City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public Works, 10 Mar 2022

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From YouTube: 3.10.2022 Middle Street Bike Lane Project

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3.10.2022 Middle Street Bike Lane Project

A

Or grant should I even introduce him.

B

Well, you could yes good evening welcome to our public input meeting for the middle street bike.

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Lane, my name is peter rice. I'm the director of public works uh with me this evening is debbie.

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Finnegan from wsp our consulting engineer that is taking a fresh set of eyes and looking at.

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The modified bike lane and then tyler reese our associate engineer with parking.

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And transportation who's providing support as we move forward, we have a brief presentation.

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Before we take public comment- and I think why don't we go to the next slide.

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And maybe have to go out and come back in.

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Try to go unshare and then share again.

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Bear with us for a second.

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Did you um and also did you get out of the um did? You start the webinar.

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To get us out of, I believe kevin did kevin. Did that.

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Oh and I should have introduced kevin russell our producer this evening.

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Who's, a great assistant at all these uh challenging events.

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The challenges are with us trying to manage the technology.

C

There we go there, you go all right. Thank you. Thanks kevin.

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uh In addition to debbie um grant o'leary is here as well he's in the back, uh providing support for.

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Wsp uh next slide, please um so the goals of of this project in in tonight's discussion.

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Is really to um uh to to comply with or to follow the directive from the past council.

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Which was uh to review the modified bike lane to ensure that it conforms with dot's.

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Requirements so that we don't jeopardize funding.

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So to that end, wsp was hired. We've been collecting data on site for the last six or seven months.

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And wsp has been reviewing that information, and this public input is part of that whole.

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Process so we we have the opportunity to to take public input and there's about 16 folks.

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Online, as well as the folks here in the in the audience here so from here, debbie, I believe, will.

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Take the presentation, I think so next slide next slide: uh nope, nope, okay! So a quick background.

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This project's been a long time in in the development I started back in 2010 uh and.

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Through a series of public meetings and secured funding, uh construction was completed in 2018 and.

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Immediately after construction, some desire to make modifications was uh was brought forward and.

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Over since it was initially constructed, a series of modifications have been made, leaving us now.

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At the point where we have um uh the configuration that we had last summer, so that's now it's my turn.

B

Now it's debbie's turn. I don't know. Can you guys hear me? Oh good, uh your next slide that'll be.

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Helpful all right, oh, this is still yours. It's still me still you, oh city, council. I think.

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You might have just talked about this already yeah, so the the the I'm sorry I thought we had.

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Gotten this down, so the the past council uh had asked to modify um the buffered bike lane section.

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Of the um of the bike lane that had uh parking outs outside on the travel lane and to bring it.

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Back to the um the parking to the curb line for about a quarter of the lane miles of the bike, the.

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Bike lane, in addition, um additional uh crossing um rapid flashing beacons at two crosswalks.

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Were established as well as establishing a bicycle boulevard, painting sharrows along lincoln avenue,.

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Now we can there we go there, we go so my name is deborah finnegan I work for wsp. I was hired as a.

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Third party reviewer for this project- the review we've done so far all seems good. We have not.

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Finished the review. We still have some public input either here or we're doing door-to-door.

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Surveys starting tomorrow and should be finished tomorrow in this section in the section.

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um So just some general background information and I mean I know most of you live it, but this.

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Is uh what it looked like before? Any construction was done and any pavement new pavement markings.

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Were done next slide? This is what it looked immediately after the project was built.

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um I'm sure you all recognize this pretty well too.

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And this is an example of the changes that were made as they are today. This.

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This one and if you that were done in 2019 and 2021 next slide, it's the same thing.

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And this is another example, and it shows the rectangular rapid flashing beacons next slide.

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This one as well, so you can see that some of the black out markings. I know that peter mentioned.

B

Once a final decision was made that the markings would be done permanently, is that accurate.

B

Yes, okay, um so next these are just to show you what it looks like today. um As I stated before, we.

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Wsp is a third-party reviewer. Our job was to look at the existing conditions. Things like crash data.

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That all the plans that were given to us parking data they, the city, did some parking counts for us.

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To review um we're having this public meeting we're doing the door-to-door survey and once.

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All the information is compiled, we're going to produce a memorandum that will be given to new.

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Hampshire d.o.t, as well as the city for their review, and that is our job right now go ahead.

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So public outreach is I'll. Just repeat it again, you can do it this evening. There there.

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Are postcards that are out on the table if you prefer a paper copy to fill out tonight, there's.

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That as well um and then also there is the online there's the link to the online survey. If you.

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Prefer just to to copy and paste it and put it on your computer at home. Any of those options are.

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Available, if you would like a mailed copy there is that we can do that for you as well just give.

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Us your name, your name here or if you get home, I'm like boy. I wish I had a paper copy. You can call us.

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Or email us, and we will send that to you, so you can send it back and that is go ahead. The our.

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Next step, I don't think I really need to repeat it, but our next steps are the door-to-door survey for.

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Tomorrow and currently this public meeting um so that everybody has an opportunity to to speak but.

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uh The the right now it stands at the that what is currently out there temporarily will be permanent.

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At some point, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be, and the next step I mean next slide.

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Thank you for joining us. I will not take comments from those in the audience and.

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The people who are currently on zoom listening in.

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And just just to note, this presentation will be online, uh it's also being broadcasted on.

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Channel 22 at the moment, so there will be opportunity to to have further discussion so.

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With that, if somebody in the audience would like to speak, please come up say their name and address and.

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It'll be great.

D

Good evening rick beckstead 1395 isn't in street. I would like to thank debbie for the.

D

Yes, the presentation.

