down to 19.. 85Th went from 25 to 24., so the speeds during the week due to the.

B

Students is a little bit higher. It's still it's under the legal speed limit of 30 miles an hour.

B

There was concern that the location we picked first wasn't accurate enough. So we moved the.

B

uh Recorder down the street somewhat and we had the same results. So um there's a graph in here.

B

Which shows the number the volume of vehicles at each speed they're doing and you can see when the.

B

High school is in you, have more students or more drivers at higher speeds and during the weekend.

B

You have, they tend to be the lower side of the of the speed chart, but it's all below the speed.

B

Limit so there really isn't any call for traffic calming measures out here. It's just that you d.

B

You do notice that increased traffic and in the uh the vehicles traveling at a higher speed when the.

B

School when there's more traffic due to school, so it is noticeable, but it's not right. You know.

B

The speeding, thank you eric harold. Do you want to maintain your motion and we'll have discussions.

C

Seconded by peter eric, I would like to propose that we lower the speed limit on summon av to 25.

E

Miles an hour, we have the data to support it. It's access to a school where there's.

E

A lot of kids walking up and down that road, I don't see any reason not to yeah.

Q

I concur on the table.

P

I don't know what we do. We need to vote on the motion. You can come back during our speed.

C

Presentation and make that I don't want to just put this on file. I want to take an action. I don't.

E

Know how I do that it's been emotion has been made to I'll, remove my emotion, please I'll retract. It.

P

All right, I'll I'll, I'm accepting you that okay, I move that we lower the speed limit whatever that.

E

Process is to 25 on summit recommend to council, I recommended council or through interim action that.

E

We use this data to support a lowered speed limit to 25 on summit. Is there a second I'll? Second, that.

C

Any further, yes, counselor, uh just a question. um I know we uh have the speed limit committee does.

R

It make sense to be doing this outside our face. It's not a committee. It's a working group, but.

R

Should we refer this to the working group or is the data in your opinion.

R

Concise enough here that we should move forward with this now.

E

I think the data is pretty clear and what we would probably discuss in the working group is. We should.

E

Get data and look at the data and make a decision, but I think we already have it so I don't think.

E

We need to add the layer of going back to the working group is my opinion. Okay, thank you. The.

B

Only thought would be if we wanted to put notice it on the agenda for a future public meeting, but.

C

My feeling is that the council will do that as part of their process.

C

Unless we do it through the interim change.

B

Typically, any any changes made by this committee would be on an interim basis unless you wanted.

B

To call it out specifically to not to do that and bring it to the council instead.

E

I don't want to not have public input. I think public input is a good thing.

E

Have a hard time, believing that people would complain about a lower speed limit that.

E

Aligns with the data and is in a school district, but certainly people are allowed to have their.

E

Opinion and are welcome to disagree. I would love to see it change before the school year.

E

Yeah the process is a good process in the, in that it allows uh almost like a pilot of this.

P

Change and there's opportunity um there'll be opportunity if prior to being made permanent.

P

For if people don't like it uh to weigh in then so I I don't have an issue um with lowering the speed.

P

Limit there it it is a short connector between south street, um which is a lower speed limit.

P

And a school and it's a it's a cresting hill, which is difficult for sight distance. So this.

P

This justification and the data shows the data supports it. So I don't have an issue.

P

Moving forward at this point- okay, yes, mary lou, I have a question for captain maloney.

Q

Is there police presence there? I would think a couple of good speeding tickets would get.

Q

Around the school to all the drivers that they're going to get a good ticket speeding on that street.

S

uh You know well in the priority of of their assumption, we don't have.

S

It's not one of our roads that we routinely run traffic enforcement on uh because of um you know.

S

Part of the reason that you know director rice just mentioned it, it's it's a little. It's a little.

S

Cut through street, uh certainly you know having the high school sro, perhaps at closing the high.

S

School sro has a number of responsibilities at the end of the school day, but perhaps.

S

Us having the sro kind of fly our flag out there, a little bit more often during.

S

During the end of school might might help but yeah, I think it gets admittedly little attention with a.

S

Speed or a radar and as we can see you know the average speed was the 21. You know 25 at.

S

Times but the volume is incredible: yeah, that's a lot at 2 30 in the afternoon sure in the morning.

Q

You know it's lined up down south street because so many kids either drive or are driven to.

S

They're going slower on their way in they're, going faster on their way out. That's for sure.

Q

Okay, thank you. That's understandable, anecdotally. The traffic patterns improved significantly.

P

Though, um from when we put in the traffic signal down at uh jarvis, because I I drive.

P

That way, every day around that time, it's it's! You know you get through much quicker now.

C

Any further comments on the motion on the floor.

D

Okay, roll call vote, marilyn mcelwain, yes, steve pesci, yes, mark syracusa, yes, harold whitehouse, yes,.

A

Erica wegonik, yes, captain maloney, yes, director, rice, yes and chairman bagley, yes, okay, item c.

C

Coolidge drive, speed concerns, mr chairman, this request came from the resident of coolidge drive.

B

Who's also concerned about speeds, especially when school traffic is getting out at the dondero, so we.

B

Monitor the conditions out there and we came up with the data- that's shown in your packet.

B

Speed limit of 20 average speed again 21 85th of 27., so it's uh it's in the range of the this.

B

Posted speed limit with the average speeds and we didn't see a need to implement any traffic.

B

Calming measures at this location, so that's the recommendation- was to place it on file.

E

Discussion erica, I moved to place it on file. Second, okay, mary lou. Second,.

C

Any discussion, roll call vote, please mary lou, mccoway, steve pesci, mark syracusa.

A

Yes, harold whitehouse, yes, erica iconic, yes, captain maloney, yes, director, rice, yes and chairman bagley,.

C

Yes, item d: washington street requests for one-way traffic flow.

B

Yes, mr chairman, this is request, came in at public comment. I believe it was last month.

B

The month before uh so we've looked at this issue in the past of making.

B

Washington street one way between state and court we've conducted traffic counts last year when the.

B

Barricades are up on pleasant street for the clipper tavern, because that forces a detour a.

B

Lot of traffic up washington street- and we also just collected data this past week as.

B

Well, which is not in your packet, but it is up, it is a slide in the packet now. What I've added.

B

And we've taken some measurements and watched the video of the street out there.

B

The three quarters of the traffic is heading from court street up washington to state street. There.

B

Is a low volume coming down from state street about 10 or 20 10 to 15 cars at the peak times.

B

So you're, looking at one car, every four or five minutes coming down from state street.

B

With a lot more traffic, three or four times that traffic coming up and watching it on video, when.

B

A car would actually turn in from court street at the same time that a car turned in from state.

B

Street they can see each other, it's only 160 feet from one end to the other, and then there are four.

B

Parking spaces as well, the cars can see each other; they they make, they can have eye contact, they wave.

B

To each other, one pulls over, the delts come by. There is room to pull over. You have a space there.

