City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 6 Apr 2023

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From YouTube: 4.6.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

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4.6.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

A

Okay, uh good morning portsmouth, it is april 6th 2023, and this is the parking traffic and safety.

A

Committee meeting, uh would you call the roll please mary, lou mcelwine here, steve pesci, mark.

B

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

B

Chief bill mcquillen public works director, peter rice here, any casella planning department here.

B

Chairman andrew bagley here thank you and if we could have the financial report on the screen.

C

How do you get that already yeah public here? I didn't bring that back, bring down the sound okay.

C

Yeah, I pressed it, but it didn't didn't work.

D

Away right right now, someone.

A

Harold, this is your uh I'll name. It up. Okay, we're doing financial reports.

C

121. I, like the figures I see you know I like the uh percentage-wise, the the 121 and the 94 percent.

C

In the 97 percent, I, like all those figures, that means we're making money.

C

I I would agree yeah, it's amazing, a motion to uh approve or to accept yeah yeah. I move.

C

That we're accepting the the financial report as presented seconds all those in favor all right.

A

We don't have any presentations, uh nope sorry jumped ahead public comment uh so.

A

Just come up to one of the microphones, if you have anything to speak about on.

A

The agenda or to the committee and give your name and address.

E

Property on a 159 mcdonough street um I just wanted to. I noticed that on the agenda is.

E

Lincoln street the lovely corner is there. I just want you to know your speed limits that.

E

You set on islington street are great. It saved a turkey's life this morning, as he crossed in.

E

Front of someone else and they actually were able to stop. So that's a good thing.

E

um That intersection is horrible. I think I don't know the name of the street. That's on the right.

E

Side of cvs, I would again suggest that be made one way coming out, and that I'll be mean they one way.

E

Coming in we've talked about it many times, I'd like to see that light stay as a complete stop.

E

For everybody, once the pedestrian light is pushed, I know that changes the flow and gets everybody.

E

Upset but the flow is so bad coming from kate street anyway, it doesn't make any difference, but.

E

It does a lot of people cross kind of willy-nilly there, so I think it would be best to do that, but.

E

The professionals can look at it and give their opinion in regards to woodbury ave. We I went to.

E

That meeting I've been following this for a while. There was a lot of positive response.

E

The only area that I have concern with that is kind of left out in the hole is the area.

E

Between rockingham and dennett street underneath the underpass I had suggested that we put a stop.

E

Sign on the corner of rockingham and um and woodbury, it's not allowed, I believe, by federal.

E

Law, not enough traffic, some kind of whatever it is, but that I thought should be a four-way stop.

E

um I also suggested that we put um one of those speed cushions. That's what they're called right.

E

The speed cushion before that intersection, if we can't have a stop sign there, just to dramatically.

E

Slow down that traffic because bikes are turning left, cars are coming across. It's it's quite a busy.

E

Little thing and that the other two things that I think are missing is on plan c, 105 and c106. I.

E

Did not see exit 6 on those, and I did not see, I think it's called franklin way. Whatever the road.

E

Is that goes into new franklin street? Those need to be considered when you look at that.

E

um It goes from very wide and then you get to that lovely dot bridge which they didn't widen for.

E

Us and gets kind of cramped there when I get off exit 6. Quite often when you first take the there's.

E

A speed limit sign when you look straight ahead and when you're at the stop sign at exit seat. But.

E

You don't look at that: you're, looking right and left to watch for the people who are trying to.

E

Get to the liquor store, who are trying to come up exit 6 to join you because they think that's.

E

The shortcut so the speed limit sign when you take a right there. There is a sign that shows.

E

You the lanes, so it shows you there's a straight ahead lane and then there's a left turn lane that.

E

Speed limit sign could be put there, there's a lot going on there when you come through there. People.

E

Coming up, the hill from the circle are confused. Their sight line is blocked by that bridge. To me,.

E

That section needs to be looked at really really more carefully. I like what you've done in the.

E

Woodbury in the frank jones neighborhood, I think a lot of people support that. So that's my two suits.

E

I had one more question: I don't know if eric can answer it or maybe peter rice, when people back.

E

Out of their driveways onto those, I think most of them aren't located near driveways, but those.

E

Speed cushions will that be a problem for them to back out over those things. I know they're designed.

E

To drive forward, but can you back over them as well? We don't normally do oh okay, questions back.

E

And forth, but you can but okay I would like to unless you were going extremely fast. I think you.

A

Would be fined about over them? Yeah? Okay, thank you. I was just curious about that for people.

A

Thank you liz um anybody else like to speak. Anybody on zoom.

F

You're allowed to speak even if you're not on youtube, there's one attendee, but they don't have.

G

Their hand raised okay, well, we have a speaker now and to the person on zoom. If you do want.

A

To speak, just raise your virtual hand or alert us somehow go ahead and sit down and hi. I'm tom kunis.