D

I was refreshed when basically at least we'll find out what the survey.

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And everything that happens refresh that you see no problem with what we have there today.

D

For the record, and for you I am the previous mayor of portsmouth, I was on the council that went and.

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Made the modifications and changes I was also even before I was a counselor. I was an avid resident.

D

Here in portsmouth- and I followed this from day- one with the modifications when it was presented.

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Many many years ago, uh so I guess the one thing would be. Is I just whether.

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Whether everything has come forward or not, that the painting that's been done there, the blackouts.

D

And stuff like that was a um for the better part, a misunderstanding: uh when the council went and.

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Moved forward returning the cars back to the curb um I within I don't know peter a week or two.

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After we had gone and done that, I guess there was a misunderstanding on exactly what d.o.t.

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Had actually recommended- and we went to start to paint bike lanes on the outside of the cars.

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Which we all know is probably the most dangerous setup that there is anywhere and once we.

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Contacted d.o.t with the city manager, peter rice and myself, it was confirmed by dot that that was.

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Not the action that was going to be taken, it was to be returned to the original status, which was.

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Necessarily no bike lane and the cars back to the curb, so we returned to that status so.

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Once that was done, there was more blacking out of painting that needed to be done and.

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We were all uh basically assured peter and others assured that that bla, that black paint was only.

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Gonna last so long, so obviously that adds to some of the confusion. um As far as the funding goes.

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um The 230 000, which is what we got from the federal uh grant. I have a letter from from new.

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Hampshire d.o.t from mr bill watson that basically said, regardless of the status of what we do here,.

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On forward, because we are doing what they asked us to do, which is to do this study and I'm glad the.

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City has taken it upon themselves to hire somebody different, a different view um and and and that.

D

There would be no refund of money regardless of the outcome. I have the letter, I believe, probably.

D

The city manager and probably other members of staff, have it, regardless of what happens.

D

The money will not need to be refunded in any way whatsoever. We did this basically to go and.

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Allocate you know when, when I guess, when the safe route to school, which is what it was, it.

D

Didn't go to a school, and we found out educating ourselves that it needed to go to an elementary.

D

And middle school and I believe that the lincoln uh connector actually does that and that's why I.

D

Believe d.o.t has gotten said that there will be no funding. That would need to be uh returned.

D

Relieved that you're going to do a door-to-door survey. I would make a recommendation a lot of.

D

People in portsmouth work, especially on that road, I'm very familiar with most of the families that.

D

Are on there, um I would make a suggestion that you do that on a saturday um it would, it would be.

D

You get a better response, I'm also in hopes with the survey going on. We have a lot of visitors that.

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Come here that at least it's categorized and separated with residents versus non-residents.

D

It's great that we have people that come and we visit here, but ultimately, who has impacted this for the people that live on this street and I'm grateful that.

D

You're talking about going door to door because it's a safer street.

D

And since we did this, we've had no complaints, we've had no accidents, both bicycle or or vehicle.

D

And I guess I'm I'm just going to leave it that I look forward to continuing the process. Hopefully.

D

We'll have more of these, it is still the winter months, so you're going to have more activity.

D

That's going to be on there as bicyclists and stuff come on kind of thing. My recommendation.

D

Would be isn't it something that peter had gone and said? I believe it's 2023 2024. This road is up.

D

For repaving, I'm hoping we can get this right, my recommendation would be. This is 1500 feet.

D

I would look at this as a cip. I would ask infrastructure. Is the only way to make this.

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Road safe for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages, uh we have approved council previous approved a.

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Multi-Purpose path, I think that this is more than adequate to do something like that would suffice.

D

To keep the cars where they are and there's plenty of room on this road to do that type of route.

D

Which will take years but still at the same time, I think it's a safer route um to be able to go.

D

And do it and it will give everyone enforcement what they're looking for so I'll leave it at.

D

That thank you thanks rick. Thank you very much. Anybody else in the audience would like to speak.

E

uh Good evening good evening, I'm william lyons 62, mandum avenue, portsmouth and I'd like to.

E

Favor and speak in favor of retaining and adapting the middle street bike lane, not as an isolated.

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One mile long fragment, but as a core element of a vibrant future non-motorized network, is envisioned.

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In the city's bike and pedestrian plan, I'm a transportation planner and 40-year portsmouth.

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Resident living half a block from the bike lane, whenever possible, I walk or bike downtown for.

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Exercise to reduce energy use and carbon emissions and the free limited parking for others. I was a.

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Member of the mayor's blue ribbon transportation policy committee, which developed key principles.

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For a connected and sustainable future, multimodal transportation system for portsmouth with a key.

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Role for walking and biking, I also served on the residence advisory committee for the bike plan.

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Which identified middle street as a foundational element of a walk and bike friendly future.

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Abandoning the bike lane would be a step backward, ignoring its envision role as a foundational.

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Element of a future network based on extensive community input and investment in professional.

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Planning and engineering that produced not only the bike plan, but also this project.

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I ask that you approach the bike lane in terms of its intended potential. Not only is a future bike.

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Network part of a future bike network, but part of a future modern transportation system that offers.

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Attractive and affordable options to personal cars connecting downtown to affordable housing.

E

On lafayette, road to pease and c j to the hospital, so really looking looking to the future, looking.

E

At connectivity, I'm really all for adapting and reviewing and extending and potentially.

E

Connecting but I I think that it really needs to be looked at as a core element and not not in.

E

Isolation, I think one of the biggest limitations and perhaps the reason that I don't use it.

E

If not every day, frequently every week is that it stops really short of downtown, and I think.