B

Where there's four vehicles pulled into a driveway, you have space on either end of the street.

B

And the two-way traffic does allow for when the bridge is up, it's very critical to have an.

B

Escape valve from state street, when that traffic starts backing up when the bridge is up, and this.

B

Gives traffic an opportunity to get off of state street because up at atkinson that intersection.

B

Is quickly blocked at state and atkinson, when the bridge is up and in traffic often.

B

Has nowhere to go at that point so, although it's primarily used as almost like a one-way street.

B

I would recommend that it stays two-way because it does work in its configuration. We've never.

B

Seen anyone having to back up on the street, I haven't watched every hour of every day, but I've.

B

Watched, you know a dozen hours or more video and I see that it works and keeping that option for.

B

Two-Way traffic during the bridge openings, I think, is critical for public safety standpoint.

B

And the volumes are being able to handle it, it's only one car. Every few minutes coming down from.

B

State street, so that's my recommendation is to keep it as two-way to table this request.

Q

Just a comment: uh we have a motion I'm going to. Second. The motion yes go ahead, comment: okay,.

Q

I saw that the clipper restaurant doesn't have their seating out yet, and I think that that.

Q

Exacerbated the problem last year for washington street, I'm not sure if they have an application in.

B

They are putting the barricades out right now, as we speak. Okay, because I think that that will make.

Q

It more of a problem it did last year and I think that that's what pat bagley's concern is I've.

Q

Had problems at both washington and atkinson with cars that just wait for me to back up because they.

Q

Can't back up so I have to back down, especially if their car is parked there to let another car.

Q

In and if it's a truck because on atkinson, because I think both streets are tied in, I think it's hard.

Q

To distinguish the washington street problem without talking about atkinson also, there is.

Q

Trucks that unload for the rosa on atkinson- but I you know- I don't think that this two-way street is.

Q

Needs to be a two-way street, what happens with a emergency vehicle when they have to come down.

Q

Washington street from state from state if it were to be one way.

Q

What happens now we would go down washington street.

Q

Vehicles coming up the other direction, not that no, not that I've made aware of to any extent now.

Q

Well, I think we should just look at what's going to happen with when um the clipper.

Q

Opens and maybe reconsider this at another time. Well, there is leave it as is and reconsider.

Q

To see what the traffic pattern will be when the clipper restaurant puts their their parking out, I.

Q

Mean their tables out on the parking yeah. I did include that data. We had it from last year when.

B

The clipper tavern was in place and that's where showing you know this is 2022, we'll, probably see a.

Q

Huge increase, possibly thank you. Yes, harold did. This request come from more than one resident in.

F

That area no, this came from the resident who spoke to public comment a couple months ago,.

C

I I put a lot of value in what you said eric about maintaining some flexibility in.

C

The system when the bridge is up as opposed to gridlock, and I I think that really over.

C

Overrides the idea of manipulating every ounce of safety out of the street, I think.

C

The flexibility is important, so I'm going to support the tabling motion for that point.

E

I mean I don't know that we have evidence that there's a safety concern here.

E

Does it sound like there's a crash history, it's a slow speed and people can see so they can navigate.

E

It pretty well, so I don't think we're ameliorating a safety. You know there isn't actual safety.

E

Exposure, sometimes that situation actually makes people drive better. So it's cautious.

C

Any further comments: counselor did you have any further comments or.

C

Mark, if not, we'll call the question? No, no okay roll call vote. Please marilyn mccoy.

C

Motion is the table list. Oh okay, good! That's what I was going to ask.

A

Madeline mccoway, yes, steve pesci, yes, mark syracusa; yes, harold whitehouse, yes, erica wagonic,.

A

Yes, captain maloney's left the room uh director rice, yes, chairman bagley, yes, okay, thank you.

C

Move on to old business item a neighborhood parking program report back through april 30th.

B

Here we go okay,.

A

There we go good morning. The parking division appreciates uh the invitation to speak to the current levels of.

A

Participation and costs of the npp pilot through april 30th, 2022 nine months since the program.

A

Launched at this point, we've had numerous discussions as to the pilot's relevant data.

A

Over its lifespan, the division believes the data capably represents the pilot's.

A

Effectiveness to date, so the participation and cost figures reported today are updated.

A

Through april 30th 2020., as expected, the npp has seen strong participation recall that the.

A

Current iteration of the program allows for up to three permits per household, where each must.

A

Be attributable to a particular vehicle and one transferrable guest permit. Additionally, residents.

A

Of other areas of portsmouth are eligible for one permit, which must be attributable to.

A

A particular vehicle since its launch on august 4th the program has seen 430 regular passes, issued.

A

377 within the neighborhood and 53 from elsewhere in portsmouth. Additionally, there are 220 guest.

A

Permits in circulation, totaling 650 overall passes equating to 259 percent of the total.

A

251 space available inventory in the islington creek neighborhood, so the neighborhood itself.

A

Continues to be upside down regarding demand versus supply.

A

Total costs associated with the program through april 30th or at 91 650.. This figure includes.

A

Roughly 4 750 in startup costs for items such as signage supplies and installation and another.

A

Roughly 1900 in additional early costs, including uniforms, citations supplies and office supplies.

A

While all of these items have a shelf life, they do not represent costs. We see each month rather once.

A

Or twice a year, the remainder of the costs are operational and recur at an average currently of.

A

94 47.03 each month of the program, so while it was initially decided, the program would carry no.

A

Fee for participation, subject of great debate prior to the pilot's approval centered around.

A

What the cost of an npp parking pass would be if the program were moved forward permanently.

A

Using the current figures and projecting an average monthly cost going forward, the.

A

Neighborhood parking program is estimated to cost the city roughly 120 thousand 000.

A

Annually citations are now estimated to bring in a total of roughly six thousand dollars. This.

A

Equates to about a hundred and fifteen thousand dollars in anticipated net costs annualized, so.

A

There are presently 650 passes at the current price point of zero dividing the projected.

A

Cost of 114 267 by 650 passes renders an annual breakeven figure of 176 dollars per pass per year.

A

If, however, a 15 reduction in participation can be assumed as the result of the city moving beyond.

A

The pilot price point of zero that calculation would then equate to 553 passes uh in the program.

A

Which would suggest an annual price point of two hundred and seven dollars per pass to break even.

E

So correct that would be pricing everything the same. So this is a basic rundown of positive.

A

And negative feedback. It was very difficult to categorize these feedbacks as they were all in.

A

Long hand form so we kind of try to do the best we could they. You know what I can say to this.

A

Is we can read each one or we can just discuss uh anecdotally, that about half of them were positive.

A

Comments and about half were were not positive comments, and certainly you can read these here.

A

um We can, we can look at them go over. However, you, like here's a section here. That's that's more, not.

A

Positive and at the bottom here I've included the link to the survey, so anybody can go in and have.

A

A look as we included in the last presentation. So again it's about 50 50, on the public feedback.

