Transportation Committee (TC) Minutes of 2-20-25

Next meeting:  March 20, 2025, 8:30 am, HHI Conference Room

Present: Mary Day Mordecai, Earl Horn, Ned Hulbert, Roxanne Karter, John Knight, Kully Mindemann, Don Scott, Ryan Whitworth (Zoom), Russ Cobb, Steve LaMears (Police Chief), Absent: Kate Neary

  • Mary Day was approved by SWRPC as a town representative for its Transportation Advisory Committee; her first meeting will be March 3.
  • Town radar reports – Earl and Ryan: Vendor has not responded yet to requests for assistance. Ryan is working on a simple data base solution (once he can download with help from vendor) that will allow us to easily access data on traffic volumes and speeds.
  • Recycling Center:
    1. Update from Don, Steve, Kully: At a meeting of Town department heads and Don, the group discussed how to get 5-6 in-line parking spots. The back bank will be cut back a bit to get a little more space.  The warrant article calls for $18K from a separate fund (non-tax based) to improve insulation in main room, to realign fencing space, and to accommodate large trucks.
  1. TC next steps: Kully had no new update. The Plan for 2025 (a. above) is to get a little more space. Plan for 2026 may require larger financial outlay to improve parking, pave, etc. if public support is there.  TC will weigh in when appropriate on safety for drivers and pedestrians.
  • Traffic flow on Church St. and School St.:
    1. TC will conduct interviews with residents along these roads to get their feedback on traffic flow issues. TC duos would contact residents and the Childrens’ Center and cover a list of questions. Roxanne and Mary Day will prepare interview questions.
  1. TC members will also observe traffic behaviors and count traffic in the area of the General Store. Roxanne, Earl, Mary Day, Don, and Russ volunteered to watch at specific times: morning, mid-day, and late afternoons (Children’s Center drop-off/pickups are also good times). Observations will be done in spring (March) and in summer (late June).  A specific list of what to observe will be developed by Steve and Mary Day.
  • Update on USDOT grant possibility – Mary Day will check with JB Mack of SWRPC to assess feasibility.
  • Discussion of long-term issues related to traffic flow, parking, & pedestrian safety in town: 

John shared updates about the Community Center and HHI property near store but noted that he does not yet have a plan to share.  The TC felt that painted lines to organize and discipline parking would ameliorate the most chaotic parking situation during busy times and improve business for General Store.  John noted that HHI is beginning to recognize the reality of higher traffic volumes coming into town.

Not much information is currently available on parking lot.  PB site plan review will occur, then a plan will be available to share with TC.   Paving is expected.  General discussion ensued about various parking issues at General Store, Children’s Center and new Community Center.

  • Other relevant updates

Don shared maps of the area from the Police Office (depot) to the Nelson/Chesham Roads fork.  The group discussed the idea of a walkway in this area.  Walkability and parking are both big questions to resolve.  Older residents may not be able to walk during all seasons of year. It must be understood that 30% of residents are over 65 years old.

Do we need an objective 3rd party design firm to assist in developing sustainable future solutions?  Do we need a big plan that we could work through gradually in sections?

Don discussed working with GSLA (Granite State Landscape Architects) for a day to get pro bono support to consider TC concerns about transportation, including pedestrians, in the village center.  It would bring focus and cohesion to our TC concerns.  A next step might be to then apply for a MAST grant in the fall. Don will investigate the possibility of a GSLA charette and share findings at the next TC meeting.

Don will also meet with District 4 engineer and discuss NHDOT’s view of working with towns on their roadway/walkway parameters.  Mary Day will ask JB Mack about MAST grant potential in the fall.