H

The owner of summit supply, I'm not sure if I'm on the agenda, I believe I am so I don't know if I'm.

H

Going out of order, oh no, now would be the time to give us any comments. So I'm here to talk about the.

H

Parking ordinance in the city that it is causing for the business community, some undo, hardships.

H

We recently received a ticket, and the ticket expense in portsmouth has gone up significantly as.

H

On I'm sure everyone is aware, so it's a 35 ticket. We do business in other communities throughout.

H

Northern new england and 35 dollars is the highest rate of any community that we're in having said.

H

That there's a currently there's a 30-minute time zone allowed for unloading loading zones.

H

I would like to ask that that be extended, that that become longer it's difficult for us as a.

H

Service business to work around that additionally, on a particular instance um on march 6th, we.

H

Received a parking ticket here in the downtown region, our service technician parked at 1001.

H

In a loading unloading zone- and I know that because we use a timesheet app.

H

So our technician clocked in at 1001 at 10 11., we were ticketed.

H

When our technician came out, he happened to cross paths with the parking attendant and said I've.

H

Only been here for 10 minutes and the attendant said: well, you can appeal that, and he left so.

H

That became our burden to chase that down, but we have a 30-minute currently uh time allotment and.

H

We were nabbed for 10 minutes and it becomes an administrative burden for us now to pursue.

H

I'm reasonably pragmatic in life 35 dollars. Is it worth the effort to fight that.

H

When I asked ben fletcher the parking director, how long does it take to go into the system and.

H

Go through that process, he estimated it would be about 15 minutes. So this is a for instance.

H

Where we didn't do anything wrong, but the system is set up whereby it now becomes an.

H

Administrative burden for us- and I got away the value of my time- is it really worth pursuing.

H

That you know if it takes 15 minutes and I save 35 dollars. It's not always in my best interest.

H

To spend my time doing that, but it's clearly a frustration so, on behalf of the business community.

H

We do feel that here in portsmouth.

H

There is an approach that we represent revenue for the city of portsmouth and I think it's a.

H

Little misguided, we're just trying to service our customers. We service the food service industry.

H

30 minutes for us we're typically at a customer for longer than 30 minutes.

H

So for our service technicians, it's this constant game of like having to.

H

Leave the restaurant or the food service establishment going out and either moving.

H

The vehicle or paying the meter, but even when we in the case of this incident on.

H

March 6th, even when we're within the 30 minutes, we still get hit with a ticket.

H

So I'm a little frustrated by that.

H

I would also like to say, as a vendor, we do well in the city of portsmouth. We are fortunate.

H

To have many of the downtown restaurants as a customer of ours and I'm I am grateful for that.

H

A little different than perhaps other businesses that also do business here in the downtown. We.

H

Give back a lot to the city of portsmouth, so.

H

I'm rather philanthropic, as a business owner and portsmouth does receive a lot of our they're. The.

H

Recipient of a lot of our efforts, for instance, we support the musical a wonderful, wonderful asset.

H

To the city of portsmouth, but we've been a long time sponsor of the musical. In fact this evening,.

H

Four of our employees are going to see the current production. That's.

H

At the music hall, we've been a long time sponsor of the restaurant week event, so we do that.

H

You know twice a year, but above and beyond that, we encourage all of our employees to come and.

H

Take advantage of the restaurant week event and we cover their expense, so everything associated.

H

With their meal expense for themselves, plus whoever it is that they come with, we cover that.

H

We have different rewards that we provide to our employees, and almost always those awards are.

H

Centered around coming into portsmouth and enjoying a show.

H

At the music hall enjoying a meal at a local restaurant things of that nature.

H

We also charitably give back in many ways. It could be at the middle street church for.

H

Instance, but we have received parking tickets when we go into the middle street church and.

H

We do service work on their kitchen equipment, we come out and we have a ticket on our vehicle.

H

The 30 minutes for some vendors is fine. I have spoken with other businesses that.

H

Serve the food service industry for some for 30 minutes is appropriate. Others such as our.

H

Time, it's not appropriate, it's not enough time and even within the 30 minutes we get hit with.

H

Tickets, when we've been on site for less than 10 minutes, it's a little frustrating.

H

I did go through past meeting minutes so almost exactly one year ago there was a review of.

H

The financial report much like was quickly touched on this morning and in the meeting notes it says.

H

And I'll just read it uh verbatim parking director ben fletcher commented that the year was 58 over.

H

They had reached 70 percent revenue. They were optimistic that they would meet or exceed the.

H

Fy 22 goals, so that's directly from the meeting notes. So it's almost like there's a perspective of.

H

We can nab the business community through parking tickets and it's good for the city of portsmouth.

H

25 is fairly expensive for a parking ticket. 30 minutes is not a lot of time, at least for.

H

The line of work that we're in so I'm not an out of state vendor coming into portsmouth.