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Connecting to uh the bike boulevard in lincoln can be part of it, but I.

E

I would really like to see it remain as a as a really key and active element. It's really a an.

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Opportunity to advance the principles that portsmouth has developed in its policy plan.

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And in the bike plan- and I I would always like to see the debate in the discussion refer back to.

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Those core documents- in fact this is an excellent opportunity to engage the community, and I I'm all.

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For the the survey and data collection- and I hope it uh not only includes the residents of middle.

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Street and the neighborhood, but also the broader, the broader community, all of whom will be really.

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Impacted by whatever changes are made, it's an an excellent opportunity to engage the community.

E

As I said, both on this project but think of the project in the larger context, thank you. Thank you.

A

Any other speakers.

F

In regards to daughter, jordan, I'm sorry could you could you I'm sorry christy jorgensen, okay,.

A

And could you speak to the microphone so we could hear you. Can you hear me? uh Yes? Yes, if you yes,.

A

Okay, um christy jorgensen. I live on mill street um question in regards to door to door survey. Can.

F

You define that for me exactly what that means. Is there a leaflet? That's given a questionnaire.

F

Or? Is it just a survey where someone walks around with a clipboard door-to-door, yes and yes, and so.

F

uh That doesn't answer my question. I know so. This survey they'll have a paper survey that they'll.

B

They will ask if they can fill it out with you, while you're standing there, whatever.

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Your comments are and write them down and we will and you can provide your name or not, um but there.

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Also be a postcard saying, somebody's, not home, that has all that information. They can there's.

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A qr code on it, as well as the link, so that, if they are not happen to be home, when they hit.

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At you know knock on their door. They will know that somebody was there and hopefully they'll, fill.

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It out and there's also on the postcard that will be provided that will be left if um nobody's home.

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Or their business can't talk because they're busy or whatever the case may be, um there's uh there's.

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Also, an option to call us or email us and say: can I have a paper copy and we'll send you a paper.

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Copy with a stamped an envelope that has a stamp on it, it makes it super easy to just fill it out.

B

And send it in okay um and as far as residents are you doing, who are you covering um as far as.

F

Is it just strictly middle street or the feeder streets? um Are you, including all the butters.

A

The door-to-doors middle street, okay, the the surveys available for the entire residency okay.

F

All right, um just something I wanted to bring up in regards to communication.

F

With all departments, and especially after observing the recent pts committee meeting.

F

I received my notice about this meeting's this evening's meeting posted on my door march 4th.

F

During which time my family and I we were away on vacation school vacation, the abutting residents.

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Received the announcement less than one week prior to this meeting, and I just want to.

F

Personally, thank mark syracuse of the committee for his thoughtful consideration and speaking.

F

Up for the abutters during the march 3rd pts committee meeting, I found the comments from others.

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On the me on the committee during the meeting, I found them very disrespectful and arrogant.

F

um And when, especially when referencing, the residents on middle street um and especially.

F

When you look at the history of where we've been and what we've gone through in the past few years,.

F

Yes, there is a newsletter that residents can choose to subscribe to or look up city information.

F

But we also have busy lives and cannot be checking online every day for newsletters and updates on.

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The websites for last minute meeting notices such as this due to the high volumes of emails.

F

Some residents choose to opt out of such newsletters, so the city manager should not.

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Expect everyone to be subscribed to the city newsletter to receive last minute notices.

F

I find this to be a very narrow-minded way of thinking about it, especially when you're working.

F

With the public, the pts committee, as well as all committees in the city council members.

F

Should consider all the butters in residence when making any changes in the city, and especially.

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When changes impact, the abutters, all departments should be expected to be.

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Forthcoming, transparent and utilize every method possible when communicating to butters.

F

And residents and allow plenty of notice when scheduling and posting meetings.

F

I just want to bring this out up front right now, because I know that we're dealing with this.

F

And this study, I don't know what the outcome will be, but I do expect communication.

F

And notices with all the butters throughout this whole process, and I thank you for your time.

G

Hi, my name is kevin coyle. We live at 668 middle street.

G

Which you have a nice picture of on your uh postcard, that you're sending out.

G

um And we appreciate that um you know I want to tell you a story when I came home the first time.

G

When the bike lanes were established, I said why are people parking in the street? This makes.

G

Absolutely no sense, and for us coming out of our driveway, it really made no sense. We could not see.

G

It was, we were taking our life in our hands coming out of our driveway when the cars were parked.

G

uh You know away from the street whatever you do, um we would ask that you not move the cars.

G

uh Back to where they were, we would ask you not to put the bollards back. um They.

G

They really um narrowed the street for everybody. You couldn't get fire trucks down there. If you.

G

Had if you were trying to get down, uh trucks were always hitting them and they absolutely made no.

G

Sense, my wife, my daughter and I bike frequently through the city of portsmouth. We primarily use.

G

Lincoln street, because it's a bike friendly street middle street is not so bike friendly.

G

But it's wide enough that if you want to bike down it, you certainly can but putting the cars.

G

Where they were was really difficult for us um as residents of that street and knowing a lot of.

G

Residents on that street, nobody was in favor of of having the cars out in the street, essentially.

G

So we would ask whatever you decide: please do not put the cars back in the street thanks. Thank you.

H

Hi sue polidora to 45 middle street and I've lived in the city, for I.

H

Probably 45 years or so maybe a little less and a hundred percent of the time that I lived in.

H

Portsmouth I had lived in two different addresses, both of them on middle street.

H

So I'm very familiar with this street. I drive it every single day several times.

H

When this change happened and these cars moved to almost the middle of the road every time I drove.

H

Through middle street I was like, and I saw a truck coming- the opposite way.

