City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee, 15 Mar 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: 3.15.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

Description

3.15.2023 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

A

B

Good evening portsmouth, this is the march 15 2023 parking traffic and safety meeting uh we're having.

B

An evening meeting uh normally we meet in the morning, but we do like to have a few evening.

B

Meetings so that more people can attend these, can we start with a call the attendance roll.

B

Please mary lou mcelwain here steve cashy, here mark syracusa here, harold whitehouse.

C

Erica wyganik here, deputy police chief mike maloney here fire chief bill mcquillen here.

C

Public works director, peter rice here, city manager, karen conard, here chairman andrew bagley, here.

B

See the financial report.

B

I'm sure everybody can read that it's in it's in the packet, which is awesome on the city website,.

D

Eric do you mind scrolling down, so we can see uh totals. Thank you.

D

Mr chairman, I'll move approval of the financial report. Second,.

E

All those in favor aye aye any opposed hey. So now we're going.

B

To move to public comment, I will point out that there's a woodbury presentation later.

B

And there's a lot of changes and there will also be a woodbury neighborhood meeting on march 30th.

B

At new franklin school again, so if you haven't seen the changes in the packet, um your comments.

B

Tonight may be uh not entirely up to speed and for that I'll open it up to public comment.

F

The chairman, you can point out that people wanting to speak could come up to the seat next to mary.

F

Lou and speaking to the microphone perfect or they can use the pudding or they can use a podium and.

D

If people are on zoom, if you could raise your virtual hand and the eric will identify you.

G

Hi good evening uh my name is jonathan sandberg. I live at 160 bartlett street.

G

um About a year ago, I called in um about the intersection about portland and newsington.

G

I find that that light is not particularly pedestrian friendly. There's a lot of things.

G

That, I think, would be very easy to be due to, in my opinion, to make it a lot more.

G

Pedestrian friendly um right now, the the interval is very long. It takes about 80.

G

Seconds for after you press a button to get a walk signal, that's a lot! That's a long time. It.

G

Really is I mean it may not seem a lot to you, but it is, um and I don't know if you can change.

G

The interval to be faster so that you can get a walk signal faster. I would think that you could.

G

um You know and then probably more complicated. It is. I don't understand why there's only three ways.

G

You can cross where, if you're, on the corner of where, where two brothers garages seems like you.

G

Should be able to cross street islington to get to to cvs or why wouldn't you be able to? Instead, you.

G

Know if you're going to follow the crosswalk, you have to cross islington and then cross.

G

um Sorry, you have to cross bartlett and then cross hisington, which.

G

um Is pretty inconvenient, why wouldn't you just be able to take the shortest route? Why shouldn't.

G

There be a crosswalk there as well, um and then um the reason why that's really important is because.

G

Drivers who are turning right onto islington from bartlett um actually don't know, there's actually.

G

No way for them to know that the walk signal is illuminated, because um you can't actually.

G

See any of the walk signals from from your drivers win from your uh from the dashboard.

G

Because the one that's to your left is actually behind you, it's a it's really like 190 degrees,.

G

um Because of the way the the road is configured, and so they wouldn't even know that the pedestrian.

G

Crossing um has priority if they were where the pedestrian is even there, so um those are.

G

Some things that I think would be easy to make the intersection more pedestrian, friendly and.

G

um I liked it to I mean I I mentioned this a year ago and it didn't get on any on the.

G

Agenda or anything, so um please please look into it. Thank you. Thank you. Jonathan.

H

Good evening peter huda, 280 south street.

H

um Just some comments and some questions uh I'd like to thank mr eby for the updates on.

H

The woodbury project after the last times meeting it looks like we've had it added some speed bumps.

H

um And my question would be on that: uh can we add any more? That's the first one. um Next question is.

H

On dennis street you're incorporating a temporary speed bump, uh the question would be: is this going.

H

To include signage, as it looks like the place where the speed bump will be, is a slight hill.

H

And you won't be able to see that till you get on top of it. So um that's a question on.

H

That and uh my last question is on bartlett and thornton on the update of the temporary.

H

Roundabout, could you please update the residence on the cost of that? Thank you. Thank you. Peter.

I

Good evening my name is kenneth farrer, a woodbury resident.

I

I'll start by thanking you guys for for the updates, I took a look at. It, um looks good.

I

I had some questions on more the implementation that could probably go into that actual meeting.

I

But things like materials and and like colors and stuff, like that for visual cues to drivers.

I

um In that vein, but I won't go into deep into that uh now. uh I also thank for bringing up the.

I

um Market street and the and the uh daniel street kind of stuff, that's something.

I

uh I've been long looking to somebody look at it. I know there's a lot of other improvements.

I

I'll probably come in the future on the market square area, so I appreciate it even looking at.

I

Minor improvements such as right now um and yeah, that's it! Thank you. Thank you. Kenneth.

J

Hi everyone eliza hewitt 726 middle road. I probably like to comment on the.

J

um Speed limit presentation, but there was no information in the packet about what would.

J

Be presented and the actual presentation follows public comment which we're going to have questions.

B

Afterwards, on the speed limit presentation good, then I will wait in here then. Thank you. Thank you.

K

Go ahead, matt.

L

uh Hello, can you hear me yes, yep great uh matt glenn to harrison ave in fort smith and.

L

um um I want to speak on sagamore. I really appreciate you looking at that opportunity.

L

To improve the shoulders at the crest of the hill on sagamore ave, I think that's really important.

L

um So many people are using that I and bikes, and it's a really blind corner blind the top.

L

Of the hill there, so I think that'll be a big safety improvement. I'm glad that the red boy.

L

Seems to allow it thank you for doing that now, and it makes sense with the road to all torn up.

L

That are soon to be torn up. As far as woodbury, I wanted to support your work to really listen to.

L

Residents and consider different kinds of traffic coming. I think it's they're going to be really.

L

Interesting to see what comes out of that process, I also want to urge you to consider you've got a.

L

Very short, 10-foot multi-use path under the 95 overpass just to allow bicyclists to roll.

L

Up before taking a left turn to head towards the rockingham bridge, if you can extend that.

L

Path, southeast towards franklin drive. I know you don't have as many uh you know, residents screaming.

L

Through traffic coming on that stretch of woodbury, but um you know in front of the anchorage end.

L

Right there, if you could widen that sidewalk, it really improves the connection two-way connection.

L

To new franklin school- and I think now is the time to do it, so um please do consider that as.

L

Part of this project, thank you. Thank you. Matt. Is there anybody else that would like to speak. Yep.

B

uh Just up here next to mary live and we are going to have a woodbury meeting on the 30th.

B

So there'll be a chance to really get into it again, one more time, thank you, um and I want to.

K

Thank everyone for the work, that's being done by the city staff for coming out and.

K

Having the first community meeting, I think it's really great. A lot of progress is being made.

K

um And I just want to say thank you for that. I did want to offer just one comment.

K

um In the latest proposal, uh the uh crosswalk that a bunch of the residents had requested.

K

Was not included at edmond avenue. I think the city is collecting data on crossing right now.

K

One side of the city street, where the sidewalk ends isn't even plowed right.

K

Now I mean you can't even walk on it, but I think that a better approach I.

K

Think if you build this and you include a crosswalk there, you'll see people use it.

K

Right now, there's no one walks down that section of the sidewalk, because there's no way to cross.

K

So it redirects everyone to the crossing, that's at rockingham, so it's kind of like it's not used.

K

Because it's a dead end and there's no way to get to get off it. I think if it is built, it'll be a.

K

Heck of a lot safer, it is, it would be the only way for people to cross to get to the school bus. Stop.

K

And I think that really trumps, all the numbers I mean we have to say to ourselves, look if kids.

K

Going to the middle school, this is the only way to get to their bus. Stop is to cross at this location.

K

I think we ought to build it, no, no matter what the numbers actually show and I think once it's built.

K

People will use it. That's all. Thank you very much and justin. Could you just give your name for the.

K

Record as well- oh sure, sorry, uh justin, richardson 586 woodbury avenue. Thank you. Thank you. Justin.

M

Good evening, 160 bartlett street close enough here it goes first. I want to say thank you for.

M

Moving the meetings- I don't know if it's going to be always in the evening from now on, no.

M

Okay, but it's nice, thank you for this, and also for um having meetings in our neighborhoods to.

M

um As I live on bartlett street, I um I'm a resident of water street and also I'm on the.

M

Board of seacoast area bicycle riders, along with matt, which I spoke earlier,.

M

um So we want to thank you for the improvements on sagamore ave and we're looking forward to.

M

Woodbury ave, I ride my bike from bartlett to gosling road um for work almost every day and I.

M

Hope that um the speed can be reduced a little bit there, so I'm looking forward to that.