H

Taking out of the community, you know by the way of business revenue, we're a local.

H

Business based in brentwood, new hampshire and we give back to the community in as.

H

Many ways as we can, but I do feel that the parking thing has become somewhat one-sided.

A

Great. Thank you um I'll. Just ask a quick follow-up question. Was your ticket for.

A

Exceeding the time limit, or was it because you didn't have a loading zone permit displayed.

H

This says: violation c-o-m-m,.

H

So commercial load slash unloading zone, fine, thirty, five dollars, there's no indication.

H

Beyond that, I can share this with you. Okay, I can follow up with director fletcher, because there is.

A

A requirement, I believe, to have a a loading zone permit in order to use the loading zone during.

A

Loading zone hours, so there may have been some confusion there. The other thing I'll just follow.

A

Up with is the people who issue the tickets on the street. Do not have the ability once they hit.

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Send or or what have you to retract um a ticket? And we do that for their safety, because if they.

A

Did have that ability people would be constantly chasing them down all day long trying to get them.

A

To retract tickets, so we do it for that reason, so understand your your frustration that it takes.

A

A while to appeal the ticket, but that's one of those situations that there's not really.

A

A great solution for the reason we have loading zones and time limits on the loading zones uh is.

A

The same reason that we charge for parking: it's not for the revenue generation, it's to increase.

A

Turnover for the businesses, as everybody knows, there's not enough parking downtown for everybody.

A

That would like to be there, so if people park there for a long period of time, the turnover is.

A

Less because people are doing what we call long stay parking. You know like if you're going to.

A

Work downtown you park for eight hours, that's the opportunity for seven or eight people to.

A

Park for half an hour, so the same thing happens with the loading zone. If the time is too long.

A

There won't be as much loading zone availability. However. That being said, we do have a agenda item.

A

Where we're going to look at that and make sure that a half hour makes sense, so we will take a.

A

Look at your concerns and if it does make sense, we will extend it, but if we don't extend it, it.

A

Will be because the data says that we shouldn't not? Because we don't hear your your frustrations.

I

Summit supply, thank you so I'd be interested, mr chair. If I could yes, just for a point of.

J

Clarification when, when your vehicles are going, are they stopping for maintenance on.

J

Washing machines and systems versus dropping off chemical supplies dropping off. You know.

J

Different restaurant type supplies because the the intent of the loading zone is not to.

J

Allow maintenance on people's properties, it's it's more of a delivery type thing.

J

So I'm sure you you know, do both yeah, you do both. So sometimes it can be one or the other.

A

But we'll we'll look into it and if you send me an email or it sounds like you already have director.

A

Fletcher's contact info any information you can give him, um I'm sure, would be helpful when we.

A

Take a look at the loading zones and make sure that they are time to you know for the best use.

A

Of everyone- and we do appreciate all your traffic uh efforts and all the things that you do for the.

A

City of portsmouth, thank you and just just one additional point and clarification. Yes, I may.

J

um Violations make up about eight percent of our revenue stream they're, not they're,.

J

Behavior management they're, not a revenue uh vehicle, so so just for the general public.

J

um It's it's not something that we balance our budgets on on tickets, so.

J

Is for point of clarification? Yes, we'd much rather collect parking revenue.

A

Through meter time than through tickets, if I might make a possible solution to the scenario.

H

Our service people would request boy we'd love to have three hours. Obviously, that's.

H

Not practical, I'm not sure how 30 minutes was settled on I mean there's 30 minutes or it.

H

Could be 20 minutes or it could be 15 minutes or it could be an hour if we were to have one hour.

H

For all intents and purposes, that would be a practical solution that would work on our end.

H

If the loading zone was extended to one hour, if other businesses that are making deliveries, if.

H

They're in and out in a certain time frame because of their workload, I don't know why.

H

It would decrease the turnover of vehicles because, if they're coming and going within.

H

A certain time frame now that, in theory, wouldn't change going forward, but it would facilitate a.

H

Business like ours, where we can go in with the intention to do one thing and get hit with a.

H

Request from a customer to provide an additional service that we may not always know when we first.

H

Walk in the door, the other potential option is, I mean all of our vehicles are well we'll.

A

We'll take a look at this. I don't want to spend too much time on this right now, but.

A

um You know to your point: if you're parked there for an hour, that means that four or 15 minute.

A

Deliveries couldn't make happen because your vehicle say was parked there. So what we'll do is.

A

We'll find what we think is the best time, and it may be an hour. It may stay at 30 minutes, but we'll.

A

Look at all the data and we'll try to come up with a fair solution for everybody; understanding that.

A

Whatever solution we come up with, will probably not be ideal for any one particular business, but.

A

We'll definitely take a look at it and see what we can come up with. Thank you. Thank you. Yes could.

G

I ask which in particular loading zones are an issue or are there? Are the all the loading zones.