A

Anecdotally in our office we receive a little bit more negative feedback than positive.

A

And I'm not sure you know what that means other than anecdotally. That's what we're experiencing in the office so.

C

Ben. Thank you for that update of information. The information I was hoping to see was the capacity.

E

For the extra month, so we had seen kind of a drop for the shoulder season. Yeah.

A

We're basically ticking back up to the mid 60s now may is starting to see them. It's.

A

Which is standard for the for this time of year, it'll it'll get into no no, the mid 60.

A

In terms of occupancy sorry utilization occupancy, okay, yes, I wish now so again, it's we're seeing a.

A

Pattern, that's very similar to last year. In fact, we just had the highest number of sales for the.

A

Downtown employee parking program and that we've had since the program's inception so we're seeing.

A

A very similar ramp up in use of the foundry garage facility by employees, as we saw last.

A

Season when we recorded these these data as well, I mean the graph looks almost exactly the same. So.

A

And that has not resulted in a tick down in the neighborhood that we're that we're aware of or.

A

Has it resulted in well obviously bridge street's offline right now, so it's kind of uh the numbers.

A

Are a little bit skewed to look at uh data outside of the the area when it concerns bridge lot so.

C

Counselor, did you have any thoughts or comments on this.

R

Yeah, so this um first of all, thanks for the presentation and the data.

R

I don't think we have a motion or anything on the table. Is that correct? No, we do not.

R

So um I think I might make a motion that we refer this data to the city council, for them to evaluate.

R

And the reason I say that is, this is really a policy decision and I don't.

R

Think it's fair to the committee to combine in one direction or the other. It's not a.

R

Safety issue, it's it's a it's really a um you know. Does the city want to spend the money to.

R

Support this program, or does the city want to charge a high enough fee? I think in dover they.

R

Charge 20 to 25 a month for their parking permit program, so maybe I'll make a quick motion is that.

R

We refer this data to the city council to evaluate I'll second, that seconded by mary lou discussion.

R

I guess I'll just follow up, we could get the cost of the neighborhood parking area.

R

I don't think it's called neighborhood parking program, but if we could get the cost of the permits in dover, that may inform the discussion for the city council just to have a.

R

um A reference point to what a local municipality is charging.

E

I would also be interested, oh sorry, go ahead um if dover treats guest passes and resident passes.

E

Any differently, I think, when I've in other places, I've seen different rates, and I think that would.

E

Potentially influence what we would have to charge residents if the guest passes.

E

Are at a different rate, but maybe other places are using a same consistent rate.

A

I'll go ahead and consult with director simon's up there and ask him. You know.

A

To give us an overview of his program if it's changed in the last few years,.

C

Peter did you want to say something? No, I was just going to note that we're reporting back to council.

P

That information will be provided to council, but you know it won't be reported back here.

P

At this time, I I just want to thank the staff for the amount of time and energy that's been put into.

C

This program, implementing it the data collection, the survey- I think, we've done about as thorough.

C

A job as possible- and I do believe, as councilor bagley said, that it's a policy decision for the.

C

Council, so I look forward to passing this on to them. So did you second, I think. Did you second.

C

Maryland so council bagley's motion is on the table mary lou seconded, so I think no more comment.

C

Anymore, we'll have a roll call vote. Please mary lou mccowan. Yes,.

A

Steve pesci, yes mark syracusa, yes, harold, whitehouse, erica iconic; yes, captain maloney, yes,.

A

Director rice, yes and chairman bagley, yes thank you item 7b, woodbury avenue, traffic calming.

D

Eric, yes, mr chairman, in the packet, is a graphic of the locations where we've collected speed data.

B

Out on woodbury avenue over the past few years, this data shows that your average speeds are.

B

Over the the posted speed limit of 25, with average speeds, are at 28 to 32 and 85 percentile.

B

Speeds are in the range of 32 to 36, so it is significantly over the posted speed limit of 25.

B

We've attempted measures in the past out here for traffic, calling we've put the year speed signs up.

B

We've put signs up, warning drivers are entering residential neighborhood, so this is an arterial.

B

Roadway arterial roadways typically do not receive physical traffic calling measures such as speed.

B

Tables or chicanes, but there are other things we can do just to sort of try to pinch the road down.

B

Its spots make it narrower. There was a project, maybe what 10 15 years ago, at this point, where.

B

The road was narrowed up and that did anecdotally slow. The speed somewhat. You know obviously they're.

B

Still higher than the posted speed limit, so we're look. We've been looking at other ways that.

B

We could possibly slow down traffic as they're entering this area, and one of them is shown in.

B

A graphic in your packet and that's called the woodbury ave gateway, and it's showing this was.

B

Developed as part of a plan for this whole section between rockingham and dennett, we implemented.

B

Part of it a couple years ago when we removed the median islands in front of the frank new franklin.

B

School other parts of the project which haven't been implemented yet is putting in a raised median.

B

Island, as shown in this graphic, this would be at the intersection of rockingham and woodbury. So.

B

Traffic coming under the overpass of 95 would then see the pinch point as they enter the neighborhood.

B

With signage, informing them that they're entering a residential neighborhood and this type of.

B

Treatment typically slows traffic down. It gives pedestrians a two test, two stage crossing maneuver.

B

So they can come out halfway into the median aisle and then wait for a gap in traffic. The other way.

B

And it they're generally effective, and this would treatment could also be implemented at the.

B

Intersection of denet street- it's not shown here, but it would be a mirror image at the other end,.

B

Of this section, the other improvement shown here was proposed left turn lane as one of the public.

B

Commenters mentioned that there's not a great need for it; it was just. There is extra width under that.

B

Overpass and it's it's a matter of configuring, it in the most uh efficient way and safest way.

B

Primarily, and that would could be a protected bike lane or it could be, a left turn lane, as shown here.

B

Those changes could be worked out. That's mostly striping, so it's an easy change to make.

B

So these these are the ideas that we've had and we we could work to implement this.

B

And it's really a matter of getting the committee's feedback on this and.

B

Input and seeing what measures would be suitable, sorry erica. I'm excited.

E

I I really like the gateway treatment. I think it's really effective. I think the median island.

E

Is a great idea, I I agree with the public comment and and your suggestion in terms of.

E

I don't really see the value of the left turn lane, especially when the message we're running to send.

E

Is a is a slower, quieter street? I would be much more in favor if we have the space of having a.

E

Painted protection for the bike lane, I think that's much more in line with.

E

The idea of the project, but I love the median islands and gateway treatment and.

E

I think if there's any way to have any landscaping, that would be awesome, but I recognize them.

E

Pushing my limits there, but I think it's great good job keep up the good work. I I I want to.

C

Echo, what erica is saying, although I'm a little concerned- and I think jonathan sandberg or maybe.

C

One of the other commenters this morning mentioned this to you when we put in that left turn lane.

C

Which, I don't really think is necessary. I don't know that that's helping with our speed control.