M

And um my point to follow what jonathan said earlier is regarding the bottom of bartlett street.

M

um At the the intersection of portland and kate or auction way, whatever it's called now, um I was.

M

Wondering if I could have an update on the light we were supposed to get a light at precision, auto.

M

Is that coming anytime soon, um anything to make this intersection more pedestrian, friendly.

M

um Maybe um a bag button for the flashing beacon. I understand it's a stop sign, but can we beg for.

M

The beacon, even if we don't have a beacon, so um yeah and that's all thank you. Thank you.

B

Anybody else on zoom nope.

B

All right, not seeing any other speakers, I'm going to close the public comment.

B

Next on the agenda, we have the speed limit, review progress report by speed limit working group.

B

Members and I'll just give a a brief introduction to what we're going to see and uh we're not.

B

Going to make any decisions tonight based on the presentation and the team has been working on this.

B

Presentation right up until this meeting: that's why it wasn't posted ahead of time, but it will.

B

Be on the city website and I have a feeling we'll be referring to it for a good long time after the.

B

Presentation tonight so first I'll introduce the two committee members who are on the working group.

B

Eric is a lice erica is a licensed civil engineer and certified road safety professional with nearly.

B

20 years of experience in transportation, planning, she's, a portsmouth resident and citizen volunteer.

B

On the pts committee and steve has 35 years of experience as transportation and community.

B

Planner in new hampshire, in addition to serving on this committee as a portsmouth resident volunteer.

B

He also serves on the unh and durham traffic and safety committees, and they were greatly assisted.

B

By staff, especially eric eby and tyler reese for the past several years, eric and steve had led a.

B

Comprehensive speed limit overview working group. The goal of this group is to evaluate all the.

B

Streets and roads in portsmouth to ascertain if the speed limit is aligned with expectations and.

B

To make recommendations on adjustments, if they're, outside of the industry's best practices and stay.

B

Standards, this was is an enormous tax and has required a great deal of time and resources as.

B

You will see in this presentation. Controlling speeds is a complex issue. The postage speed.

B

Limit has only a limited effect and speeds are inherently controlled more by road conditions.

B

And traffic calming measures which are more costly and challenging to implement by setting.

B

Expectations and standards, we hope to have a better compliance with posted speed limits.

B

Today's presentation will review the overall progress, changes to date, suggested changes and.

B

Other ideas on a pass forward to help make this read: support smith, safer and adjust.

B

Resonant concerns, please feel free to save any questions for the end of the presentation and with.

B

That I'll turn it over to ask um here back there, the something's wrong with the sound. It's not.

B

Is not going through the room? Okay, can you hear better now? Am I just too far from the mic.

E

Just yeah, my asthma is very bad today, so I think it's all of us actually.

D

Doesn't seem to be loud enough for the room if the speakers can be mindful and speak.

D

As close to the microphone as possible I'll belt, it out- maybe that's too loud.

A

Haven't frequently been told to be quieter um eric can we put the slides up.

D

N

We are a couple slides in.

A

Okay, we already got our welcome yes, yes, there we go awesome. um Thank you all for coming and.

A

Thank you, counselor bagley, for introducing us. My name is erica wyganik. I have quite a bit.

A

Of professional experience in this topic, I spend an awful lot of time dealing with crash data and.

A

Travel speeds and trying to address speed limits on on roads throughout the country, as well as a.

A

Personal interest in addressing this topic, I walk. I bike. I drive. I am acutely aware of.

A

Our roads and how they, how how we experience our roads from all of those perspectives.

A

um And I bring all of that to this discussion and hopefully that's helpful as we go through this.

A

Presentation we've tried to organize it. There's a lot of content, we're going to try and move.

A

Pretty fast, so you're not bored, but not so fast that we gloss over things. So if you.

A

Have questions write them down we'll get back to them later? Hopefully, we've calibrated pretty well.

A

huh um As we move through one of the ways we've organized, this is there's slides that are blue.

A

And that's the things we've done already and then there's slides that are green and those.

A

Are things we're still working on works in progress things we're looking to get input on.

A

So one of the first things that we want to share with you and that we worked on.

A

As a group was understanding what our goals were, we are tackling this topic.

A

For a number of reasons, we want speed limits that make sense. We want speed limits that are.

A

Consistent that follow the law, and we also want to make sure that all of our codes and.

A

Signs align right now, it's a little bit of a mishmash of the code says one thing: a sign.

A

Says another the state might say something altogether, so we're working really hard to.

A

Make sure that a pedestrian or a driver or a bicyclist experience on a roadway is safe.

A

That it is appropriate and that it is consistent throughout our city on roads of similar qualities.

A

So why do we care about speed limits? That feels a little silly, because I know everyone cares a lot.

A

But speed limits are important because they ensure a safe road environment. However, on their own, they.

A

Don't have they don't do that much to lower speeds. We tend to need to look outside of just.

A

The speed limit to be able to bring speeds down historically speed limits have been determined.

A

Really, with only motor vehicles in mind and have really been driven by the 85th percentile, which.

A

Is a whole technical thing I can get into, but I don't think is going to be that interesting.

A

Now it's, this is a really big topic throughout the country and in our city, this idea of well vehicles.

A

Aren't the only people using our roads and we want to make sure our roads are appropriate for.

A

Pedestrians for bicyclists and for neighborhoods we want to have vibrant, vital neighborhoods, where.

A

People enjoy being there where people enjoy visiting with their neighbors and walking to.

A

The park and feel safe driving and can get where they need to be when they're driving. It's not.

A

Safe for a driver, if they're not able to respond to bicycles and pedestrians that are using the.

A

Roadway also, and so, making sure that the speeds make sense for the given road is really important.

A

Because speed limits on their own, don't influence travel speeds as much as the road context. One of.

A

The things we're doing is trying to understand what speed a road should be posted at and then.

A

Working to change the road context and environment so that vehicles are driving that speed. We can't.

A

Just go out and say all right, 10 miles an hour. Are great people aren't going to drive 10 miles.

A

An hour you know, we need to make sure that the speed makes sense and is intuitive for.

A

Drivers, but it's it's a complicated process that can be pretty iterative where we try and.

A

Lower the speeds, we try and adjust the road and we may have to go back and do.

A

Those things multiple times before we get to an environment. That is what we're hoping for.

A

As I mentioned, the street skates themselves really impact the travel speed. So if we use these two.

A

Rows as an example, we've got marcy street on the left and borthwick ave on the right, and these two.

A

Roads have completely different environments, they have different streetscapes, they have different.

A

Road functions, there's different amounts of pedestrian activity, shoulder widths, travel.

A

Liens road alignments curb cuts right. Everything about the road environment here is very different.

A

One feels very um kind of constrained and one is much more open and those different environments.

A

Lead to different travel speeds and in this case we're thankful, because the different travel speeds.

A

Also align with the posted speeds, there's some consistency here between what you would expect.

A

What makes sense for the road and what the posted speed actually is. That's not always the case and.

A

Sometimes, as I mentioned, it takes multiple attempts to get all of those things lined up.

A

We wanted to cover a little bit of terminology for better for worse there's a lot of different.

A

Things that dictate travel, speeds, speed limits and are influenced by them and ways to describe them.

A

There's lots of rules and laws and ordinances and then industry guidance. And so we wanted to.

A

Just touch on all those so that everyone can be using the same terms and understand what they mean.

A

As we have this conversation, so the foundation for travel speeds comes from the new hampshire.

A

State statutes and then the driver's manual and the driver's manuals taking it from the state.

A

Statutes that, ultimately, it is the driver's responsibility to drive safely for conditions.

A

um Even if our roads were posted at 75, it's probably not safe to drive 75 on many of our.

A

Roads most of our roads, and so even if that was the speed limit, it wouldn't be legal because it's.

A

Not safe, and so that's why you can't. You know it's not a safe defense. If, if you got into a.

A

Car crash, while I was driving the speed limit. Well, maybe that wasn't the appropriate speed.

A

At that particular time, so ultimately, that is a huge kind of foundation for all of this.

A

um And one of the things that I think is really nice about portsmouth is we have.

A

A lot of situations where for people to feel like they're safe, they do feel like they have to drive.

A

Slowly and appropriately slowly, our downtown doesn't really have a speaking problem. People.

A

Drive through the downtown of portsmouth at a very slow speed because of congestion, because.

A

Of pedestrian activity because of the nature of the roads- and I you know, I think, that's really.

A

Good, we just want all of our roads to kind of have that same natural tendency for the driver.

A

So another factor that comes into play in terms of this terminology is.

A

Our city ordinance, so our city ordinance, regulates speed limits in chapter seven.