G

Downtown are there any particular ones in that you use more often that you'd like to see a change in.

G

It would help us when we go to look at and look at them these, which ones to look at.

A

And you don't have to have that data right now, but if you could send it to us, if you need to.

A

Go and collect it because we do have a number of loading zones. And if you go or if you send us a.

A

Message we can send you a map of all the loading zones, because we did recently look at them to see.

A

Their utilization, so if you highlighted the ones that are particularly problems uh problematic, that.

A

Would be helpful for us, you know where I would get the map of loading zones. We can provide that to.

G

You, okay yeah it's online, but it may be difficult to find on the city website. Thank you. Thank you.

A

All right and online do we have a hand or no, no okay, with that I'll close the public comment.

J

uh Oh sorry, ben two comments on this um uh good morning: ben van camp with the chamber of commerce.

K

In portsmouth um good to see you all this morning, I just want to make two quick comments on this.

K

I I just want to remind people that the product that allows parking to work in portsmouth is the.

K

Business community, it's the restaurants, it's the retailers that is the product that allows you to.

K

Sell the parking to people downtown without the restaurants and the retail and the businesses.

K

That uh our our customers of companies like summit supply, you know there would not be.

K

The need to sell parking, so if whatever we can do is to support those businesses, uh it's the it's.

K

The occasion where um you know half hour works for for 90 of what they probably do. You know the eps.

K

The fedex, you know all those people they're in and out, probably in five minutes, ten minutes or less.

K

um It's the occasion where you know you're a supplier. You walk into that restaurant to you.

K

Know make a delivery and it's you know you get hit with five other questions. Next thing you.

K

Know here deep in conversation, 45 minutes ticks by and and you come out to a 35 parking ticket.

K

uh I completely appreciate the desire to turn those spaces over that's what makes them work.

K

I I understand that, and I think what we're just looking for here is yeah. You know, you know this.

K

Isn't a high risk scenario? We could try an hour and see how it goes um and if it becomes an issue.

K

Then then we go back to 45 or 30. You know it's, so I I think you know if we could just look at this.

K

And just be a little bit more pragmatic about you know having some spaces that allow for a.

K

Little bit longer stay would be a big help to the business community. So thank you great thanks. Ben.

A

Say goodbye to the apple go ahead. I'm sorry, elizabeth brighter property owner 159, mcdonough.

E

Street I owned a business in downtown. Well, it wasn't in downtown. It was off of bartlett.

E

Street and we did a lot of business, it was a computer business in downtown and I just handed.

E

Them quarters, as they went out the door everybody headquarters, lots of them so that they could park.

E

Sometimes they would be there just long enough to drop off a computer and sometimes they'd, be there.

E

For hours setting up a network, but but we just handed out quarters if we got a ticket, we paid it.

E

It was part of doing business in downtown, there's always different ways to look at it. I always.

E

Perceive loading zones as a place for trucks to park? I would never, as a service industry have ever.

E

Thought I don't have it anymore, but I would have never assumed that they could use it as a loading.

E

Zone to do service to drop off a computer, you could park in a loading zone for 15 minutes and.

E

Then move your car somewhere else, but I understand this: it's a balance, there's a big balance that has.

E

To go on with parking and that balance is as if you're going to be there for three or four hours.

E

You're blocking it for someone else who might need it for a quick delivery or whatever, but just it's.

E

A very difficult thing, I I hear you thank you, thank you and then, uh with that I'll close. The.

A

Public comment and if somebody wants to make a motion to move item b up under new business,.

A

All in favor all right all right, all right, so we'll take up item b loading zones request the.

A

Length and time limit to one hour by business owner sample motion is moved to refer to staff.

A

Or report back, if somebody would like to make that just motion refer staff for report back.

C

I'll, second, that any discussion chairman well we'll let staff take it. That may be too quick.

A

But we'll let them determine how long they need mark there's two separate issues here. Is there.

D

Service providing and then there's delivery is that is that a right, the understanding I I think.

D

um Is that? Because that's part of the review, yeah director fletcher really understands.

A

Parking so and I he'll have the gentleman's contact and he has ben's contact, so I think.

A

We'll we'll take a really good look at this and hopefully come up with some solutions.

G

In chapter, seven, loading is defined as active loading or unloading, not sitting there running.

G

You know doing service somewhere and- and I will mention um just I know this from uh working at the.

A

Pop-Up summit supply does uh a lot of like loading zone type activities which we think of traditional.

A

Like restocking, the you know, paper towels or the the hand sanitizer things like that, but it sounds.

A

Like they also do service so so I think they have a hybrid approach to loading zones that maybe.

A

Not everybody has, but um it certainly makes sense that they would be using things so we'll find out.

A

All right so we'll we'll refer that to staff and uh I don't think we voted. Oh.