C

Concepts and I'm very concerned as vehicles head what I call north on woodbury. If we do this plan.

C

There is virtually no protected the bike lane if you want to call it that that exists disappears.

C

And there's that pinch point, I can almost point to it easier on the screen that I can describe right.

C

Here so I'm very worried about that. um I I don't really think the left turn lane is needed, but I.

C

Would I would ask that whatever we do, we match what I think is a very successful template using.

C

The green paint, as is done at south and middle, to make the bike left turn area and or a bike block.

C

And I also think on rockingham we should have some sharrows in there for the drivers that might not.

C

Be expecting that bike trail exit which is really heavily used, and I use that a lot and then finally,.

C

I don't really see the why the sidewalk is so wide on that section of rockingham it. I think the idea.

B

Was there was that would be a multi-use path, so the dr bicyclists coming off of the bike path.

C

Would use that instead of the god I would we want to keep the bicyclist safely in the road and and.

C

Save the money and have a normal sidewalk there. I just don't see the logic of that, because we don't.

C

Want bicyclists on the rest of the sidewalk, so I would that would be the one piece of the plan.

C

That I really disagree with is that multi-use with sidewalk on that piece of rockingham. I.

C

Don't think should be there, let's, let's keep the bikes in the road accommodate them safely and.

C

And I I think your point- I don't want to lose this point.

C

Matching the treatment here, on the other end of the carter, that area of woodbury dennett.

C

Very dangerous for a lot of users. There, everything from bikes to peds, to bus users to vehicles, yeah.

B

As they head down that section towards the one-way curve, yep.

E

I'm move that we support this. I don't know what just to remove from us support the concept with.

C

Some further refinement, possibly yep peter, are you yeah? Are you looking for more females? No, I.

D

Think I think, that's appropriate, I mean and the feedback's been great. I really like the refinement.

P

um The two points that have been made, I think, are really good ones and I think we can accommodate.

P

Them relatively easily, the next step would be to clearly call this out so that the folks on.

P

Woodbury are aware of this proposal. When you bring back the refined proposal, could we see both ends.

C

Sure yeah is this cip funded or yes, it's current. No, this current is currently previous monies. That.

P

Were designated for this, uh this work, great all right does eric need to bring it back to us or.

B

If, if I make some refinements to the diagram, that's shown here you'd like to see that again.

C

I would in with a parallel of the other side of the corridor, so that we can see the whole.

P

I'd like to make sure we reach out to the folks that have expressed concern about this.

P

Section so that they're clearly aware that this is the proposed direction, we're going.

C

Is that the sense of the group? I don't know that we need a formal motion for that.

E

With the construction timeline yeah another month, wouldn't it yeah this. We have a lot.

P

Of we have a lot of work going on right now, um and this could be towards the fall.

C

Great to see an improvement um mark uh council bagley any further comments. uh I guess I just.

R

Comment that sounds like the consensus is to remove that left-hand turn lane uh as part of.

R

The refinement or turn it into a buffered bike lane or a bike lane a protected bike lane or.

P

Buffered bike lane just for uh turning action. Yes speaking as a as a so you think of eliminating.

P

Completely and just yeah, I was thinking that we would get rid of the left turn lane and use.

E

That extra pavement to buffer the bike lanes on either side on either side. That was my intention.

P

Okay, um it's very wide all right, I mean you have plenty of space to to do this and have a.

P

Very significant bike lane: why don't we? Why don't we we'll come back with dimensions? Okay, yeah! I.

P

Didn't and then we'll refine it. I think we have a great opportunity here for a win-win for everyone.

C

Speed calming traffic yeah we'll look forward to that. Yeah we've got space to do some symbolics to.

P

Get people okay on to the next one, I'm concerned about the bus. Stop. I hope it don't change.

F

The bus stop yeah the bus stop very important yeah we wouldn't mess with this yeah got. It indicated.

F

Here, yep yep. Yes, it's me, it says, maintain bus, stop! No! It's just report back! Okay, okay! So.

C

Report back on that. Thank you um item c. Item c. Is the uh request for a four-way always stop at.

B

The intersection of state street and union street uh we've done traffic counts at this location and.

B

Looked at sight lines and the conditions out there do not support, do not meet the warrants.

B

Needed for a four-way stop it's! uh The traffic is much heavier on state street than on union street.

B

When you're on union street attempting to pull onto state street sight lines, are you know fine? I.

B

Mean there's a few parked cars, but that's typical of any intersection. So I don't see a need to.

B

Create a four-way stop here. It would just result in more traffic on state street rolling through it.

B

Not seeing traffic coming on on union street, so my recommendation is to place this request on file.

P

So moved second seconded by erica any further comments, uh gentlemen on in zoom land, I'm good.

Q

Except when you see a truck is parked close to the intersection. As this one is yes, and there is.

Q

That's when it's a problem, turning right, yes- and there is a sign out- there says- do not park here so.

B

Right, okay, okay motion been seconded. No further comment: roll call please.

A

Marilyn mcelwain, yes, steve pesci mark syracusa; yes, hale whitehouse, yes, erica iconic; yes, captain.

A

Maloney, yes, director rice, yes and chairman bagley, yes, okay, item d, I think we've already dealt with.

C

Item e reigns avenue hi to me. We had a public meeting on the proposal to change the flow on.

B

Vaughn street and reigns avenue from 2a to one way the proposal is to bring traffic in from.

B

Maplewood onto bond street and circulate around in a counterclockwise direction onto rains and then.

B

Out onto maplewood, we held a public meeting at the ac hotel. Last month we had one person show up.

B

And they were in support of the project- 100, yes, so uh it. This is a.

B

And a change that we made during the construction of the ac hotel. It worked well at that time.

B

And uh with the the businesses on the street in favor of it, we would recommend that the.

B

Committee also pass this and bring it to the city council erica. Second, any discussion.

C

I would say I think this is a really it's a no-brainer and it's worked well and I'm.

C

Glad to hear that the businesses support it and are one attendee from the public, so.

C

I'm happy to support this any further discussion online. Anyone mark counselor.

C

Okay, roll call vote, please ben marilyn, mccoy, yes, steve pesci, mark syracusa, yes, hale white house.

A

Yes, erica iconic; yes, captain maloney, yes, director rice, yes, chairman bagley, yes, item, f, suzanne, drive.

B

Mr chairman, this is a report back from a latest neighborhood meeting. We had with the residents.

B

Of suzanne drive the maple haven neighborhood. uh We have a proposed sidewalk project in this.

B

Neighborhood, uh some of the biggest concerns we heard from the residents was the speed of traffic.

B

And the cut through traffic traffic, especially on a afternoon peak hour times, coming in from.

B

Lafayette onto suzanne and cutting through over to ocean road to avoid the signal at ocean and.

B

Lafayette we with cameras, we've noticed the cut through traffic. I think already reported that.

B

The last meeting we're seeing up to 50 percent of the traffic coming in is being cut through traffic.