A

um However, not all streets have a limit in this ordinance right now and if a street does not.

A

Have a limit in the ordinance it defaults to the state default speed limit in most.

A

Of our roads in town, that's 30 miles an hour. That's not, I think, a hundred percent. The case.

A

um 35 may also apply, but so any any street that we care about what the speed limit is that isn't in.

A

This ordinance, one of the things we have a tasked as a committee, is getting them into this ordinance.

A

So that we can choose what we want, the speed limit to be, and it's not set at that state default.

A

Another factor that is important here is that speed limits are subject to state law and the.

A

State law outlines the rules for speed limit settings, so, as I just referred to, there are.

A

Default speed limits if a if a street is not posted, there's a default state speed.

A

Limit that applies, but this um the statute also provides guidance and rules for how.

A

Speed limits can be set, and so we are not allowed in our state to post speed limits.

A

Below 25 and to post them at 25, we have to have an engineering study that supports that posting.

A

um I think that's good for people to be aware of. If that's something you feel.

A

Differently about that's, not something we as a committee can change. That's something that.

A

Our state legislatures, legislate tours, would have to advance, but we do have to adhere to.

A

Another important term is a posted speed limit. um This posted speed limit is the speed limit.

A

That's on a sign, the signs that you see on the side of the road and what most people think of.

A

As that's the speed limit, however, those speeds don't always agree with the city ordinance or.

A

Those state statutes that I was just describing so trying to make sure all these things align is.

A

Really important, we want one rule that applies to each road and not multiple rules that are in.

A

Discordance and so that's another aspect of what we've been trying to do is trying to align all of.

A

Those details, so I'm going to turn it over to steve who talk about some of the things we've.

A

Already accomplished thanks erica and one of the things, obviously, we noticed that we as we've been.

O

Looking at this over the past year or more, we know speeds come up frequently almost every meeting.

O

Is there are a lot of these arizona missions that have crept into the reality that we have.

O

And it will take quite a process to get this all ironed out, but we we wanted to.

O

Start by showing you what we've accomplished to date, if I could do that for a few slides, so.

O

um At our last meeting, um which was over at the senior center, you may recall that we decided, as.

O

A committee to extend the review period of for the posted 25 mile per hour, speed limit on islington.

O

Street, so islington is really two portions. What I call inner islington street, which runs from.

O

Maplewood out to just beyond the u.s one bypass and then the outer portion that runs out to route.

O

33, so both those were posted to 25 but different sections there. So we decided to continue the outer.

O

Speed limit posting at 25 miles per hour until we circle back and make a recommendation to the.

O

Council and the inner speed limit is awaiting formal final approval from the council at 25.

O

Next streets that we looked at were middle street and middle road, so on both of these.

O

Streets, we lowered the speed limits to 25 miles per hour from the 30 mile per hour, listing.

O

um So again we discussed this at the last meeting regarding that.

O

Staying in place at this time until we move forward with a further review.

O

Next, uh several streets we want to talk about, are changes, and these were ones that we found there.

O

There had been errors in our mission, so parrot avenue. We lowered the speed limit to 25 miles per.

O

Hour, that was one where uh it was an omission, and we all think I believe we all feel that.

O

um You know that that was a wise change and is waiting for formal council approval summit.

O

Avenue lowered to 25 from 30 again done last may and awaiting formal approval by the council.

O

So many times when we make these changes, they are put in place and then x months later, the council.

O

Will formally approve as a permanent change the changes we make are temporary until the council.

A

Has correct, we don't make changes, we advise advise and recommend. Thank you. So council council.

A

Gets final say um so that was a whole bunch of background on some of the work that we've uh been.

A

Doing and how we're structuring this work, um we are, I, I think, endeavoring to look at every street.

A

In town, although it is going to take us an awfully long time at the rate we're going but we're trying.

A

So hard and working so diligently because every street in town is a pretty overwhelming process.

A

We tried to identify a way that we could structure our approach and kind of provide some organization.

A

To this effort so we're using the complete streets design guidelines as a starting point when the.

A

City council adopted the complete streets policy in 2013. The council directed the staff to create.

A

A document which is this document, that's used to guide construction planning and funding to advance.

A

Complete streets policies, so this particular guideline is a planning document. It it's kind.

A

Of like us, it's advising um on on what's the best way to proceed for various roads, and we you.

A

Leverage this guideline and there it's categories to provide some structure to this effort, so the.

A

First, category we focused on was neighborhood connectors. We started here because I this is.

A

Our frequent flyer list, like every almost every road that comes up or maybe not every road, but.

A

The roads that come up the most often the roads that neighbors bring to our attention at our pts.

A

Meetings, the vast majority are in this category of roads, and so this was what we wanted to start with.

A

um One of the uh one of the details in the complete streets guidelines is each category.

A

Includes a target speed, and so we started as we were looking at this process by looking at.

A

Those target speeds target speeds are not legally binding. That's they're, not in our.

A

City ordinance they're, not the postage speed, they're, not the state statute, they're, simply.

A

Part of the planning process to say what do we think makes sense for this particular type.

A

Of road and that's aligned with the what we've been thinking about these.

A

um About the speeds and the speed limits and the consistency that we'd like to achieve, and so we're.

A

Using these target speeds as useful guidelines for our effort, however, as we looked at this, the target.

A

Speed for the neighborhood connectors didn't align with how we think those roads should function or.

A

How many of them are actually what their current speed limits are? So, as a first step, the target.

A

Speed limit for this category was lowered to 25 and I think intuitively that if you think.

A

About the roads that our neighborhood connectors- that's many of the roads that we've talked about.

A

Already tonight, and that come up often in terms of these are places that people live there. They.

A

Tend to have pretty dense or denser residential development, but they are also roads that people.

A

Use to get to other roads to, but primarily neighborhoods they're, using these roads to.

A

Get to neighborhoods so they do have bicycle and pedestrian activity. They do have people using.

A

Their roads as part of their neighborhood and 25 really does seem to be the speed that made sense.

A

There and so we moved to adjust that target speed down from 30 30 to 25. back to steve, and I think.

O

That was, uh I don't want to let that slide under the radar. That was really a significant policy.

O

Goal change that we're recommending is that dropping that speed in that category by five.

O

Miles per hour, because it's as erica said it's what we've heard frequently from uh residents.

O

And constituents and come to our meetings, can I say one more thing about that sure.

A

And that's not to say that every neighborhood connector is or should or will be posted at.

A

25, but to say generally that category, that's what makes sense and that's generally what we.

A

Think most of those roads should work toward and there are times where particular roads may not.

A

May not make sense to be posted at 25, but maybe they also don't make sense to be a neighborhood.

A

Connector right so there's different things we might adjust, but overall generally that's what.

A

We thought was the most appropriate back to you, sorry, caveat being that we can set targets, but.

O

We still need to look at the individual situation of the street and the neighborhood that it's in.

O

So let's look at a couple of the neighborhood connectors, so we're always trying to make sure.

O

That the posted speed will align with the targeted speed and we're focusing on improving compliance.

O

I think nothing is more frustrating for everyone in the community when there is a mismatch behind.

O

Between driver behavior and the posted speed limit that we have in place so we're focusing on trying.

O

To make these matches woodbury avenue is a good example from market street to rockingham avenue.

O

Posted at 25 and obviously, as we've been talking about the woodbury avenue design, we're talking.

O

About changes to design that will improve compliance with the speeds spinny road is.

O

Another one posted at 25.: we want to make sure that we can improve compliance on that street.

O

Maplewood avenue another street that we want to call out between woodbury avenue.

O

And dennis street, I I think here that we have a success that we we should. You know.

O

Point out that that street was redesigned and reconstructed 2019-20 and I think that we've seen.

O

Demonstrated success on there on that corridor. The community seems to feel that it's working better.

O

And I think we want to replicate that success and the lessons that we've learned in that project.

O

Next, we go on to neighborhood connectors, so this is one of the other categories same category. Sorry,.

O

Okay, thank you. um What we're looking to do here on uh rockingham avenue is. We are considering whether.

O

It is really more of a primary connector than a neighborhood connector, so you know part of that.

O

Process is looking at the street looking at the speed data, so here is one where we are considering.

O

Whether it should be changed and recommended the council changing it to a primary connector.

O

Next, two streets that we want to call out are farm lane.

O

And ranger way recommending changing classifications to neighborhoods slow.

O

Streets which have a target speed of 20 miles per hour, so farm lane between clover and woodbury and.

O

Ridgeway to change the entire ranger way to a neighborhood slow street, with a target of 20.

O

Several more that we want to call out recommended changing the classifications.

O

To neighborhood slow streets for mckinley road hoover drive and fw hartford drive.