A

Well, uh all those in favor all right any opposed yeah all right, so staff will take.

A

A look at it and and hopefully we'll we'll, have some answers for you in the next couple months.

A

um Item a under new business, islington street and bartlett street intersection.

A

Request for pedestrian improvements by resident uh sample motion move.

A

To refer to staff or report back at next meeting.

I

I make that motion to refer back to stuff. Second, okay, any discussion. I think it's time to look at.

I

That again, I find that intersection continues to be difficult for pedestrian and- and I find.

I

Coming down bartlett to that intersection, still confusing and dangerous. Fortunately, most of the.

I

Vehicles are going slow as they come under the overpass and as they come down kate street. But I.

I

Think that's still a problem that intersection is still a problem, so I appreciate that we're looking.

I

At it again, thank you. What are we asking about here? This is by cvs yeah. I believe.

A

The request was that the um the interval before the pedestrian gets the walk signal.

A

That's quite long! So I'm sorry it's the wrong. It's not the former yeah yeah very successful.

J

um Intersection, that's working really. Well. um I guess I guess I'm sorry. I have another comment.

I

On that all right, well, we can you bring that up this. This is, in particular specific by the.

A

Garage and cvs, yeah, yeah yeah bike shop- that's been brought up before and the request is that.

A

When you press the button to walk, it's quite a weight because it's been brought up before.

I

Signal- and I don't know if that's something we could change or not, but we'll take a look at it.

G

um We can look at that and and one item I would notice and I see online is annie. She brought.

G

The star attention as well is that, right now the pedestrian phase is coming up every cycle, because.

G

The one of the pedestrian buttons is not working properly, so it's that's another thing. We will be.

G

That's a maintenance item yeah so yeah, but we will look at the cycle length and see what we.

G

Can do to make things quicker for pedestrians, okay, great um all those in favor any opposed.

A

Okay, old business, uh woodbury avenue request for traffic call me by residence sample motion.

A

Move to approve revised traffic calming plan with speed, cushion trial for 2023.

A

If anybody wants to make that motion, so I moved second any discussion.

A

Erica, um could we get a brief overview? Has anything changed from the last time like we.

F

Looked at this last month and there was a public meeting since then it sounds. The public seems like.

F

They're overall, pretty can someone provide a like recap of that public meeting as well as.

F

Any changes since we looked at it as a committee last month. Yes, I think yeah that'd be great. Okay,.

G

Yes, we uh had the original uh public meeting back in february. I believe it was, and we heard.

G

We presented the median island concept at that time and there was a lot of pushback from the.

G

Public, they would rather see speed bumps, and so we revised the plan and we had a meeting with.

G

Them last week and we basically changed out the median islands for speed cushions, which.

G

Is like a speed bumper, with gaps every six feet, so the widered wheel, based vehicles such as fire.

G

Trucks can use the gaps and not be slowed down, so I have all the plans there in the packet we.

G

Do have a one meeting island still, which is up at echo avenue, which is the entrance into the.

G

Residential portion of woodbury ave and that would also have a cut in the median and a crosswalk and.

G

The flashing lights, because that's where a lot of the people, residents of betty's dream use.

G

That intersection for crossing the roadway, so this would be a benefit for those people and.

G

Then further down, we have it on the screen. Let me I should be showing this online as well.

G

So we've uh proposing now the speed cushions at these locations, one here.

G

And since the uh the meeting last week, we we did revise the plan again. We've now are.

G

Showing of speed cushion at this location between this first one and the maplewood.

G

Ave intersection, because we did have several people in this area- realize that there is no.

G

um Traffic was still speeding through this area at maplewood, so in order to make sure.

G

Maintaining the speed we're trying to space these every three to four hundred feet apart.

G

To maintain speeds of 25 miles per hour, so that's the uh the first proposed island is.

G

Here at echo, ave then two speed cushions in this area and we would uh proposing to eliminate some.

G

Of the parking here so that vehicles can't drive around the ends of the speed clubs.

G

This was another uh input we received from the residence of this area that there's some drivers.

G

Are using the parking lane as a travel lane, so this would uh address that concern next page.

G

um This is the maple street intersection and then the next speed cushion would be this area. We couldn't.

G

Do anything sooner because we have a large parking area here for the the greenhouse, where.

G

It really doesn't work to put a speed calming device there, so the next one would be here.

G

And then going down towards farm lane, we have two more again space about three 400 feet. Apart.

G

One in front of the church and taking away some of the parking in front of the church.

G

And going down towards edmond ave, we have this one here: speed cushion another speed, cushion.

G

Closer to edmond dev and this another change that was made since the meeting we originally had were.

G

Proposing median island here with a welcome to frank jones, neighborhood sign, but that would have.

G

Required limiting this parking area- and we heard from the residents that this is a very desirable.

G

Very much needed parking area so in order to keep that parking, we're proposing a speed cushion here.