H

I was holding on to my wheel and saying and saying a prayer to make sure that we missed each other.

H

And we did by a few inches, so not only do I have to be concerned about destructors coming this way.

H

And I'm going that way, but also I'm concerned about the distracted person that is parked in.

H

The middle of the road they opened the door at the wrong time. I'm not only going to take.

H

The door I'm going to take that person too. So all of these arguments, I'm hearing about.

H

Cyclists being adored and all that, yes, there is a lot of possibility for a lot of harm.

H

To come to both drivers and people who are riding their bikes because it doesn't allow.

H

That the change in space makes, instead of just having one person.

H

Being uh concerned about the outcome, now, both drivers and cyclists are going to be.

H

In danger, or whatever may happen, there middle street is way too busy of a street.

H

To do this again, uh the lincoln street routing for the bicycles is less is less.

H

Actual traffic, it's a lot better! I like I said I drive on that street and I have for a very.

H

Long time, I think I can count with the fingers in both hands at times that I've seen someone biking.

H

On middle street- and I see absolutely no sense to have those cars move back the way they were.

H

It's just, I think it creates more dangers for the people. Both the people are riding the bicycles.

H

And those who are driving cars down that road so just wanted to say this comments and I'll.

H

um Keep watching for more more news about this. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Sue.

I

Hi, uh my name is sally babut. I have a small business on middle street. In fact about two.

I

Blocks down from that view, right there on the same side um and I'm kind of late to the game here so.

I

um And I'm hearing listening to these comments and I have some questions.

I

Well, first of all, can I arrange to have a survey of face-to-face survey? Is that possible.

I

Because I'd love to do that, it's easier for you to okay! Happy to do tonight! If you, if.

B

You have time after we're all done. We can do it this evening or a different time. Okay,.

I

One question I had is: why is the uh I I'm on the side where I am where the.

I

The parking was lost, and so there's just the path, uh and I just wonder I've always.

I

Wondered why did it stop at this point and there's parking there on? I think that's.

I

Highland is there parking beyond highland, but there isn't on on this side of middle street.

A

The the bike lane transitions from a buffered bike lane to a sharrow type of bike lane, because.

A

The traffic um it was deemed that the the you lose additional parking in that.

A

Area was one of the big drivers um and the the speed of traffic was starting to get.

A

You don't want to have traffic going greater than 30 miles an hour if you're going to be having.

A

Shareholders prefer, you know, preferably it's 25 or lower. What are sharing those are shared.

A

Bike lanes, uh this is okay. Bicycle gets out in the travel, so it's yeah, so so it was felt that.

A

By this time the traffic was being slower, so it was an acceptable transition point to get traffic.

A

Bicycles back into the traffic as well as we would be saving uh valuable parking spaces as well.

A

So that was kind of the balance that was made. um You know I I to a certain extent.

A

um I mean that's, as I recall, those are com, some of the reasons that were there, okay.

I

I it feels a little bit like bad luck on my part, because I lost parking in front of my business, but.

I

um I guess you know has to do with speed and speaking of speed. This was mentioned earlier.

I

Is it possible to mitigate the speed on the road, and this maybe doesn't have it's not part of the.

I

Bar the bike, so as an aside parking traffic and safety has taken up speeds throughout the city.

A

As designated in all roadways focusing a lot on the gateway areas, but over the overall network.

A

Of throughout the city, so it is something the the challenge is that people drive the speed they're.

A

Comfortable at and when a roadway is configured in a manner that allows them to feel comfortable.

A

Driving at faster speeds, they will drive at those faster speeds. Despite what the speed limits are.

A

So speed tables, perhaps speed tables, perhaps um so there are, that would make it safer, walking, biking.

I

Everything so, as the former mayor pointed out, there is a paving project. That's slated.

A

um A couple years from now and prior to doing that, work we're looking at.

A

Potential configuration changes to improve safety for pedestrians, as well as bicyclists.

A

uh As well as traffic calming so prior to that there'll be public process, there'll be input, but.

A

At this point, this is that is not what this this project's. Looking for right, I'm kind of caddie.

I

Corner from cass street, which that intersection, as probably everybody knows, is really dangerous.

I

And I'm there in my business hearing, honking and screeching whatever um so speed is, is an issue.

I

I think, uh and people are talking about the cars the way it used to be where the cars were set back.

I

From the sidewalk, the the path was in between is it possible that that configuration is coming back.

A

At this point, the it isn't the project's, not complete. Okay, this this evaluation's.

A

Not complete but as uh debbie had indicated, uh that her review to date doesn't there's nothing.

A

Driving her to say that that's uh so you're, it's almost engineer's preference to a certain extent.

B

Yeah, I'm just going to say that every community has a different way of looking at bike lanes.

B

Whether it be what you had before, or what you have now or sharrows, or how you know, communities.

B

Look at things differently, like your community, is looking at different things in this section.

B

um And it doesn't make it wrong, it doesn't make it right. It's just a sometimes preference.

B

Sometimes it's speed related in this case. It's you know, I'm just I'm sure you all have looked.

I

At the best practices throughout the country, all the bike paths going on new york city.

I

Etc and there's national standards- for that too, I mean for bike lanes that they that are used so.

B

Okay, well, I guess that's it. I appreciate.

I

Answering those questions and I'll look forward to the survey. Thank you sally. Thank you. Sally.

A

We could take um up.

J

My name is david allen, 383 union street. I live right off the bike path and I'm going to speak.

J

First, very quickly as a resident and non-member of sabre and secondly, representing sabres seacoast.

J

Area bike riders. So as a as a resident I ride pretty much any day. The weather allows me to.