O

So again, this would be more changing to neighborhood slow streets with a target of 20.

O

Final set, we want to talk about here, our neighborhood connector streets,.

O

um If I recall these uh are not in the chapter chapter seven is that correct? So this is an.

O

Example, where we're trying to straighten out the posting of the excuse me, the publishing.

O

Of the speed in the ordinance and the posting of the speed limit so we've our staff has been.

O

Out there collecting the speed data and we are looking at adding hydrogen way into chapter seven.

O

um And miller avenue also adding that into chapter seven is neighborhood connectors.

O

Continuing on um here an example where, for the neighborhood connectors, we need to align.

O

The speed limits, uh the posted speeds, with the rsa guidelines, so cursar's way, is posted at 20.

O

That needs to be looked at for a change as well as greenleaf avenue posted at 20 miles per hour.

P

O

And then we will look at two more farm lane from clover lane to route 16 posted at 20 and.

O

Cottage street right now also posted at 20 miles per hour. Again. We need to.

O

Review this in terms of compliance with the rsa and putting in our ordinance correctly.

O

South street obviously a very critical street in portsmouth. We need to review this carter in.

O

Its entirety, I think we all know that there are many different aspects: the south street.

O

As you move from the south end west through the city, technically, the rsa would require a.

O

25 mile per hour, minimum our city guidelines for a neighborhood connector street are 25 miles per.

O

Hour, you can see the speed data that we have collected so um with its current posting at 20.

O

We need to put some time into thinking about what can be done to bring that into a coordinated state.

O

And obviously many aspects to deal with on south street.

O

I get to do a blue slide for a change. Thank you. So I guess we wanted to just kind of summarize what.

O

We've done today so we lowered the neighborhood connector speed target speed from 30 to 25.

O

In the city's street design guidelines, we are low. We have lowered or recommended that the council.

O

Formally approved lowering the speed limits on islington street from maplewood avenue to.

O

Spinney road, as well as pirate avenue to align with the neighborhood connector target speeds.

O

And engineering standards we've initiated speed, limit reduction trials on islington.

O

Street the outer islington part from spinny to route 33 and on middle road, along with the.

O

Installation of an rrfb at the riverbrook condos, which was a community request and then middle.

O

Street from south to congress, street we've lowered also from 35 30 to 25 miles per hour.

A

So we're not quite done the neighborhood connectors, but we've made a lot of progress.

A

There and we're um focusing in on those last few things that need to get adjusted. Our next focus is.

A

Going to be on the primary connectors, that's the next category that we think makes sense to look at.

A

As you can see from the next slide, uh the speed limits for the primary connectors are.

A

All over the place, the actual speeds do not align at all with the posted speeds and most.

A

Drivers, the vast majority are exceeding the limits. That's not what we want in our limits.

A

We want really none of the things I just said to be true. We want consistent speed limits. We.

A

Want people adhering to those speed limits and we want those speed limits to make sense. So we.

A

Think this category is really important to tackle, but it's going to be really tricky to.

A

um To address all of these issues on all of these roads, which have a lot of diversity to them,.

A

But we're not we're not daunted we're we're gonna. Try, um I think. Last but not least, for me um we're.

A

Also examining the potential for citywide default speed limit. I think it's something that would be.

A

It's attractive in terms of its simplicity, but we do have to make sure that if we do that, it's legal.

A

And the legal department is helping us identify what would be required to do something like set.

A

A city-wide speed limit, um so I'm going to turn it back to counselor bagley great. Thank you for.

B

The excellent presentation, um I think, as you can see from that presentation, there's there's a lot.

B

Of complexity to this topic, I will just highlight what we typically do in parking traffic and safety.

B

Is we will implement things on something of a trial basis and then every six months or every.

B

Year, the council will formally approve things so in the presentation, when you saw that you know I.

B

Was waiting a council approval? It's not because we don't want to approve it as a council. It's because.

B

We give it a kind of a trial timeline before we do approve it in case there is some feedback from.

B

The community that maybe we made a mistake, sorry we weren't trying to throw you under the phone. No.

O

No thank you. Language is very uh prickly on all this stuff. So thank you. Yes um really. Yes, I have.

E

Your kids like to acknowledge the long hours and hard work that both erica and steven put into this.

E

Presentation- it's really wonderful, it's so informative to everyone in the community. So.

E

Great thank you. Thank you appreciate it thanks mary lou. I think we will add it to uh we'll put.

D

It on the city website- yes, please, and I think I just want to one final thought- is that you know.

O

This will be a long process. I mean there are a lot of pieces to ravel and unravel in this, and.

O

um I expect that we'll be continuing to kind of comprehensively look at this and and be frequently.

O

On agendas, with next step recommendations as a group steve erica how long you been working on.

Q

This, I don't want to know. uh The first draft in this presentation was done in april of last.

O

Year so it's gone through. This is version. This is just 35.2 as a presentation, but there'll be.

O

35 more until we get it done, they did do. We have any more questions from the committee.

B

Right, um I'm gonna open it up to the public to come up. If you come up to the microphone.

N

Woodbury ave, um so I guess.

N

Oh, they can hear. I know this, is I don't like having my back. You can stand at the.

R

Podium, if you like, you can use yeah. You can stand at the podium if you'd rather.

N

um So I guess when, when you say, people from the community requested the like community.

N

Was a community request? How many people need to request something before it's.

N

Is it like one person said, oh, I don't. This is not working for me. It's too fast so or is it 30 or 40.

N

Do you mean how many people have to requests how many people make up this community request? These.

F

Folks are volunteers they're, you know, they're, not they're, preparing the information based on the.

F

Information, that's given to them is that correct, well, they're, preparing the information based on.

F

Guidelines, the review of existing data, the the process with which traffic calming and speed.

F

Controls and changes in configuration the roadway, starts with a request to the city. It becomes a.

N

Single individual, it can be a single individual, okay, and the process happens that um we receive.

F

A concern it can either come through the the committee or directly to the department of public.

F

Works uh eric eby, our transportation uh engineer um and and our our folks tyler reese review the.

F

Comment oftentimes: there um leads to collection of data and, if there's determined to be an issue.

F

um Solutions, either short-term solutions, easy putting a sign up or or painting can be done.

F

If it's a larger solution, a larger change, um I can point to an example: um we had a request to change.

F

A section of roadway from a two-way street to a one-way street. It came in with a limited number.

F

Of people being interested in doing that, and when we went to public presentation relative.

F

To that there's a human cry from a lot of people saying you know you didn't ask us. So what happens.

F

Is it's an iterative process so if there's a significant change to a roadway or something.

F

Like that, there's a public dialogue and if there's a consensus, meaning a majority of people are for.

F

It or if there's an overwhelming safety concern that we as professional engineers, determine.

F

To be overwhelming in terms of concern, it can move forward. Sometimes it takes money to do that.

F

So we would then go to the city council, either through our operating budget or through a capital.

F

Improvement plan request and it would be requested for monies to implement that. A great example is.

F

Traffic coming efforts on various streets, there's an item in the capital improvements plan that sets.

F

Aside money to do that activity and once there's a consensus in the neighborhood on an approach.

F

We do that sometimes there isn't consensus and sometimes what we do is a pilot effort, a great.

F

Example of this is the roundabout that we're going to be doing that. Somebody who commented.

F

Earlier said, what you know what's the status of that? What's it going to cost, there are costs.

F

Associated with doing these pilot efforts, but the benefit is that you gain information about that.

F

People get a chance to kind of kick the tires. They kind of get a chance to see the configuration and.

F

Modifications can get done real time based on real experience, so it is not just one person saying I.

F

Want to change this and it happening it's a it's, a exhaustive process that reviews a lot of public.

F

Input and a lot of different steps along the way, so it doesn't just happen. Thank you, peter. That's.

B

A great explanation, I'll just add one more point to that, so any citizen is welcome to contact the.

B

Council or public works or this committee with a suggestion and then what we'll do is look into.

B

It, but very often what happens is we look into it and we don't recommend a change and we place.

B

That suggestion on file so anybody's welcome to bring something to this committee. However, just.

B

Because something's brought to this committee doesn't mean an action. I would think no, no.

C

No, like somebody can flag something yeah and that's it just takes one person to.

A

Flag, something maybe that doesn't mean it- takes one person to change something right. I guess is.

S

Maybe a good way to describe it that person might one person might flag something that.

A

um You know staff collect data and we're like yeah. This is a problem. We discuss it as a committee.

A

And and then a change might occur, but it's not that's. You know. One person can flag something.

A

And that can be a valid concern. Go ahead steve I was just gonna. Add there's one other step that we.

O

Frequently do is, we will go out to the site as a committee, and we will look at it ourselves and.