G

Which they could park on top of the speed cushion and it would still slow traffic coming down into.

G

The neighborhood and this this treatment here has not changed. This is still the connecting.

G

To the uh rail trail I mean uh the pedestrian bike path, going into peas, with a multi-use path.

G

On this side, a median island here, a crosswalk for both pedestrians and bicycles here- and this.

G

Would help to slow down? The left turns coming into rockingham ave, which is a heavy movement.

G

And this is the next slide. There is a gap in here where it was mentioned. You know franklin and the.

G

Northbound southbound ramps because we aren't doing any measures at this part of this project.

G

uh This would be raised median island here on the other side of dennett street in the.

G

New crosswalk and uh formalizing the bike lane in this area and showing the bike route to downtown.

G

So those are the uh the changes that were made since the last plan and since last.

G

Week's neighborhood meeting the addition of two more speed cushions, and so what we're proposing.

G

To do these are uh temporary trial, speed cushions that we could purchase they're made out of rubber.

G

And they're bolted down and into the pavement and we're proposing that. Because we would not.

G

Be building the speed bumps this year because other project construction work that needs to go.

G

On on woodbury ave that we could install a couple of the sets of these cushions yeah because they.

G

Always work best in sets, you want them about 400 feet apart and we would look to propose.

G

Either, to at this location coming into the neighborhood- or we could do you know, do here.

G

Or we could do these two. You know we could pick a spot where we think it's most appropriate to trial.

G

These on a trial basis- and uh you know we could- we could try them in one spot for a month or two.

G

Maybe even pick them up, move them down the street, try them in other locations on woodbury. It depends.

G

On how easy it is, they are to move, they do have to be assembled, which it's going to take a day or.

G

So to to put them all together the six cushions in total, but that's what we were looking to do.

G

If we get approval from this committee, we would purchase those and then try those on a trial basis.

G

So that that's what the plan is for this year, I'm good rehab, yeah great erica.

F

The places where you're planning to remove parking you're going to build the curve out.

F

Yes, in the final okay right yeah in the trial, we would either extend the speed cushion into.

G

That parking lane- or we would pick spots where there isn't the parking right now, yeah.

C

Yeah, um when you do a a proposal such as this or either a raise in a mediumship or something like.

C

That do you put a sign warning for people ahead. This will take place ahead of them.

G

There will be a message board out at the beginning of the, and there also would be.

G

A sign right at the speed cushion yeah, I see. Okay, seeing you know, speed hump and you.

G

Know pointing down to it, let people know that it's there. Okay, thank you.

D

Park they just got, in definition, the the speed tables or bumps or cushions. What do you call the.

D

Devices you're using or who's doing that on uh bed bath and beyond the cut street between ems.

D

And motel 8. yeah, that's a little private driveway, private, okay, so they're doing whatever they want.

G

And those would be a speed bump. Those are bumps very short, maybe because they're mobile yeah, they.

G

Remove them yeah, those are a foot long where these feed cushions would be about 10 feet. Long yeah.

G

That's a bit typical speed, bumps or speed table could be 22 feet long. The speed tables where you.

G

Actually, ramp up travel across it and then ramp down again these here, you would ramp up and then.

G

Immediately ramp down again, you may have a very short distance in the middle, but it's basically.

G

You know three four feet long going up and then three or four feet down going down. So it's a much.

G

Shorter and because you have a gap in there, it allows bicycles, motorcycles. You know they can.

G

Use it without having to go up and over the hump. It also doesn't impact drainage as much as the as.

G

A solid bump from curb to curb it also we don't have to do a lot of curb work. We don't have to.

G

Get rid of as much parking with this option that they're easier to deploy and try out on a trial.

G

Basis, the median islands we wouldn't have been able to do a trial on that was a good question.

F

The neighborhood meeting they were receptive to this plan yeah, so we had two neighborhood.

A

Meetings, I would say we had 40 or 50 people at bowl right. They were at new franklin, school and.

A

um I would say, especially after we incorporated the changes suggested in the first meeting, the.

A

Whelming was primarily the reception was primarily positive. There were a few people that expressed.

A

Some concerns, um I don't think we're ever going to come up with a solution that would make everybody.

A

Happy, but I do think there's at least at the meetings. There was a lot of support for what is.

A

Proposed great, thank you, mary lou yeah. I wanted to comment on how well-run that meeting was the.

I

Second meeting, I thought that the neighbors ask good questions and got great answers. um It was.

I

Very thorough, it wasn't cut short and I think, as you said, there was majority positive response to.

I

The changes, so I think it was a good thing for the neighborhood to realize that the city was.

I

Really paying attention to that whole stretch, so thank you. It's moving forward, thank you and then I.

A

I believe that one of the requests which I didn't hear you mentioned the presentation is when we do.

A

Deploy the trial we'll also deploy the the speed counters or whatever, to see if there's a reduction.