J

So I'm I'm on that section of street um easily. You know 120 days a year and.

J

While I know the previous configuration definitely had its issues and I think a lot of those had to.

J

Do with the fact that it was originally conceived as a trial and just a paint operation. So that was.

J

Why it was, it was done that way. I I think the fact that the the road hadn't been rebuilt and.

J

They were the bike. Path, went over catch basins and went into some areas that were was a little.

J

Not perfectly configured for a bike lane, I think what um both the previous mayor and and uh peter.

J

Mentioned about the doing it correctly once a the road is rebuilt is a very important.

J

Aspect to look at, and I um I'll be interested to see how this plays out after you do your review.

J

Miss finnegan, but I personally, unless the infrastructure has changed, I wouldn't.

J

I wouldn't feel comfortable riding that bike lane with the cars moved out and up against the.

J

Curb because of the catch basins and the fact that snow uh wind rose always ended up there.

J

This time of year, you'd probably have ice chunks and whatnot. So um there's there's something.

J

Better than blacking it out, but I I don't think reverting back to the original is- is my personal.

J

Preference um now uh sabre hat on, I would say that um we are very much interested in this.

J

The uh I think, there's probably a number of saber uh participants who.

J

Are either watching from home or on their way back that they couldn't get here, but.

J

We are willing to to get involved in whatever way could benefit the city. And, although I know.

J

This was a safe routes to school project and it was intended to get to the schools.

J

I think what mr lyon said is is a key point, and that is that you don't want.

J

To have a bike lane to nowhere, and I think getting access to downtown is very important.

J

Both from a safety perspective- and I think it it benefits the city when, when there's uh bike.

J

Infrastructure that tourists and and people can use to to get to that that downtown area. Thank you.

A

Maybe we could take somebody from online tyler kevin. Can you please recognize gerald duffy.

K

um Hi there can you hear me? Yes, okay, this is uh gerald duffy. I live at 428, pleasant street.

K

um I'm in puerto rico at the moment- and I just had to mention that I'm sorry it's um it's. It's.

A

A little warmer down here- and I uh I'm a member of sabre also but tonight, I'm just speaking.

K

For myself and I've got a fair amount of street cred when it comes to cycling. I figured out.

K

A couple of moments ago, I've been riding for 68 years, uh ridden tens of thousands of miles.

K

All over europe, in my native uk and since 1983 in my beloved hometown of portsmouth.

K

And I lived on middle street for a total of six years and died in the opposite, cass street, where.

K

Probably fairly close to where sally has her office, and so I know I know street very well.

K

And I know a safe bike environment when I see one- and I know that um the when they introduced the.

K

The protected buffered lanes and that it was a huge improvement in terms of bike safety and it's.

K

All about in urban environments, it's all about adequate buffering and a couple of aspects to.

K

That one is uh there's the perception of safety, which is very important when you're you're just.

K

Basically, a person on a pair of wheels and you've got lots of large vehicles moving around you.

K

So the perception of of safety is important, but then of course, there's a practical issue of being.

K

Doored- and we know that there was a rider actually killed on a bike lane in durham a few years ago.

K

Who was doored by uh uh inattentive uh inattentive driver, so it's very important to have sufficient.

K

Buffering to to make sure that doesn't happen, and I also recognize that you know for the.

K

This was a project funded by the safe routes to school and grant and uh and that in some ways.

K

I think muddied this project a little bit and I understand that you know from that perspective. It.

K

Probably didn't deliver um as it was expected to. I know if anyone's driven down, lincoln ave.

K

When the middle school is about to start or ending, you see pelotons of these of these.

K

Middle school kids are basically taking over lincoln out. It's fabulous. They own that road. So.

K

So that you know that really um is um is not one of my concerns um but for the rest of us.

K

Everyone, older than a middle schooler, and that's actually most of us um middle street, is less.

K

Safe than it was when that first configuration was put in um and that's contrary to what rick.

K

Beck said earlier, that's his opinion. I know, but I uh respectfully um point out uh from the data.

K

City data that traffic speed has increased uh since the the bollards and the buffering was.

K

Removed and ridership is way down. It started to peak, partly because of kobe. I think we got a lot.

K

More new riders but ridership ship has dropped and that's the rest of us, not the not the school kids.

K

um Who have been affected? So that's, that's the disappointment because you know for the broader.

K

Communities, it was a step backwards and demand for safe cycling is increasing constantly my.

K

My cohort, my demographic, is, is gradually taken to ebites, so you know you can have a bunch of wobbly.

K

Seniors riding around town, who will also need buffered bike lanes to stay safe, and so this is.

K

Something that you know I know it's part of our overall planning with bike and ped infrastructure.

K

To improve multimodal transportation, so I hope that the council will really get behind that.

K

As a as a a policy driven direction and I'd also ask the council to revisit the idea of developing.

K

A long-range plan for um for middle street- um I know that repaving's coming up, but maybe that.

K

Could be maybe uh it could be built into that uh last year. Councillor tabor suggests that.

K

He proposed a study that would look ahead, a long-range project that would see um vision, a.

K

A middle street that was more of a boulevard that had permanent infrastructure that would.

K

Be designed to suit residents, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, and that would be a wonderful project.

K

To kick off and and to give a lot of thought to um so um thanks for giving me a chance to speak.

K

Up, um I hope that you know you. This council will generally support and prioritize bike, pedestrian.

K

Initiatives and for all the right reasons, you know public safety, sustainability.

K

And then just generally community health and recreation, so thanks so much for.

K

Your work and thanks for listening to me thanks jerry anybody else in the public.