O

I've been on the committee, for I don't know four or five years and and many times items.

O

Are are raised, we collect data and we go out and visit the site and we determine we think in the.

O

Scheme of larger things and context, it's fine and it gets placed on file for future review. So.

O

um I think we've become very um uh methodical at how we look at issues that are raised by.

O

Residents that come to the city- and I think what we presented tonight is part of that.

O

Erica sorry, it's okay um and just to circle back to the speed limits that we're talking about.

A

um As parking and traffic safety committee, we see every month many requests for traffic.

A

Calming and speed limit reviews, and that happens month after month after month and happened month.

A

After month after month, to the point where we thought as a committee, it would make sense for.

A

Us to start tackling this in a systematic way, instead of just waiting for people to bring it.

A

To the committee, and instead of um you know one one road and then this road and then that road.

A

And- and you know it's dependent on that one citizen speaking up instead, we can.

A

uh We wanted to be proactive and thoughtful and systematic and look at all the roads. um We can't.

A

Do them all at once, and so in terms of trying to figure out a way to carve out a manageable.

A

Task at a time, we picked one of these categories and we did intentionally pick a category that has.

A

Roads that come up a lot to try and help get some useful progress that would help areas of concern.

N

So then another question I had was: did you raise the um suggest recommend raising the speed limits.

N

On any roads, or did you just lower them across the board and and and the the additional question is.

N

Is it realistic? I mean people are driving faster and faster main highway speed, speed limits are.

N

um 75 miles an hour, I think I think that's what they are, we're still at 65.. No one drives 65.

N

Miles an hour and they are usually in control. You know there are accidents, of course, but.

N

I'll try 65 miles an hour on the highway. Well, we don't. We don't control that the highway is a city.

B

No, that is a state road and, generally speaking, we have a lot more resident requests for slow.

B

Speed than we do for faster speed, so we've only tackled where we can lower the speed thus far.

N

You're going to be.

N

uh Well, I think very busy. uh Is that a is it okay, if I yeah.

A

That's really something that we talked about in the presentation that we can't just lower.

A

Speeds, it's not as simple as saying. Oh, hey, keep your making recommendations and.

N

Then, okay, so okay, we're gonna. I just want to see if anybody else has any questions.

N

Oh okay, can I just ask one more quick one: why is um rockingham is a is a connector road to.

N

um A neighborhood connector what neighborhoods does rockingham connect.

N

The classifications are not there. We just use terms that made sense.

N

But the classifications are based on a number of criteria: oh yeah.

A

Whatever I think that's when we're looking at reviewing right.

B

Anybody else have questions.

J

Lisa hewitt 726 middle road. um I want to thank you for the presentation. It was.

J

Obviously, well thought out easy to follow. I guess one recommendation I would make if you're going to.

J

Do further presentations like this would be to give more examples of the streets.

J

When you're, referring to things like primary connectors, connector roads, you guys know them.

J

Inside and out, but the public does not and they don't necessarily have access.

J

To that book that has them in there. So that's just one recommendation. The other thing about.

J

The presentation I was confused with the borthwick the example that you gave at 35.

J

And maybe it is 35 and it's not posted as such, but that road is posted. The signs are 25 miles.

J

Per hour, I believe, from 33 to about the hospital. I think it's it's also 35 somewhere, but you might.

J

Want to look at that before you use that as an example, because I don't know that that's the.

J

Best example to use um so I'm you know, you're not gonna, be surprised by this, I'm all in favor of a.

J

City default speed limit. um I think it's very hard to drive this city and to know what the.

J

Speed limits are to go from, for you know. I know middle road well because I live there, but when.

J

That was 30 miles an hour and half the streets that are feeding into it or 20 miles an hour.

J

um You know like essex and sheffield and then the other half that feed it are 25 miles per hour.

J

I mean how do you even know what you're supposed to be driving, because they're all over the place.

J

um I also hope that you will use you know. I know the 85th percentile and, after speaking,.

J

In front of you enough, you probably know my feelings on using the 85th percentile.

J

um As a as a um a gauge for where those the speed limits should be in people's neighborhoods, but.

J

um I'm wondering whether you're going to be using the number of accidents um in those in those.

J

Neighborhoods as well, I can only speak on middle road when middle road was 30 miles per hour.

J

There were accidents, there was a gentleman almost hit in the crosswalk. There were multiple accidents.

J

As far as traffic accidents with cars- and I think that that needs to be looked at because when you.

J

Look at the data on middle road. I realized that the speed has not reduced that much, which I know.

J

Was disappointing to me and some others, but the accidents I believe, were reduced and I think you.

J

Need to look at that, and I think that that's every bit as important in neighborhoods as.

J

Some of the other factors that you're looking at and then just my last would be um kind of a maybe.

J

Something more structured as far as when, when these go to city council for approval, because.

J

I know in the case of middle street I mean that that decision was made quite a while ago. I'm not.

J

Sure I think it was more than a year ago um when you took the bike lanes out and it was.

J

Recommended through that study that it go to 25, but yet it still hasn't been reduced to 25 as.

J

Ordinance with the city council- and it just feels like to let those go on the same thing- happened.

J

With south street, between south and middle, it took almost two years. I believe for that, to go to the.

J

Council, after the decision was made to reduce it, there was no longer a pilot. You had already done.

J

The pilot and I wonder if you make a decision to reduce, for instance, islington and middle, you will.

J

Have already had a year's pilot, will you then sit for another two years and wait for it to go.

J

To council for ordinance change, if you decide to do that, that doesn't make a lot of sense. So.

J

Thank you very much good. Thank you thanks, mr chairman, just one comment: um there are for.

F

Folks, who are interested in seeing what their streets are listed as um from you know, the type.

F

Of category there's a complete complete streets document online in the city's website, if you type.

F

In complete seats, complete streets guideline it'll go right to that section. So there's some.

F

Good resources there, this presentation will be on will be posted on the website as well.

D

Mr chairman, in defense of the wonderful presenters, I think the con the list of streets that made up.

D

Each category was in an earlier iteration, or at least in a draft way back when, and I think we in.

D

The interest of consolidating the information we can, we can certainly make that available as well.

D

As peter said through the report right all right well, thank you guys very much for the tremendous.

B

Amount of work that went into that presentation, uh both by by both of you and by help from staff.

B

So, moving on to new business, uh daniel street request for lighted flashing, stop sign at market.

B

Square by resident sample motion would be moved to place on file some of second any discussion, and we.

B

I'll, just for the the person who made this request, we are doing a comprehensive overview of market.

B

Square, so we don't want to get involved in making changes prior to that all those in favor any.

B

Opposed old business, woodbury avenue request for traffic calming by residents, sample motion moved.

B

To hold additional public media present revised plan incorporating speed cushions and I believe.

B

That's on march 30th, uh I believe so so I would. Mr chairman, I've moved to make that to do that, but.

F

Also, to give a brief review on the modifications that have been made, because there are a number.

F

Of folks here this evening and the committee uh would be to be good for the community to hear this.

F

As well I'll, second, that second, okay, okay I'll bring it up on the screen at the revised plan,.

R

Okay, so that's that's the entire length.

R

All right, uh moving on to the first page, uh this is starting.

R

At the end, at the echo avenue end of the corridor, and uh let me try it here.

F

Get your plus minus up top there is that better yeah, it's better yeah.

R

Okay, so uh we had the the neighborhood meeting at the franklin school uh back in february and.

R

We had presented a plan showing a lot of median islands along the corridor and and those islands.

R

Would help to divert traffic out of the straight alignment that they were are in currently on.

R

Woodbury but we did get a lot of feedback from the residents. You know they were concerned about.

R

The loss of parking um having median islands being difficult to get in and out of driveways.

R

And uh so we took another look and- and you know the speed uh tables were a high priority for the.

R

Residents so we looked at this and went back and and saw you know there is another option.

R

Usually, on arterial roadways such as woodbury ave, uh speed tables are not recommended, but I.

R

Looked into that further and the reason they're not recommended on arterial roadways is because.

R

Generally, arterial roadways carry a lot of truck traffic, but on woodbury there was a.

R

Truck restriction prohibition, so there is not very much truck traffic. Another characteristic.

R

Of arterial roadways is that they carry a lot of bus traffic, but on woodbury again, there's.

R

Not a lot of bus tracker, it's just a wildcat bus that runs between maplewood and market street.

R

uh And again, another reason for not doing traffic calming on arterial roadways is that it can.

R

Force traffic onto side streets that parallel the roadway, but in this area of the woodbury there are.

R

No parallel side streets as an option. It's either this or basically market street or the turnpike.

R

So uh the speed table can be appropriate in this situation. So what we looked at speed tables are.