G

Yes, we will put out our stealth three quarters so we'll record the speeds in the area of the speed.

G

Cushions to see what type of impact they're having! Because, if they're having! If they're, slowing.

G

Traffic too much we can adjust them in the future or, if they're not flowing traffic enough. We can.

G

Adjust them so it's good! You can really fine-tune them to get the speeds you want out there yeah.

G

And we've also measured traffic on meadow road, which is runs parallel to woodbury. There was.

G

Some concern that putting these speed questions in with divert traffic down to meadow road, so we can.

G

Monitor that as well to see how the volumes and speeds are doing yeah, I I restricted on.

C

State highways, you know, uh yeah, do you have to get permission from this from the state before you can.

C

Do anything like this if, if we were doing this on a state highway, yes, but this is not a state.

G

Highway: okay, it used to be a state highway, it used to be route 16, but it is not longer.

G

That's part of the problem why people drive so fast on this road? It is a nice straight.

G

Road with great visibility because it used to be a state highway white mountain highway. It.

G

Was called yeah? Thank you all right. Any further is that a motion yeah we've got.

A

A motion and it's been seconded to approve and move forward, yeah all those in favor any opposed.

A

um Old business dennett street request for traffic calming by residents report back on.

A

Proposed bump out discussion of alternatives. I guess this is to eric yes, um so we I'll bring.

G

Up the what we had last time, we had proposed a bump out down near spahark. It's our hawk street.

G

So we proposed this bump out because it was the one place where we could do a physical measure.

G

In the area of of the intersection there's concerned, the speeds coming over this hill and.

G

Some uh close calls or people getting hit coming out of the driveway or animals being hit, uh so we.

G

Distributed a flyer to all the residents in the area of dentistry of this area and and we received.

G

Unanimous feedback that this was not desired, so it was, we are, we told them. We would come back to.

G

The committee today and discuss this findings. The concern is that there is someone here who needs.

G

To be able to park and get into their front door, this location, uh the people using this driveway.

G

You often have to use a trailer it's difficult to maneuver. So if we were to put out the linears at.

G

This point it'd be really impacting these two business uh residents and there was concern.

G

That it wouldn't slow speeds enough or you know it wouldn't be visible coming over the hill, but.

G

um You know there were some people who didn't feel there was a speeding problem to begin with.

G

Others felt that they just didn't want to see this type of treatment, so looking at alternatives that.

G

We could do instead of this bump out. I think the first thing we could try is maybe a speed.

G

Feedback sign, like we have around in other places, telling drivers how fast they're going to alert.

G

Them to how their speed those can be effective and slowing people down. um The other measure is the.

G

You know we could the speed cushions were popular on woodbury. I was almost about to bring that up.

G

That could be possibly a trial that we do here, but you know it's a there aren't too many options.

G

Because of the number of driveways in in the grade and the uh the narrowness of the road so.

G

We are limited here what we can do, but my first recommendation would be to try the speed feedback.

G

Sign see how that goes, because those are easy to install and they don't interfere with driveways or.

G

Okay, um I guess I would say you know as much as everybody seems to like the speed.

A

Feedback signs they're, somewhat effective, but over time they become less effective, is so.

A

um I guess if we had a motion to refer back to staff to evaluate or we could we make a motion.

A

To just put the speed limit sign up uh the speed feedback sign up and evaluate whether or not.

A

Speed humps would make sense, and I would think we'd probably would wait until after the woodbury.

A

Roll out because then we'll have more data on hand to use yeah and it's possible. You know.

G

We could try it on woodbury and then, after we're done with the trial, there move them over to here.

G

The advantage of the the temporary rubber ones you can try them in different locations.

G

Mark did any of your uh feedback from the residents. Do they have any ideas.

D

And what they would be acceptable? One dimension the speed feedback signs. They like that idea, yeah.

G

And I also met with the gentleman who had brought this to our attention. Originally, he was in favor.

G

Of the the speed feedback signs, let's try that you know give that a shot at first see if that works.

C

Erica um I I'm assuming based on what you said that there's not a different place. We could do.

F

Like a chicane like this yeah, it's very difficult because it's so many driveways and uh not many.

G

Places where you have the ability to shift traffic, you know on the other side of huntersville lab.

G

Going towards maplewood then you're getting there are some bump outs yeah. So it's really difficult.

G

And you'd have to use the parking lane as a travel lane, so you'd be losing parking.

G

It's it's a it's a difficult area to do. Physical measures could we do like maybe some little. I.

F

Think that speed feedback sign is a great first step. That's something we could go out there and.

F

Install quickly get some data see how it's working, I feel like we might be able to add a couple of.

F

Small bump outs, like one side of hunter's hill, looks like it has a bump out, but the other.

F

Side doesn't, and that looks like a parking lane. um You know maybe, on the other side of.