B

Yes, uh kevin: will you please recognize um frederick calcinari.

L

Hi, this is fred. I am a resident. I live at 1246 south street I've been a portsmouth.

L

Resident since 2017 so relatively recent, I do like the buffered bike lanes on middle street.

L

uh I I ride my bike in the city and uh I appreciate having the buffering on the.

L

Northbound side, um obviously, there is no buffering on the southbound side and I would I would.

L

Love to see buffering on both sides so that I just wanted to comment say that I'm a bicyclist.

L

And I I, like the uh I'm glad the city's taking initiative to make biking more safe and um the.

L

More, the more you know, designated uh dedicated space for bicyclists that we can create will be.

L

Would be very much appreciated by people like me who use their bicycles regularly.

L

And also, I just wanted to comment that um you know in all my years of my bicycling.

L

I've heard stories about people getting hitting car doors um in all situations. Any time a bike.

L

Is riding by a parked car hitting the car door can be a it's a risk, whether whether it's a bike.

L

Lane or not, so I wouldn't make an argument not to have a bike lane just because uh that can happen.

L

Because it can happen whether there's a bike lane or not, so I should mind that's my thought on that.

L

Subject uh thanks thanks for the uh ability to speak here. Thank you bye. Thank you. Fred.

A

Before we take another is, are there any other folks in the audience that would like to speak.

A

Not seeing anybody up so why don't we go ahead? Kevin please recognize anne paobo.

M

Hi, this is um ann pugo, I'm at 160 bartlett street. um I'm also.

M

A volunteer on the board of seacoast area, bicycle writers, saber with david and jerry.

M

Who spoke earlier, and I just wanted to say that I don't consider myself a bicyclist or.

M

I don't wear the bike shorts. I wear my jeans. I ride my bike to work or to the grocery store.

M

I sold my car granted. My husband has a car, um but I just want to say that um portsmouth is.

M

Attractive to me- and I've lived here since 2000 it's attractive because I can walk, I can ride my.

M

Bike and I somewhat felt safe on middle street until march 30th last year, when I rode my bike.

M

To my outdoor gym class and the buffered bike, lane was gone without any um notice and that.

M

Was a shock I told one of the counselors, it was 7 30 in the morning anyway. What I want to say is.

M

We don't all have a car and um it might be a choice. It might be a good choice.

M

Given the price of gas right now and um it's, it would be a good thing for the city to have.

M

How can I say a more um complete street view and, and maybe the best way to reduce the speed.

M

Is to go back to a narrower road so anyway, um I just want to say.

M

We need to think of not just the cars, and I understand that the people who live on middle.

M

Street also need to have their parking, but um it's it's. We need to make the connections between.

M

All these neighborhoods and it's not just people on middle street, who ride their bike. It's me on.

M

Bartlett, it's someone else on south street. um It's a whole city right, so I hope we can make this.

M

Work for everybody, and even if we don't wear the funny like wear shorts. Thank you. Thank you hand.

A

Tyler anybody else kevin. Please recognize seth levine.

N

Hey, can you hear me? Yes, yes, we can good. um My name is seth levine. I live on middle street. It's.

N

569 middle street next to sally baba, pretty much across from cass on the corner of wyber.

N

um I have a bike. I ride my bike not much in the winter and.

N

I very rarely ride on middle street. I go downtown. I go all over town, but middle.

N

Street is a road, that's we call it route one. It's got a lot of traffic, a lot of people.

N

I have two dogs and they're familiar with every bike that comes down the.

N

Street they're, familiar with every pedestrian they're, very, very attentive.

N

N

There's a lot of.

N

Pedestrians that come down- and I saw the data on the number of bikes and.

N

uh Except for a brief spurt, when there was a study, there was not consistent bikes on the street. The.

N

Reason is really simple: for example, we moved a lot of this stuff to lincoln. That's because.

N

That's the place to ride other places. There was a individual in town who was talking about how.

N

Important, it was for his daughter to ride to the high school on middle street.

N

I almost chuckled because my kids went to the high school. They rode around town. They walked around.

N

Town, they never went on middle street because they don't want to get killed. They're, not stupid.

N

um Even with the bollards, even with the parking, even with the lanes, the way they are.

N

I can't ride in those lanes the way they were or the way they are now.

N

um Certainly not in the winter, even in the summer, filled with crap.

N

It's just not a place that I ever feel comfortable. I try to stay away from cars. Cars are my enemy.

N

When I'm on a bike- and I drive a lot, um most of us drive cars most of us park cars. I operate a.

N

Business at my property and it's commercial- I also live there uh and it's tough to get parking.

N

Because of these lanes and lack of parking, people are parked in front of my house on wybert a lot.

N

Which is public parking? I have no issue with that, but they're parked all the way down the street.

N

And that makes it uncomfortable as a operator of a motor vehicle, so.

N

We're favoring a relatively small number of bike riders and sacrificing.

N

What I think is the city streets for that.

N

um Pedestrian walkway with uh I've been in cities that have beautiful pedestrian walkways.

N

Bikes and cars, businesses on each side, restaurants and museums,.

N

Quite frankly, middle street is an old street that was designed when we had single lane horse carts.

N

um It's not appropriate for that kind of stuff, there's barely any room for cars, leveling bikes,.

N

Less traveled streets like lincoln, and I use a lot of little streets and alleys all over town.

N

You know when you ride a bike or walk. You get to know those little shortcuts.

N

You don't do that when you drive your car much.

N

That's far far safer when that individual was talking to me about his kid riding, the middle.

N

Street we took a walk around town and it was nice. We just took a little shortcut that I learned from.