R

Also, a concern to emergency vehicles because with speed tables such as maplewood avenue, there.

R

You know it affects all vehicles. Even emergency vehicles have to slow down, which is not desirable.

R

When responding to an emergency call, so another device, that's used in traffic calming is what it's.

R

Called and referred to as a speed, cushion or a speed pillow, and it's these units that are instead.

R

Of one solid speed table across the roadway from curb to curb, it has gaps in it and there each.

R

Separate cushion is six feet wide and then there's a two foot gap between them and what this does is.

R

Allows the trucks with larger wheelbases such as fire trucks, ambulances they can traverse the speed.

R

Bump through the gaps, so they don't have to slow down as they approach the gap. They can go right.

R

Through the gaps, but as the regular passenger, car or pickup trucks with smaller wheelbases, they.

R

Would have to have at least one tire up on the speed bump, so slowing them down. So with that in.

R

Mind and they're also more advantageous because of the gaps it allows for better drainage and allows.

R

For motorcycles and bicycles to get through them easier without having to go up and over the hump.

R

So we took another look at the corridor and see where we could make these changes and.

R

Starting here at the left end of the quarter closest to market street, where echo ave is we.

R

Are still recommending a median island at this location at echo ave, because one of the reasons.

R

It acts as a gateway into the neighborhood. We could add greenery or signs of saying welcome.

R

To frank jones neighborhood, for example, and also a lot of the people who live at betty's.

R

Dream come up, echo avenue and they are in wheelchairs and crossing the road to get.

R

To rite aid or market basket, and this would be a good way to give them a pedestrian refuge halfway.

R

Across the street, allowing them easier access to cross, and so that's why we are recommending.

R

Meeting island at that location and in some places we are still recommending eliminating.

R

On-Street parking, but that's only so that the the vehicles would have to stay in the travel.

R

Lane and not use the parking lane as a bypass to the to the median or the speed bump speed cushion.

R

So this is the first speed cushion is shown here and the reason we haven't. We have the six total.

R

Speed cushions and there's space about every 400 feet apart. Studies have shown that this.

R

Type of spacing keeps the speeds at a constant 25 miles an hour rather than getting through one.

R

Traffic calming device and then seeing no more, you know 10 traffic tends to pick up and make.

R

Up for lost time, so if they can see the next item of 400 feet away, they know oh there's another one.

R

There's no point in speeding up a job. Just keep a steady speed going through this area.

R

And uh so that's the first one, let's see if I can carry this out and that is then we come to.

R

The intersection of maplewood avenue there is an existing median island and a flashing beacon at.

R

This crosswalk at the maple lab intersection, so that would stay as is moving on to the next sheet.

I

R

That's again, that's the meeting island at maplewood avenue with the flashing beacon and the.

R

Next speed cushion was proposed just to the other side of maple street and again there wouldn't be.

R

Any parking changes needed for this. It can be fit right in as the existing geometry of the street.

R

Moving on to the third page, the next speed cushion is down near farm lane in front of.

R

The church and again this is an area where we are recommending taking away the parking lanes. The.

R

Vehicles cannot get around the speed cushion with by using the travel in the parking lane.

R

The other option, if parking really needs to stay here, is we could just widen the.

R

Speed cushion out into the parking lane so that people would not be able to avoid it.

R

The next sheet, this is a proposed feed cushion down. uh You know the church is.

R

Here at the left and edmund have to the right, there would be tote two speed cushion locations.

R

In this area and again, no parking would be lost by either one of these locations.

R

And the final sheet in this section again, that's the one we saw in the last sheet at edmond.

R

And then there's a meeting island proposed for this area here just to the northwest of rockingham.

R

Avenue and the reason this this is provides a gateway treatment into the neighborhood again.

R

For greenery or signage, to alert drivers that they're coming into a neighborhood and in this.

R

Area we would propose to eliminate some of the parking just to eliminate the ability to easily.

R

Get around the median, it would force people to slow down as they're coming into this area.

R

uh The rest of the plan is similar, as we had shown it before with the proposed crossing and.

R

Median island on the other side of rockingham ave and the connector to the peas, uh rail trail.

R

And the next, mr chairman, can I ask eric a question since we're on that slide? Of course, eric can you.

D

Speak to why we're not currently depicting a sidewalk crossing at edmund, uh edmund, yes, we've.

R

Looked at the location we we, this committee went out six seven years ago when we actually looked.

R

At it and collected data at that time in the summertime uh first week of school, and then we.

R

Put a camera out again last week and we've been collecting dave, we've got 85 hours of data out.

R

Here and general, as a rule of thumb, you'd like to see at least 20 pedestrians an hour in in.

R

Some hour of the day, but those 85 hours, we didn't see 20 pedestrians in the entire intersection for.

R

For an hour I mean we have pedestrians, mostly walking along the sidewalk on woodbury. We get.

R

A few three or four or five a day that will cross the street here and primarily that students going.

R

To the bus and getting the bus stop other than that, most pedestrians are walking along. So even if.

R

You looked at every pedestrian, that's using that intersection. That's only that's still less than 20.

R

An hour which is not a high number of pedestrians, it's not a lot of pedestrian traffic. We do have.

R

An existing crosswalk here at rockingham, it's only a couple hundred feet away, and I feel that.

R

It's safer to have a pedestrian cross at this intersection, rather than to introduce a new one.

R

Where it's not going to get a lot of activity- and you know pedestrian crosswalks generally- don't get.

R

A lot of yields vehicles to yield to them when there was a light pedestrian activity at them. So.

R

It's uh as a follow-up on the city undertakes the improvements to mnav, which will include.

D

Sidewalks as part of the capital improvement plan, is this something we could revisit if.

D

If that were appropriate, yes, we could certainly take another look at it with the proposed median.

R

Island here and the speed cushion at this location, the speed should drop substantially within this.

R

Area making it easier for pedestrians to cross the street at this location so.

R

That's something we can continue to monitor after the implementation, see how it's doing.

E

Question mary luke: how nice, how many stops does a school bus make on that.

E

On this whole section, you know I do not know it would depend correct yeah. It depends on your.

R

Dr, where the students are living and well yeah, usually they don't stop at every house. No, so I'm.

E

Wondering if they stop at say edmonds avenue and you know parents might be requesting a crosswalk.

E

There because kids are coming to and from the very school bus, just wondered if that was part.

E

Of the consideration yeah, that's that's part. Part of the thinking is you know, because it's a.

R

Bus stop for students, you know one one advantage you have when the bus stops. It puts out the stop.

R

Sign to the side and stops all traffic, and then the students can cross more or less, which is I.

R

Would consider that to be safer than any crosswalk, because it's stopping traffic yeah. I just wondered.

E

If that was part of the consideration is to see yeah to know how many stops the school.

E

Bus makes and where they stop yeah, we can find that from the school department, foreign, okay, my.

Q

General understanding is, they do stop uh in an individual children do get off at their houses.

Q

Instead of one location, I think it depends on the neighborhood well on woodbury ave. Oh.

Q

Specifically in woodbridge, this is mr chair. This is something of interest. We could talk to the.

F

School department to have a briefing we don't. We can't speak to this just curious that aspect of.

E

Crosswalks mm-hmm, let's just continue and okay, so uh this sheet shows the proposed improvements that.

R

The dennett street intersection, which is a raised median here in front of the hotel- and this would.

R

Be keeping sidewalk basically, what alignment is here, but you know adding a bike lane to the side.

R

Here so it's just reinforcing the uh slowing down as the traffic comes into this section of woodbury.

R

Yeah, that was, and uh for this this is a detailed specification of what the speed.

R

Cushions will look like again it's a set of three going across the road. This is one lane.

R

This is the double yellow down the middle of the road. You have traffic on one side, traffic on the.

R

Other each one would have a full cushion and then there's one split between the two.

R

So it's a six foot wide cushion with two foot gaps in between some emergency vehicles would.

R

Be able to drive through the gaps, whereas regular passenger cars would not be able to.

B

Great, thank you eric, and if anybody in the crowd has questions feel free to send them in to us via.

B

Email or once again, on march, 30th we're going to have another meeting where there's going.

B

To be a little bit more open dialogue on this presentation and any modifications to it uh so.

B

All those in favor of scheduling the meeting aye aye any opposed. I that's not opposed [laughter].

B

Okay, moving on um be dennis street request for traffic calming by residents, sample motion move to.

B

Approve temporary pump out on north of spearhawk street and that's shown in the packet. Yes,.

B

And that is this diagram here so based on the data we've collected and we've done sight lines.

R

Measurements out there of the hill, which is just near hunters hill avenue. We felt that if we could.

R

Do something to break up the straight alignment of dennett street coming up the hill from sparhawk.