B

So we have proposed putting speed tables at a couple of locations on suzanne drive, and this.

B

Would discourage the cut through traffic it'd be located on suzanne drive near lafayette, so drivers.

B

On lafayette would look down and see a speed table, and hopefully that would discourage them.

B

If they still continue through they'd hit another one, I think after the first try they would not.

B

Pick this route again for a cut through also on winchester street. There was concerns of speeding.

B

On that street and we're proposing a speed table on winchester as well, so the the neighborhood was.

B

In favor of the speed tables, they just asked us to move it over to the entrance where it's shown now.

B

And to discourage the traffic that comes in and sometimes goes to the park and speeds through.

B

This would send a message people come coming in that it's a neighborhood that speeds should.

B

Be controlled so that's a report back and that's what the neighborhood is looking for.

B

I don't know if we have should we have a motion. Do we have a motion.

P

uh Move to accept.

F

Second, discussion: uh just a quick question: yes, counselor.

R

The speed table on winchester street- I did speak with a resident there. They born um quite convinced.

R

That it was needed. I can understand that suzanne drag, wants much more because we're trying to get.

R

People that don't live in the neighborhood to slow down, whereas on winchester street, I would.

R

Assume it's all local traffic because there's it's not really cut through um my question. I.

R

Think I've asked this before is: if we put the speed table in and it you know, it's causing.

R

More brief than it's solving it's relatively inexpensive to take that speed table out.

D

Yes, okay, thank you.

C

There was some pain on your face when you said that peter.

C

Is it is the feeling of the staff that uh the multiple tables need to be put in at once, or could.

C

We phase this and do weight on the winchester one or is we could wait on the winchester one.

C

Would that be a good middle road approach here? I I'm perfectly fine we're trying to respond to.

P

Residents concerns um you know this. This was identified as an issue uh during the.

P

Sidewalk meetings that we've held uh it was the request, was to do something to slow traffic, so.

P

um You know if, if the consensuses hold off on on this one, until we have further uh discussion.

P

I'm perfectly fine with that yeah do we need both speed tables on suzanne drive. I believe so. Okay,.

D

Well, there's consensus on suzanne drive even the locations of the speed table because sometimes.

D

That could be an issue not in front of my house or I want it in front of my house. But when should.

D

I say yeah further study. Well I I guess, then I will make a motion that we suggest proceeding.

C

With the suzanne drive, speed tables and wait uh for the winchester, anyone want to second that.

C

Yeah yeah, that's emotion, that's emotion, harold seconds any further discussion. Peter did you.

C

No okay roll call, please marilyn mcelwain, yes, steve pesci, mark syracusa, harold whitehouse.

A

Yes, erica wygonic; yes, captain maloney; yes, director rice; yes, chairman bagley, yes, okay, okay, item g,.

C

The working group report on speeds tyler.

T

Good morning pts, can you all hear me.

T

So the speed limit working group of erica eric steve and I we have come up with a jam-packed.

T

Packet to present to you today this is going to be kind of long and potentially a bit confusing. So.

T

So today, our agenda we're going to have some recommendations. These are things that we would.

T

Like the um pts to consider a motion on today and then we will be discussing some concepts. These.

T

Are things that we have thought about, but we have not nailed down and we would like to get some pts.

T

Ideas as we go back and look at these ideas next slide, please so our recommendations we have been.

T

Working as a working group and we've come up with several recommendations for you all to consider.

T

Today the first would be to lower the neighborhood connector target speed to 25.

T

In the complete street design guidelines, it is currently listed as a 30 mile, an hour target speed.

T

Some of the roads that are neighborhood connector roads are cell street miller, ave, mckinley, harding.

T

And curacarge way, we feel that a 30 mile, an hour target speed, is not appropriate for these.

T

Roads, it is worth noting that these are design guidelines. This would not affect speed limits.

T

These are only guidelines we're trying to get traffic to go at this speed. Obviously, we feel.

T

30 is a little steep for some of these roads and therefore we recommend lowering this target speed.

T

To 25. next slide, please, so do you want to act on that? How do we want to do this? Why don't we.

P

Miss the chair, I'd recommend doing the presentation. Let's do the whole one so so keep a.

C

Mental note: that's recommendation number one yeah. There will be a follow-up summary slide at the end.

T

Of this presentation to refresh your memory so, along with that, once we lower the neighborhood.

T

Connect to target speed to 25 there are several neighborhood connector streets with limits higher.

T

Than 25 this would include islington from spinney to maplewood, which is posted at 30 and parrot ave.

T

Which has no limit and would default to 30.. These streets are not listed with a limit in chapter 7.

T

And thus have defaulted to the state default of 30 over the years, so there have been questions as to.

T

Why we are only looking at islington from spinney to maplewood at this moment the reason to do that.

T

Is that, in order under current state statute to lower a speed limit from 30 to 25, you have to.

T

Perform a traffic study, so the easy way to do that is with an 85th percentile speed to get a speed.

T

To get a feel of what traffic is moving on the street currently, so we were able to do that on.

T

Islington street, from spinning to maplewood because section the speeds on that section.

T

Of road are lower than the other section of islington, from spinney to the end of islington.

T

So yes, um the parrot ave, we also have data on that shows that speeds on parrot have are very low.

T

We do not have a issue under state statute, lowering speed limits to 25.. Obviously we have not.

T

Forgotten about the rest of islington street for to if the 85th percentile does not align with the.

T

Speed study to support lowering the speedometer 25, we need to do a more in-depth analysis. Looking.

T

At things like road alignment, shoulder widths, cyclists, pedestrian traffic volumes and the.

T

Density of driveways per mile, obviously that will take more time, and that is why we are recommending.

T

Only this section at the moment, because that is something that we can accurately do quickly.

T

Next slide, please so that brings us to middle road. Middle road is one of these streets that.

T

The 85th percentile is north of 25, as we will see in the next slide. Therefore, we cannot legally do a.

T

Lower the speed limit 25 without a traffic engineering study which, as we said, will take time.

T

However, we understand there are concerns on middle road and we would like to lower the speed limit so.

T

A way to sort of circumnavigate that is to hold a trial where we will be reinstalling, the 2021.

T

Temporary traffic measures, the bullards and the bump outs, we will be lowering the speed.

T

Limit to 25 and we'll be installing an rfp at the riverbook crondos. We will monitor.

T

And evaluate the speeds over the summer with these modifications and we will be reporting.

T

Back eric do we have rough time of when we would like to report back. I would recommend at least.

B

A six month period, okay, so we will have a six month trial uh if we go to the next slide. Please.

T

These are the speed our current speed data for middle road. As you can see, the 85th percentile.

T

Speeds are in the range of 37 to 39, and average speeds are in the area of 20 or.

T

32 to 33 these speeds are measured at the speed feedback sign, so the signs that flashed whatever.

T

Speed, you are going at it's worth, noting that these signs are designed to make you slow down.