F

Spar hawk, we could do like little temporary bump outs, maybe not a full kind of chicane like that.

F

But just like a little bit of a tightening, maybe there's some options like that. I don't know that.

F

I would ask eric to work out. I don't yes, so I I appreciate the the suggestions. However, there.

J

Doesn't seem to be a real consensus relative to the actually being a speed problem yeah and that.

J

You know putting up a your speed sign, you know, speed indicating sign, I think, is a good first.

J

Step it would allow us to collect additional data, um and I I just I'm, hesitant to start.

J

Doing those types of diversion uh measures just because there was a strong reaction.

J

um To the suggestion of doing a chicane- and I don't believe there is real support for making.

J

Modifications to the roadway other than you know, slowing traffic down, and that would, I think, be the.

J

Speed pillows at some point, if that you know if they, if the desire from the residence continues.

J

To to be voiced, I guess I I'm not. I don't think I'm saying something different. I think we should.

F

Definitely start with the speed feedback signs and see how that goes in terms of alternatives. I think.

F

Speed cushions are, I don't think they should be a first or second line of defense. I I don't think.

F

They're I mean they they're more intrusive, and so I think if, if it's, I don't think we should.

F

Just march out there and put in speed, bump outs or not speed, bump outs, I don't think we should march.

F

Out there and put bump outs in just in terms of alternatives that I think are worth considering.

F

I think that's if it were to need to go to the next step. I mean, I think we have the temporary.

F

The trial speed cushion so we could try that, but I think that's a lot more intrusive, especially.

F

If the neighborhood's kind of mixed about their reactions- but I think if we need something there.

F

May be some small little bump outs that could fit in that I I don't know. I trust eric if somebody.

A

Made a motion to install the speed feedback, signs and report back from the city in say six months.

A

And then we can take that data and discuss if speed, humps or some other method makes the.

A

Most sense: once we have the data, I don't think it needs to be six months. I mean I defer to eric, but.

F

I wouldn't think we would necessarily need to put a time constraint on it. I think eric would know.

F

When he has the data a month or two would be playing, okay, so just a motion. If somebody.

A

Wanted to make it to install the and report back from the city once there's data, okay,.

A

I think peter made the motion second, second right here and any further discussion.

A

All right, all those in favor any opposed.

A

Items a monthly accent report from police. Thank you, mr chairman, uh for the reporting out the.

L

Month of february we had 76 total crashers 37 of those 76 were reportable. I am happy to report that.

M

We had no instances of either uh motor vehicle crashes with pedestrians or bicyclists in february.

A

Right, thank you for the report. The bartons bartlett street at thornton street update on.

A

The temporary roundabout trial- yes, uh not too much to report it's new, it's we are still have.

G

The plan and effect of waiting for the asphalt plants to open, because that's what we'll be.

G

Creating the central island out of and as well as the splitter islands leading into it. So we are.

G

Waiting for good weather looks like the next couple weeks. They'll be opening up. I think.

A

Everybody in town will know as soon as that happens, it'll be fun market street update on.

A

The closure for utility project- yes uh market street at bow street will be closed between bow.

G

Street and market square starting monday next week- and this will be this- closure- will go on.

G

For four weeks over, the we're looking to reopen it may 6th, which is it may 5th, is a friday. So we'll.

G

Be opening up the day after that all goes well, it would still be under construction through the.

G

Month of may, but the traffic detour will end may 5th and the traffic will be detoured during the.

G

Day at night and on weekends, it would be opened up again to traffic, even during the construction.

G

So we'll be working with bus companies and the uh you know: trucking there will be a special.

G

Detour for large trucks coming into the downtown because they will not be able to follow the detour.

G

Route, which is beau street to chapel street larger trucks, will be detoured off at russell.

G

Street coming on market street, so they can get around the downtown all right and is this to do.

G

With the commercial alley, or is this separate? Yes, it's part of the commercial valley project.

G

All the utilities, it's a coordination effort between all the utility companies in the city.

G

Pull this off and outdoor dining barrier placement update? Yes, we are working to.

G

Looking to place the barricades last week of this month last week of april, because outdoor.

G

Dining begins officially on may 1st, for those restaurants that are willing to do it. That early.

G

So we are reviewing applications at this point and looking to get as many as we can in that last week,.

G

Of april try to do as many it's much easier, much more efficient for us to put them all out at once.

G

And to come back out every week to do a couple more all right, good and miscellaneous any items.

A

All right yeah, I guess I could mention these yeah, the rail trail from hampton to portsmouth.

G

Is there is a pre-construction meeting going on as we speak in dot's office in durham and that's.

G

Why tyler is not here today he's attending that meeting, so it's very exciting news that.

G

They are going to start construction on the rail trail very soon. It's a big deal me great.

A

All right, oh with that I'll, wait a motion to return I'll move that way again, all in favor.