R

Street that may help to slow traffic down as they're coming up to this intersection, where.

R

The sight lines are more limited. Oh, this could be done by inserting those uh plastic flex bollards.

R

At this location in re-striping the middle of the road, it would, you know, cut over into the parking.

R

Lane here a bit, but you know each residence does have an off uh street driveway where they can park.

R

And this would be something we would recommend as a temporary measure, just to see how it works. We could put that out and monitor speeds, while it's in place.

R

And it's at it's at a location where, when you're coming over the hill you'll be able to see it in.

R

Time, that's why we didn't want to bring it too close to the top of the hill, where you may not be able to see it coming from maplewood ave, but at this location it is visible from both directions.

R

Okay, did anybody make the motion motion to move a temporary bump out north of swellock street.

B

A second any discussion- I just have a quick question: is this very similar to what we did.

E

In front of the white heron tea company, when we did uh temporary yes, but there wouldn't be a.

R

Crosswalk, it would just be a bump out yeah with the bollards yeah. Well that didn't shift lanes.

R

That just kept the lane closed until you got past it, whereas this was actually the forced drivers.

R

To shift their shift over okay, and that would be for six months or what's the time frame, we could.

R

You know, I would say at least a month, you know see how it goes and we would spring marylou the.

D

Production folks have said, put your mic closer to you when you, when you talk, someone was criticizing.

E

That that's okay, I'm not trying to help kevin out. I'm not gonna! Ask her! Oh you're good! I will vote.

F

In support of this, uh mr chairman, however, I I do want to make sure we adequately advise residents.

F

um That are out there, and that requested this um so that they're aware that this is going to.

F

Happen and it's a pilot effort and that we are using this to collect data, to see the response.

F

um I I can imagine um people some people getting upset that a decision is being.

F

Made to make modifications and not feeling those adequate review, so I I I know it's just a pilot.

F

But I still in order to optimize the potential success I I would like to add that we would do.

F

Additional outreach prior to implementing this, I would agree with that, especially the.

B

Residence driveway who's most affected. I think we should make sure we contact them ahead of.

B

Time erica: do you think that we would need to let them know and talk about it next month or.

A

Do you think we could outreach with postcards or phone calls, or and and do it before next month,.

A

You know, I I think, probably um a leaflet put on doors would probably be the best way to to for.

F

Those immediate impacted folks, and then you know once we do it, we would put sign boards up saying.

F

You know temporary pilot, you know changing change of traffic flow or something like that.

Q

Mark and now I'm in the position of making a friendly amendment, but I don't want to it.

Q

Seems like we have to do a little information to the public, this more surrounding neighbors, but.

Q

Then we're going to get feedback from them on what we're going to do so if they didn't go to the site.

Q

Visit and they don't know about it today or right now, and then we approve this just for a pilot, but.

Q

Before the pilot we put out notices, I would think that the public that we just notified is going to.

Q

Want to have more input, it's just a thought, so I'm not quite clear on what the friendly.

F

Amendment is there, isn't one don't do, don't don't do the outreach or do additional outreach? I think.

Q

It's the boogie before the horse, it seems like we should be doing. We should be doing outreach.

Q

Before we introduce the pilot, that's that was my motion. Okay, so the friendly emotion would be.

Q

Exactly what peter said and the second would agree, okay, so that's it. I think if we got an.

B

Overwhelmingly negative response: you might bring it back before the committee before proceeding is.

B

That what year yeah it's we don't. We've we've learned a lot over the years in terms of how.

F

To roll stuff out, and one of the things we've we've learned is that you know listening to the.

F

Residents are the ones that have to live with this, and their input is extremely important, so you know.

F

We try to do this in a manner, that's inclusive as possible and make sure people are aware of.

F

It they may not like it or agree with it always but they're at least aware that it's happening so.

F

You know it's appropriate for us to do an outreach and if we get serious feedback, we'll come back and.

F

Say we've got a lot of really negative feedback, or people wanted to do something different, but.

F

You know, I think, we'll see it's a pilot, it's not a permanent thing. We did a pilot on bartlett street.

F

People didn't like it, so it really informs some of the decisions that we were made relative to.

F

Design, so that's you know, that's kind of the process. As erica said, it's an iterative process.

B

And and no matter how much hour reach we do until the stakes go in the ground, there's still going to.

B

Be people people that don't know about it until it happens, so you can't notify everyone or you.

B

Can try to notify everyone, but not everybody will understand what they've been notified about. Yep.

E

So right now we're voting on proceeding with this pilot, but doing outreach prior to that time and.

F

If there's significant feedback relative to the effort, we'll come back to the committee good, if.

F

Not we will we'll report back when we're going to implement okay I'll second, that, oh we're already.

B

Seconded yet yeah it seems like there were changes within that. Well, there was, but that's.

Q

Okay, any further discussion steve I'm going to support the revised motion, but the measure of.

O

Success here will be increased. Compliance with the post speed is that, where we're going, I think.

F

That's a: I think that is a good measure of success, all those in favor any opposed.

B

Okay, moving on c sagamore avenue request to slow traffic by resident sample motion move to approve.

B

Installation of additional speed, limit, sign and speed feedback side as detailed in the packet.

F

So I moved second, I don't know if there's anything to say about this one or uh pretty straightforward.

R

Yeah we collected data along sagamore ave. We saw the speeds are slightly above the posted speed.

R

Limit out there, so is uh some measures that we could do to help bring it into compliance. Is.

R

Install another speed limit sign near the tide, watch driveway and as well as a speed feedback.

R

Sign the drivers going out of the town know how fast they're going. We have that coming inbound.

R

But nothing outbound at that location. So great, look at that monitor it and, mr chairman, the next.

F

Item on the agenda is uh some information relative to road work that we'll be doing.

F

The tyler reese will be presenting. I believe, how are you, nope, zach, zach, sorry zach? um Why.

B

Don't we should we finish this motion before we do that? Yes, all right! So all those in favor.

O

Aye any opposed okay, so new business, sagamore avenue, update on cross-section improvement, project.

P

D

Welcome zach hi, all I'm zach cronin, the assistant city engineer. I am the project manager of the.

T

Sagmore ave sewer extension project as part of the project. We were disturbing the road.

T

So we saw it as a very good opportunity to also improve the cross-sectional area.

T

We had a number of constraints that we are still dealing with and working around, but the.

T

Overall goal is to improve pedestrian bicycle and vehicle safety on sagamoref. If we could bring up.

T

Should we go across left to right or I'm sure from a tide watch end over yes, so uh the first.

T

Phase of sagamore roadway reconstruction really happened in 2015, which went from about south.

T

Street to tidewatch the goal of this is to bring up the rest of sagamore ave to about the same.

T

Safety standards and cross-sectional area that that first phase had established.

T

So starting over about tidewatch is where we would begin establishing wider sidewalks and.

T

Realigning the roadway to straighten out and widen the existing or the shoulders.

T

And have uniform uh widths as well as uniform, roadway widths, that is, to improve the ability.

T

Of maintaining sidewalks, as well as the roadway surface as it stands now, the southbound shoulder.

T

Can shrink down to approximately one foot, which is very dangerous for bicyclists and.

T

The far side that shoulder can get about, I measured it about 10 feet in one location, so.

T

What happens there is bicyclists will use the farther out location and then, where it narrows.

T

In they over correct into the traffic lane causing vehicle, I guess conflicts and also.

T

Pinching, in with that, you can have times where bicyclists hit the curb and it causes accidents.

F

Eric can you slide back to the tide watch entrance? Yes, so tide watch we are proposing uh removing the.

T

Acceleration and deceleration lane we've had a number of complaints from the residents of.

T

Tidewatch due to storm water coming down off of the hill, this would allow us to use the curb to.

T

Channelize that flow and redirect it away from their entrance, as well as improve the grading.

T

So it would prevent any water from running into there. I have spoken to the former and current.

T

Association president for those condominiums and the their consensus was that this was a plan that.

T

They were in favor of, but they were going to speak to the rest of the association as well.

T

And I'm waiting to hear back on that. So this is more a preliminary plan that, in the interest of.

T

Schedule I wanted to bring forward, but it is, it is a work in progress and we are able to.

T

Make alterations as input comes through. I would like to note that the work that is proposed is.

T

Within the city's right-of-way, there are some impacts with existing landscaping and other.

T

Features that we are speaking with residents about to try to find equitable solutions.

T

So moving uh you know across as we see it, it will uniformly change the lane width.

T

To 11 feet in both directions, as we've heard, a couple of public commenters state, the top.

T

Of that hill is a very narrow pinch point in other areas, we're looking for six foot.

T

Shoulders on either side with one side having a five and a half foot sidewalk, which would.