T

And therefore, these speed, the speed data may be a slight under count. We would expect the traffic.

T

Is going slightly faster than this as the speed feedback signs are designed to slow down traffic.

T

Obviously, 85th percentile speeds of nearly 40 miles an hour do not warrant a speed.

T

Limit reduction to 25, and that is why we are going with this trial until we have completed.

T

A more in-depth analysis of middle road. It's also worth noting that in mid april of 2021.

T

When we installed those temporary traffic calming devices the boulevards and the painted bump out.

T

We saw a speed drop of about one mile, an hour. You can see where that red line is right. There.

T

We're hoping that the addition of the traffic calming devices and the lower speed limit, we will.

T

See a slightly increased reduction in speed this year. We will be monitoring throughout the summer.

T

Next slide, please so middle road. We obviously get speed complaints about middle road fairly.

T

Frequently middle road needs a long term, cip planning to look into traffic calming efforts. This.

T

Is a screen shot of middle road? As you can see, it has two travel lanes a paved shoulder for parking.

T

And a sidewalk with no elevation changes. There is no curbing. This gives the illusion of a wide.

T

Straight boulevard, which just encourages speeds, so some ideas that we have brought.

T

Forward would include a roundabout at the beverly hills, middle route, intersection to slow.

T

Down traffic as they enter middle road raised, cross rocks narrowing the streetscape curbs.

T

And potentially, a realignment of the middle road south street intersection. These are obviously.

T

Large projects that will need further planning and analysis, but this is a good thing to keep in.

T

Our minds as we move forward with this next slide, please so those were our recommendations. These are.

T

Now concepts that we will bring back at a future meeting depending on your input today, we have not.

T

Finalized these- these are just thoughts that we have had that we would like to get your input on.

T

Next slide, please so the first is a downtown advisory speed zone. This would be a creation.

T

Of a geographical downtown pedestrian speed zone with a target speed of 20 miles an hour.

T

Obviously, we would necessitate a 20 mile. An hour warning sign is.

T

The lowest limit currently allowed under state statute, as we have discussed, is 25.

T

We do not know what this geographic error would look like. Hence the cloud-shaped form right. There.

T

We would obviously need to hammer out the specifics of where a downtown pedestrian zone.

T

Would be next slide, please, it has been mentioned before that there could be an advanced crosswalk.

T

Stencil or decal, so we are thinking of potentially designing and installing stencils and decal decals.

T

Reminding pedestrians to be alert as they enter crosswalks within the downtown pedestrian zone.

T

It's important to note this would only be for that downtown pedestrian zone, we're not proposing to.

T

Do this at every crosswalk in the city next slide, please, and the last today is neighborhood gateway.

T

Signage that we would want to develop a standard, portsmouth sign for key neighborhood entry points.

T

This is not equivalent to the larger municipal entry signs that you see like on sagmore ave for.

T

Instance, um these signs would include the name of the neighborhood being entered like the ellen.

T

Park or the frank jones farm neighborhood the posted limit and a reminder to respect the speed.

T

Limit or not litter, or any other message that we would like to portray to drivers a good example of.

T

Steve brought this forward a good example of this one right here, I believe yeah. I just want.

C

To let people know this was just an example of a similar sign in durham and the point was.

C

Made earlier in comment- and we have in our notes that whatever portsmouth would design.

C

Would include the speed limit appropriate to that section and just a reminder about safe.

C

Driving, so just an example of other communities have done these kind of things. The downside is.

C

It's a lot of signs and a lot of signs, a lot of sign clutter anyway, something to think about.

T

Next slide, please ben, so in summary, we have recommendations to committee. These are things that.

T

We would like you to consider a motion on today. This includes lowering the complete streets, design.

T

Guidelines for neighborhood connectors from 30 to 25 an ordinance change for those true streets.

T

Islington from spinning to maplewood and parrot ave lower those spelums to 25, as we currently.

T

Have the data that would necessitate a traffic study that has been completed? We have the data.

T

And we can do that under current state law and to reimplement the temporary traffic measures.

T

On middle road, with a 25 mile, an hour limit for a six-month trial period, along with an.

T

Rfb every rook condos. We also want you to keep in mind future improvements for this corridor.

T

So a summary of you want to go ahead, steve well, I was thinking. Maybe it would be wise to.

C

Stop at the recommendations and let's discuss the recommendations. First, as a group and then.

C

We'll discuss the concepts separately and I would only amend the recommendations we earlier today.

C

Had discussed adding summit avenue, so we would add that to the islington section.

C

And parrot avenue and summit avenue just to keep it clean. So if people are amenable.

C

To that I guess I would like to accept a motion on the recommendation package.

T

Yes, I do think it is important to add that summit av is a very good example of a street that we have.

T

Data for and we can lower immediately. This is what is happening for islington from spinning.

T

To maplewood and parrot, that is why we are not looking at the other section of islington.

T

Currently, I think, just before we have comment, I I very much appreciate the multiple comments.

C

Today, on the full length of islington, but you know tyler's been very clear about the. Why.

C

We recommended section, and I would just say that what we are trying to do.

C

With the working group and staff has been fantastic is to be both holistic, comprehensive.

C

But also do this the right way do it with a legal basis. So hence the step approach on this.

F

Mr chairman, did the pd have any comment in reference to enforcement on summit avenue? Did.

F

The captain say anything about, oh no, I did harold. I apologize. um I did um generally speaking, that's.

S

Not a street that we dedicate the significant traffic enforcement too, but we did. uh We did talk.

S

About having at the exit and opening and closing of schools having the high school school resource,.

S

Resource officer monitor that for a speed yep, so I I'd like to throw that motion on the table that we.

C

Look at three recommendations as a package with the modification of adding summit avenue.

C

And if there would be a second to that, we could have discussion.

C

Harold seconded discussion, peter I'm I'm a little confused about um well.

P

We have a word we're doing a pilot or whatever, whatever you call a trial on middle road.

P

I'm not sure why we wouldn't do something similar on that section of islington.

P

We just call it a trial, we don't, you know, we have the data to show the section.

P

From spinney to maplewood that can go permanent, but the request has come in to extend that and.

P

If we're already doing it as a trial and middle, you know why not try it as a trial as well on.

P

To see if that that does anything it just, it has been something that has been brought up in.

P

The past it is, it was something that we talked about for those of you who may remember, prior to.

P

Doing the sidewalk project, um there was a lot of concern at the time we said well once the sidewalk.

P

Project was done, we could come back and revisit it right, so I think it'd be appropriate to.

P

To do that section as a trial, and so I would. I would like to make a motion to amend the motion.

P

And it's a friendly amendment if acceptable, that's, okay, yes, okay, except all right. One.

F

Comment in this presentation, what really caught my eye- and I think we should give it top priority.

F

And as the downtown creation of a geographic downtown speed limit for pedestrian, I, like.