N

My kids going to the high school and it made a lot more sense than riding a bike on middle screen.

N

No kid will ever do that ever it doesn't happen, you'll never see kids up and it just.

N

Doesn't happen, that's the school idea. We wanted this for schools. um I understand everybody's.

N

Got good intentions, I really appreciate the fact that that that part of our town.

N

But we've got too much money and too many projects we're making we're trying to find problems to.

N

Solve when there's no problem um long before we ever talked about bike lanes, I rode bike. My bike.

N

Attack, I don't belong to stabler, I don't ride with other people, I go places and I'm invisible. That's.

N

Why I, like that's, always been that way with me. I don't speak at these meetings. I can go out.

N

I listen to some stuff. I watch it. I read the paper um who are solving a problem that doesn't exist.

N

There is no problem, you can ride a bike and get anywhere in town and walk. I mean I can't go out to.

N

The other side of town I can, I don't want to walk to uh the other fire station down. Lafayette, say hi.

N

To somebody I'll drive with it, I don't drive to, I don't walk to walmart, um but I can. I can pedal.

N

Over there, but I don't go on I'm lafayette avenue um I take shortcuts. I go places with traffic.

N

um I think, with the cars on the middle of the street, it was really bad.

N

It was hard to drive hard to get out of cross streets um heart the bike as well.

N

On the street was roth, um we could theoretically fix it, make it nice and make.

N

It perfect, but maintaining it like that is just ridiculously difficult and you're trying to make.

N

A bike lane in the middle of the interstate lanes. It has the same approach, gee.

N

Everybody wants to drive to maine, why don't we take route 95 and instead of having the middle.

N

Lane have cars in it will just make a bike lane and nobody would ride on it, because it's way too.

N

Dangerous not the place to put it route. One is not the place for a bike lane. um It interferes.

N

With traffic industry with parking interference, safety, we're lucky, people haven't gotten killed.

N

Anyway, that's all I have I thank you very much for your time. Thank you, seth. Thank you, sir.

I

Kevin will you please recognize len polizzotto.

O

Hi uh len paulisto 660 middle street. Can you hear me okay? Yes, we can so one thing.

O

That really sticks, in my mind, is I was talking to one of our firemen, a portsmouth fire. Actually, the.

O

Senior member of the fire department, when we had the cars parked in the middle of the street,.

O

And he said he couldn't even get the fire truck down the road.

O

And it was a real problem when they had to go. You know in emergency situations.

O

And that really stuck with me, the middle street is just not wide enough to do.

O

All this stuff that we want to do with it. In addition, as a resident.

O

To pull out of my driveway it's impossible with the cars moved out into the street.

O

Because you like to look down the roadways to see what's coming and you can't see.

O

Because the cars parked there far out in the road really block your view, so we talk about.

O

Safety, we have to consider that there are multiple stakeholders that have to be considered for safety.

O

And coming out of our driveway is a very serious safety issue when the cars are in the road.

O

The other plan I like to make is, I am a biker.

O

So I ride my bike and I remember when they first put in the bike lane. I figured let's try this.

O

And it turned out to be really stupid because the bike lane is just you know, I don't know.

O

Not even a half a mile and then you're, not in a bike lane anymore, so having a bike lane in such.

O

A short piece of middle street, in addition to all its safety issues, just makes no sense.

O

So I strongly encourage that we keep the cars on the curb for safety of everybody and then the.

O

Final point is little street is really a pretty street and putting all these stupid bollards all.

O

Over the place really detracts from our beautiful city. Thank you for your attention. Thanks, fine.

I

Kevin please recognize councilman andrew bagley.

C

I guess I enter bagley 40 chauncey street. I figured I should speak. um I was the person.

P

Who walked with seth, and he did show me some alternate routes to school, that weren't in my.

P

Opinion very practical for my daughter, but would work for others. I I think you know we can't keep.

P

Modifying the bike lanes every six months, I was sorry to see them go. I think at this point.

P

We have to look long-term, as other speakers have mentioned, and find a solution that incorporates.

P

A safe route downtown for everyone now I do walk downtown from the portsmouth market area, so I do.

P

Walk along this route, quite a bit sometimes two three times a day, and I see bikers quite often.

P

um I don't see the families that I was seeing when the bike lanes were there, but I certainly see the.

P

Guy on the recumbent just about every day- and I see other bikers even in weather like this just.

P

About every day, obviously more in the summers, so I guess I would just add those comments and uh seth.

P

If you're still listening, we'll, you know have to go for a walk again sometime soon. Thank you.

A

Thanks counselor.

A

All set anybody else in the public. I would like to speak.

Q

Hi I'm marie nelson. I live at 20 dorset in portsmouth, but I grew up on the corner.

Q

Of lincoln and middle, which is a little bit south of this in this picture, and.

Q

I can I can um agree with what everyone is saying here. You know in terms of safety and as we look.

Q

At this picture, we're looking at debris right there in the ground that if a biker went over.

Q

That it would probably flip over anyway so mike my big concern- and this was you know previous.

Q

To covid, when we talked about having the company come in and do this survey was, um this is a was.

Q

Built for a safe route to school and now we're at a point where we're talking about bike lanes.

Q

And now we're going to have to maintain them and are we going to have the funding for that? uh It's.

Q

I was hoping that we would get the presentation and you know the results before, but it's coming.

Q

The other way, which is fine, but I just I'd like to hear more of the findings before we decide because.

Q

It seems like now we're just going with the bike route, so thank you very much for your time.

A

Anybody else in the public that would like to speak.

A

Sure come on up and.

F

I didn't realize we were going to get in depth about the.