T

Be adequate width for our sidewalk tractors for maintenance at the top of the hill, we're.

T

Looking to do four foot of shoulder on each side of the road which we believe is the best.

T

Mix of uh maintaining a proper shoulder width on either side and vehicle safety, as well.

T

The work would then continue all the way through down to around where the scuba shop.

T

Is where the bridge construction in 2015 established a nice roadway cross section.

T

As well as a concrete sidewalk, so we would continue the concrete sidewalk.

T

From that construction to the 2015 work on sagamore ave on the north and also 2015.

B

Great thank you this. I think um many residents have been waiting for this.

B

Presentation for quite some time so I think it's going to be well received.

E

I think we've had many cyclists come to our meeting requesting wider cycle bicycle lanes.

E

And safety improvements, so this is great good job so far, so good right. Thank you.

B

And that's informational, so we don't have to take any action exactly. Thank you very much.

P

Thank you thanks thanks and the monthly accident report from the deputy chief. Thank you, mr chairman,.

U

um The month of february, we had a total of 76 crashes. 37 of those were reportable crashes. We.

U

Had zero incidents zero instances of either a pedestrian or a bicyclist being struck by.

U

A motor vehicle I did want to uh just mention a quick point that somebody had actually made.

U

A good point in public comment earlier about crash data, as it relates to uh speed limits.

U

um That's one of the big factors that we look at in addition to.

U

um Complaints we get about speed, allocating resources is one of our primary goals. Is.

U

To reduce the amount of crashes and reduce the amount of crashes that cause injury and a lot.

U

Of times the crash data supports us increasing traffic enforcement errors in areas where we don't.

U

Get complaints so, although we may get a lot of complaints on a certain road about speeding when.

U

We look at the track, the crash data. It may tell us to patrol the street over one. Well, you know.

U

So I just think it's important for the public to understand that the police department takes.

U

All those factors into consideration and a crash that is, is one of those important factors as well.

U

And again, just to reiterate the crashes aren't always on the roads that we typically get the.

U

Most complaints about speed on so that's why we're policing and enforcing it in other areas.

U

Of this city as well, in addition to where we're hearing public uh public requests for assistance.

B

That's it. Thank you great, thank you chief and question yep. Could you give us a report.

E

On a pedestrian accident that happened this month, maybe within the past 10 days when a child is hit.

E

hmm You don't need a name, but I I would like to know information on it. Please, if I may yeah sure.

U

Yeah it was the month. Is it now? It's march um it was probably about. Two weeks ago uh we had.

U

A motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident at the intersection of uh congress and maplewood avenue.

U

It's probably about 4 45 quarter. Five uh at night there was a vehicle in the right turn.

U

Lane of congress street turning right and going outbound on maplewood ave, the operator of the.

U

Vehicle uh had a green light to proceed right on the intersection at the time. uh One of the.

U

Leading contributing factors to the crash upon the officer's determination and investigation.

U

Was solar glare? If anybody knows if you're at that intersection this time of year, looking down.

U

Islington street or west, you have the potential for a solar glare and in this instance that's.

U

What the officer determined to be a contributing factor was that solar glare as the vehicle was.

U

Turning right onto maplewood ave, there was a number of pedestrians crossing maplewood ave.

U

From islington towards congress in the crosswalk, they had a cross signal two cross and the vehicle.

U

Had struck the eight-year-old, the eight-year-old was, thankfully not.

U

Seriously and you're not transported um and uh the operator of the vehicle pulled over.

U

Stayed on scene, it you know gave gave all the information was uh was amenable to the.

U

Investigation and provided everything on scene in the investigation concluded from there that.

U

Is the summary as to what happened with that crash? So the light was green when the crosswalk was on.

U

The light for the motorist journey, yes, yeah, that's my issue.

E

Thank you, okay, and that the reason that's not in the report is because it was this.

E

Month, correct, I know in our report. Sorry I was asking because people have asked me about it: yep.

P

Okay, so it's out in the community, but it hasn't been in the paper. You know there.

E

Has been nothing about it, so I think to clarify that is. Thank you. Okay, sure, yeah.

B

um So, moving on to item c response to resonant concerns regarding chevrolet avenue, sidewalks.

B

And speeding gallagher's place crosswalk on islington street and traffic speeds on miller.

B

Avenue near spring street, uh mr chairman, it's like some information is in the packet on this.

R

uh The issue of speeds on chevrolet ave came up a few years ago and we did speed measurements.

R

On there- and it was, I think they were in the low 20s- I think the minutes are in the packet we found.

R

That it wasn't a speeding issue, but there was a speed limit of 30 miles an hour out there. That.

R

Was posted so in order to hopefully discourage people from driving the actual speed limit? The.

R

Speed limit signs were removed and that's one where would be more appropriate to probably.

R

Lower it to 25, the data supports a speed limit of 25, but the speeds are actually lower than 25. So.

R

That's something else that can be addressed during this speed limit review. In addition,.

F

A sidewalk was installed on that section of roadway since that time all right. Thank you.

R

um The item at gallagher's, the the it's part of the islington street reconstruction, there was a.

R

Median island placed in the middle of islington street, so the crossing from gallagher is over to.

R

Plaza 800 is now you have a you, can do it in two stages you get to the median island and wait for.

R

A gap in the other direction coming out so with that added assistance for pedestrians, we don't.

R

See the need for the rfb at that location. um That's the first time I've heard of an.

R

Issue being able to cross the street at the location since we've made those improvements.

R

But you know we can certainly moderate and keep an eye on it and see if it's continues to be an issue.

P

Okay and on miller ave, uh we did collect speeds out there. That's I think we referenced that in.

R

The speed limit presentation- it's posted at 25, the actual speed- is default to 30 because it's not in.

R

Chapter 7 ordinance and the speed uh measurements we took on miller at that area were in line with.

R

The actual speed limit of 30 miles an hour, it's a little bit above the 25, but it's in line with the.

R

Actual 30s limit, so that's something else we can address during our speed limit review: okay, erica.

A

um It looks like the information in the packet that the speed data on miller was from 2016.. Yes,.

A

I feel like behaviors, have changed considerably somewhat universally since 2016 and I wasn't.

A

Sure, if we could get updated data there, we can go out and collect speed. It again.

R

Sure that's not a problem, I don't know if I observe a ton of speeding there, I'm trying.

A

To think about that, but I I'm not sure I want to make decisions based on 2016 data.

B

Do we need a motion eric or is that uh it was informational? I mean staff can.

R

Go ahead and do that all right and then d, downtown parking study, status, update.

B

B

Taking them from the comfortable chairs.

E

Man good evening, everybody ben fletcher parking director, quick update on the parking study.

S

We did select a winning vendor and we're in the process of uh beginning contract.

S

Negotiations with that vendor uh that it'll, if once we reach those negotiations, it'll be.

S

Updated on the website and in the event we are unable to do so. The next prevailing.

S

Winning vendor would be selected to uh to start that process. Any questions from the committee.

B

Great thank you for the update have a good day, and the last item I think, is pilot street at.

B

Thornton street update on temporary roundabout trial, the chairman we've uh obtained the items.

R

The purchase the items necessary to construct the mini roundabout and the islands leading up to it.

R

um At this point, we're waiting for the asphalt plants to open up, which should be mid to late.

R

April because that's what we'll use to construct the center circle of the roundabout with so uh you.

R

Know at that point, as it gets closer, we'll have another update at next month's meeting and.

R

Hopefully, shortly after that, we would be ready to install it eric what uh the question was raised.

F

During the comment period, what what the cost of that was? Do you um top of your head? What we're.

F

Looking at uh well, while I don't have the cost yet of the asphalt, I would estimate the total project.

R

Cost of about twenty thousand and a lot of the materials are reusable. Yes, yeah. All the all the.

R

Curbing that will be used to form the islands in the and the center circle will be reusable. Okay,.

E

One of the homes on that corner has a guardrail. I don't know how long it's been there, but it must.

E

Have been because car came up on the sidewalk or into their front yard, and I'm wondering if.

E

Neighbors have requested that for all four corners.

E

The houses for all four corners. No, but you know there are the other neighbors.

R

Are concerned, the one in the other corner who will have traffic directing towards her is, is.

R

Certainly uh concerned that about how this is going to go, so we will be monitoring it very.

R

Closely yeah, I know right. No, I just saw the the guard rail there. I think I think the guardrail is.

R

When, before there was a four-way stop and the traffic came up at a good speed and made that.

R

Left turn onto thornton and then um been there a long time. Thank you all right, miscellaneous.

B

I've not seen any I'll ask for a motion to adjourn.

B

So moved, second, all in favor, aye, hey good night portsmouth.