F

That, okay, all right, we'll come back to that as a concept next yeah erica. I got a lot of comments.

E

Okay, um you know, I think, a couple of things that I wanted to advise me yeah. I know well, I think yeah.

E

The first thing I want to say is um and the reason that we're proposing the traffic coming measures.

E

With the speed limit, reduction on middle road is is not because that circumvents the state statute.

E

But because lowering the speed limit on its own, especially if the data doesn't support, it, doesn't.

E

Have a ton of data there's not a lot of evidence that that would effectively reduce the speed limit.

E

But if you do traffic calming measures with a speed limit reduction, it's a lot more likely.

E

To be successful, so the intention here is to try and get the speeds that we'd like to.

E

See on middle road and support that, with both the speed limit change and the infrastructure.

E

Change- and so I I just want to clarify that I also want to clarify- I don't think we're.

E

Recommending specific long-term improvements for middle road at this point in time, those.

E

Were brainstorms, so I don't think those should be part of our motion.

E

Those are more the concepts to consider. Well, it says temporary. No, but at the end the last.

D

Long term long-term improvements is part of the blues. Oh just strike that out, I think that's.

E

We, like those, you know their ideas, we're just thinking about and talking about, but I don't think.

E

That should be something that we've like moved to recommend those things. If I yeah I'm comfortable.

P

Striking it out, but it's they are, you know we are exploring long and long-term improvements and.

P

No matter what we do, it's going to come back for public discussion, yeah! Well, why don't we just.

E

You're interested, we support the idea of long-term improvements, but I want to be.

E

Clear that we're not specifically recommending that's fine, those long-term improvements, um erica.

P

If I could just yeah quickly comment to your the difference between middle and islington,.

P

I think you're correct that you know there's little supporting data that shows just changing.

P

The speed limit does effectively, but I think this would be a great opportunity to to do one.

P

Where we actually do some additional supplemental and see if it impacts and then one that does not.

P

And just you know be able to say you know here this is, you know, didn't I had no market change.

P

At all this one did have some change. You know so, therefore, if we're going to really want to affect.

P

The speed limit on islington we need to do some configuration changes peter, don't we under.

C

The next group item- 8b islington street and vine street rrfb- would not be in the pilot.

C

Area that would be in the pilot era. So if we put that in then it's the same thing.

C

We're doing on middle well, that's actually a permanent installation, but I I'm not sure where.

E

I think having some rationale behind it is important I agree and or maybe there's other.

E

Traffic calling measures temporary traffic coming measures we want to explore for that.

E

Section of island- I'm not you know, I think one other thing. I wanted to kind of reinforce.

E

Here is that we, the the working group, is trying really hard and- and these are messages people.

E

Have said, but I just want to reinforce them, we're trying to be really thoughtful and systematic and.

E

That's one of the reasons, for example, that we're looking at neighborhood connector streets. This.

E

Meeting but we're also trying to move to actions, and so it's not just this hypothetical and so the.

D

Reasons that the specific changes are put forth today is because they're things that we have data.

E

On and we can act on that are within this kind of step of the systematic approach they're not.

E

You know we didn't randomly pick two streets to act on. There are two streets within the.

E

Area that we're looking at you know: how is there anything we can take quick action on so it's.

E

um I guess getting back to the idea of like why this section of islington versus the other.

E

We'd much rather act on the part that we can act on than wait. The whole thing up trying.

E

To get everything figured out, but I think we've come up with some pretty good ways to.

E

Take action comprehensively now, which is good sorry for my counselor or mark any comments.

C

I'm good thank you, I'm all set, so I think we have a motion on the floor to accept the.

C

Recommendations with some modifications, so the adding in summit avenue and.

C

Kind of striking the long-term improvements for the middle uh rhode carter reference in the.

C

In the texas specifics for the specificity, yes, a, I have a 10 30 ride in my door, so I gotta go okay.

J

Vote, yes, yes, okay, so noted, uh thank you and there was another p. Oh and then mark is gonna pay for it.

E

And then for islington from spinney to middle we're going to make that the pilot same mechanism.

C

That is being referenced on middle, so taking those as friendly amendments, how's good with that.

F

Yep, the emphasis should be on the downtown issue: downtown advisory speed, so yep. Let's come back to.

C

That one hold that thought: okay. So let's do a roll call vote on the revised motion with the friendly.

C

Amendments marilyn, mccoy, yes, steve, pesci, yes, mark syracuse was yes, harold, whitehouse erica wagonic.

A

Captain maloney yes, director, rice, yes and chairman bagley, yes, great, okay, now, let's.

C

And tyler: let's move to the summary concept, so you are supportive of the downtown advisory speed zone.

F

Emphasis on that city council, and I think what the working group is going to look to do- is to.

C

Come back with some more refinement of where the boundaries are of that.

C

Maybe a nicer looking advisory sign than the mutcd, since this is our tourist historic district.

R

Particular aspect and uh my concern is, you know we walk everywhere at the city.

R

And you know I walk downtown from where I live. A good portion of that walk is not.

R

In the downtown zone, I don't want it to.

R

Come across this word, line of downtown is is more important than other areas of the city, especially.

R

Other deeply settled areas of the city, so I don't. I don't really have a solution for you, um but I do.

R

Worry that if we single out the downtown, as you know, look out for pedestrians, we kind of are also.

R

Suddenly sending the message you know we're not so concerned with them elsewhere,.

R

So um that that's just my concern, I think it's a good point and possibly a solution to that.

R

Would be at entry points into the city, we also put something some verbiage.

R

Up on a sign saying, you know be aware of pedestrians. Portsmouth is a walkable city.

C

Yeah we have to do more work on that by I hear what you're saying counselor.

E

um Counselor bagley, one of the things we were thinking was that this would really focus on the.

E

um Commercial area and that that was something you know the cloud that fuzzy.

E

The fuzzy boundaries that we have right now I mean I think our intention would be to try and.

E

Move them to actual boundaries so that we could sign things um and the thought we, as a committee.

E

Went back, our working group went back and forth about what the definition would be and I think.

E

Kind of where we were headed was the idea of like where's, the commercial district and the tourist.

E

You know really active pedestrian tourist area, not to say I mean everything that we see on that.

E

Map is an active pedestrian area, but really just to emphasize that downtown, very slow speed where.

E

There's a lot of traffic and, more importantly, a lot of people from out of town visiting who.

E

May not be familiar with the culture of our community and what we're expecting so that.

E

Was our thought, but I think our intention of discussing it today is to try and get input.

E

From the whole, the whole committee about, if that makes sense and modifications or counselor.

C

I think what we're trying to do is balance the downtown zone and your point about the rest of.

C

The city being important, that was where we were kind of brainstorming about the neighborhood.

C

Signage, so that might be the gateway sign that accommodates that, so we can fine-tune this a.

C

Little more, but that that was the concept to have the downtown commercial district stand apart.

C

But then have maybe some other gateway, signage, neighborhood or gateway that reminds people about.