F

Bike lane, so I thought I'd add my two cents as well. um I just hope and expect that every.

F

Member of the both the pts committee and the city council goes back to the march 12 2020.

F

Public session and listen to each and every one of the residents who spoke at the meeting along with.

F

Many that communicated by emails and letters regarding the fight playing project.

F

The majority agreed that the bike project was a colossal failure. The intent was good, but the the.

F

Project that the outcome was um not very good. This project was expensive. It was a waste of resources.

F

And should have been eliminated as far as the cip years ago, the bike lane was underutilized unsafe.

F

Created more traffic noise and exhaust pollution and reduced the value in my property, aesthetically.

F

It was misleading, as this was supposed to be a safe routes to school project and turned into a.

F

Personal agenda for a minority group of cyclists who do not even live on the street or the majority.

F

Of them do not live on the street, I mean I'm all for safety, but there are other options and I hope.

F

If, if the state doesn't accept what comes out of this study, if we're looking at other options,.

F

um Rather than what we've experienced in the past, I mean I'm open to looking at sharing. If.

F

We need to share the road with the cyclists, but on top of that I would also ask that.

F

You remove the rest of the bollards and bring back the parking that was completely eliminated.

F

Prior to this project being implemented, I know that there's some sharing downtown.

F

I'm fine sharing the road with a cyclist, but I'm not. I just find it completely unacceptable to.

F

Eliminate the parking and and what's been removed so far, we already have a serious parking issue.

F

All around the downtown area on the outskirts of downtown and we can't lose any more parking.

F

And that's all I have to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Christy.

A

Kevin please recognize ned reynolds.

R

Hello, everyone ned reynolds. I live at uh 110, aldrich road, just off of middle street. Many of you know that I've.

R

Been a long time advocate for improving safety of.

R

Bicycling and and uh walking throughout the city in my 21 years living here and.

R

Was a member of the bicycle pedestrian advisory committee.

R

Back when we developed the master bicycle pedestrian master plan a decade ago or so.

R

So I was very glad to see finally, the implementation of the middle street bike.

R

Lane project um middle street is, you know, a major artery, obviously of the city, and it.

R

It goes to downtown, and so it should accommodate bicycles. I appreciate what many have said about.

R

You know seth and others different. You know, there's different meandering routes.

R

To get to places um you know, especially the middle school, I had three. I have three children who all.

R

Would bike and and yeah they would go down middle street, but um many other places to go.

R

Like prescott park, uh downtown et cetera, where you know you want to be able to go straight down.

R

Middle street, so I applaud the bike lane to being there.

R

I I want to point out something that hasn't really been mentioned yet peter referred to it earlier.

R

When he said you know, as far as driving speeds, um you know as long as I've lived in portsmouth.

R

People have complained that people drive too fast. Of course we're all people, and sometimes we all.

R

Drive too fast and the speeds the car speeds on little street used to be regularly. You know, 40 45,.

R

Sometimes 50 people come whipping down mill street since the implementation of.

R

The bike lane the visual narrowing of the roadway, I believe the data backs up that.

R

Car speeds on middle street are noticeably lower.

R

And so it's safer for everyone, drivers included, drive. Other drivers are safer.

R

People pulling out of their driveways are safer people pulling out of cross streets. Turning onto.

R

Middle street are safer because the general speed is lower because of the presence of the bike lanes.

R

I will, I will admit, though, that uh the.

R

uh Separated bike lane the buffered, the bike lane the portion on on lower middle street. You know on.

R

The north side uh that that, even to me an advocate, I I recognize that that was problematic, primarily.

R

Because of what peter talked about earlier, the road wasn't engineered to accommodate that it was.

R

A retrofit there, the you know, the visual crown of the road wasn't correct to accommodate it. So.

R

I hope that, where we're going, you know tonight.

R

After the results of this new survey and the data review is to maintain, you know what we have now.

R

uh The bike lanes running the full length um you know, as they do now implement. Re-Implementation.

R

Of the bollards uh quite a reduced number of bollards, I want to point out from.

R

What originally went in, I believe I I know some people think them unsightly, but.

R

You know, maybe we can find better, looking somethings, but.

R

The visual separation makes it safer and again visually narrows the roadway for drivers.

R

And drivers have to pay more attention and when they pay more attention and and see the.

R

Narrower roadway, they drive slower, so everyone is safer, including people crossing on the uh added.

R

Crosswalks lit up crosswalks. Thank you, sir peter, and your team for putting those in. We have one.

R

At aldrich road and it's terrific and uh the other one up at lawrence, they're great- I I would.

R

Like to take this opportunity to point out that bike lanes or no bike lanes, one of the reasons.

R

One of the dangerous spots on middle street is, is the s curve, that's between aldrich and.

R

It would be park street and it's very dark there, because there's a sort of a noticeable lack of a.

R

Spot where one street light would do wonders uh that was the spot, where I think the worst.

R

Accident that happened when we had the separated bike lane. uh It was a very drunk driver that.

R

That caused that accident, but he rear-ended one of the parked cars, but it was right in that spot.

R

That's very dark and if we could ask um source to, we could seek to add a street light in that spot.

R

I think that would that would help everyone, so I want to applaud everything and support everything.

R

That bill lyons said about middle street. Being the you know, the backbone for a city-wide.

R

System and appreciate everybody's work on this. Thank you thanks, ned.

A

As I, as I said before, um this is really just this part of the overall process. We will be.

A

Posting this presentation uh to the city's website and we look forward to uh you- know.

A

Coming up with a long-term uh program, uh that'll address safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and.

A

Motorists as well so at that. I would like to thank everybody for coming out and have a good.

A