C

Pedestrians walking portsmouth's a walkable town, etc, etc. So concepts to be worked on. um I think one.

E

Challenge here also, is the state statute doesn't allow a legal speed limit posting below.

E

25 and 25 is only permissible with the study, as has come up a number of times. Today we have a.

E

Number of roads, especially in the downtown that are posted below that, and so um we that's the.

E

Speeds that they're posted at are consistent with what we want people to be driving at in that area.

E

But we aren't by state statute, allowed to actually post at that speed. So one of the things we're.

E

Working on is how can we communicate that message to people that the appropriate speed in this area.

E

Because it's such an active pedestrian area is 20, even though the state statute really puts a.

E

Floor at 25., so one thing for the general public to note and for I'm sure the committee already.

P

Realizes that the designation of a yellow sign is a warning, the white sign is, is the limit.

P

So, by putting up a warning sign that says, 20 people may perceive that as a speed limit.

P

It's actually not a speed limit, it's an advisory level, so you see a lot of times coming into a.

P

Corner it says slow down, you know it's yellow, it's not a white sign. It's not a physical speed limit.

P

I think the goal in this is to educate and affect behavior, so I think we could do that. So is there.

C

I don't know that we want to take a vote on the concepts, but then the third concept, harold, is.

C

You've brought this up many times over the years, the crosswalk approach, stencil or decal. They.

C

Have pavement, decals and now are even easier to apply for a season. Is that kind of where you were.

F

You're talking about making the people educated about looking up.

F

From their computer, when they first said yes, yes, yes, very important, you know, I see it all the time.

F

Yeah congress and uh maker- I see it all the time and completely and.

C

So we would have to work further on a design and messaging. It's it's not a regulatory thing.

C

It's just an education thing, a shadow issue like the bicycle in the lane, it's called the shadow.

F

Sheriff sure yeah is this: I'm I'm not really in favor of this. I just wait. It's a lot more.

P

Painting it's a lot more, it's just a lot of more clutter in the the roadways and I think people.

P

Need to take responsibility for their actions and you know walking with their head down and.

P

Not paying attention to their world around them is hard, I know, but that's just you know, we can't.

P

I don't believe we should. You know those are. Those are common sense things that people need to learn.

C

Is the sense that we should vote on these concepts at all vote on them each independently.

C

Or I would know, I would suggest just report back, because this is these- are.

P

Concepts that you're going to work on yeah how about we continue to refine the downtown.

C

Speed zone let the crosswalk markers lie for a sec for a while. Is that the sense of the group.

C

uh Yes, are you happy with that counselor? Yes, that sounds good to me. The police, chair and in support of.

A

Director rice's statement about uh painting and whatnot, we need to remember that anything.

A

We do paint and change is going to have to be up kept from that point forward and, as I know,.

A

That my team leads a lot of that, so that we, I just want to make sure that we understand that that's.

A

Part of the ongoing experience when we do those changes. The idea of the decals which are pavement.

C

Designed you know put them down, pull them up. It is two yep two work activities. Tractors take.

P

Them right out, and then you have it: no, no, they they pull up for the fall when you take them up.

P

Before we moved on uh just to answer those questions that were raised, I think they, I think.

F

They were answered for the most part. Our question one was the extent of the speed limit for middle.

P

Road it'd be the full length from beverly to to middle street. When will the trial period be done.

P

November or six months after installation of the signs yep okay, six months after the installation.

P

Of design, I like that. um What are the criteria for considering lower speed limit permanently.

P

Well, that has to follow state statutes, state law, and I think we've talked about that. Yep yep.

P

um Benefits of the trial middle road versus lower speed limit by ordinance parrot. uh Well, there are.

P

Different streets, different issues. Well, this is my speech about. We need to reinforce infrastructure.

E

Supporting people driving at that lower speed, not just arbitrarily lowering the speed if the.

E

Speed limit speeds aren't actually at that level. Okay, so I think that answers. I think.

C

Those are all covered in our conversation. Yeah. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure we did that.

P

Thanks, okay, so we had our motion. We discussed the concepts we're going to keep working on.

C

Those as a group we'll probably come back to you next agenda with some more so we're.

C

Going to be an ongoing process, so thank you good. Thank you to my colleagues for all their times.

C

Okay, we're at the end of the stretch here, informational items, 8a.

C

Monthly accident report from the police department sure so you'll see in march. We had.

S

68 total crashes, 45 of those 68 were reportable. We had no vehicle.

S

Versus bicycle collisions, there was one bicycle. Excuse me: one pedestrian versus vehicle collision.

S

um Coincidentally, that occurred in the parking lot of the hospital.

S

Where we do have a considerable amount of our crashes are.

S

Involved in parking lots of which that was one of them in march, so tracking, along average,.

Q

And the accident that occurred, the woman who came up to speak.

Q

The public comment that was recorded also, no, that 22nd it would have been in april april um and.

S

Looking at that incident, we don't have that recorded as a as a motor vehicle accident.

S

Because I know the the commenter today said that they were hit by the vehicle, our on-scene.

S

Determination um shows that there was no contact between the vehicle and the in the person, so.

S

I took a note to follow up with her today because she did say she was struck by the vehicle, but.

S

Our records indicate that day when the officers met with her and took that report that there was.

S

That there was no contact between her and the vehicle, okay, so, but knowing that it is still we.

S

Have a characterized as a failure to yield to a pedestrian in the crossway in the crosswalk, which.

S

Is a police offense report? An accident report would involve a collision between a pedestrian.

S

And a vehicle, we do not have it categorized as that, because when the officer took the.

S

Report that day, the officer had no indication or evidence that the two actually uh struck so.

S

That is why it's being investigated, as it's still open and being investigated as a failure to yield.

S

For the pedestrian in the crosswalk, but I heard her today say she was struck. So that's obviously.

S

Something that we'll have to follow up with. Thank you. That's not what we found that day. Thank you.

C

Okay. Thank you. Any questions on the report. Okay item beat islington street at vine.

B

uh Mr chairman, the these next three items are ones we are continuing to collect data on and.

B

Review the uh video and and count volume, so we don't have anything new to present today, except.

B

That we are in the process of looking at this data as the temperatures warm up when we get more.

B

Pedestrian activity, we should have some better data to report on should be next month. Thank you.

B

South street and broad uh same same with all three of these issues that we're collecting data on all.

B

Three of them great any items under miscellaneous new issues, things to talk about counselor,.

C

Anything else you want to throw out under miscellaneous this morning. uh No thank you. Okay,.

F

Harold has made a motion to adjourn we'll second, that, second by peter roll call vote. Please.

A

Marilyn mccoy steve pesci mark absent uh harold whitehouse, erica weigonick.

A

Captain maloney, yes, director, rice, yes and chairman bagley,.

A

Yes, thank you, everyone long meeting, but lots done. Thank you and thank you to the public. Thank you.