Minutes of Transportation Committee (TC) Meeting, March 25, 2026
Next meeting: 8:30 – 10:00 am, Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Present: Mary Day Mordecai (chair), Russ Cobb, Ned Hulbert, Roxanne Karter, John Knight, Claire Lingham, Kully Mindemann, Absent: Don Scott; Matt Perry (Police Chief), Ryan Whitworth.
Agenda Items:
- Re-Painting of Lines on Hancock Rd curves around Lake Skatutakee
Lines are to be re-painted before Memorial Day (same lines as last year, but better reflective paint).
- Kully M on the Recycling Center
Town has no traffic concerns at Recycling Center at this time.
- Claire L presented key take-aways from her review of the SWRPC traffic study data
– Cars are slowing down more when entering the village, in both west and south directions of Main Street, compared to their speed exiting the village.
– TC agreed upon information we’d like to gather in the future: time of day traffic information not just days of the week; a comparison to traffic numbers and speed before the radar was put in; and data collected at other times of the year as a comparison of all data points.
– Starting this summer, Police Chief Matt Perry will be collecting and sharing the data from the speed radars on Main St., Route 137 and in the Wells Memorial School zone. This data will help us to understand speeds and volumes and will be helpful for police enforcement and long-term planning.
- Traffic flow at General Store and areas near Main St
John K reports: General Store area is a little tight and causes some flow/back-up problems at times, especially near the dumpster. These are being worked out in time, as part of how to improve the new configuration. Improvements are coming in summer: new parking lines, top cover, etc.
The TC’s General Store area traffic observations from last summer are perhaps skewed to some degree by all the construction at that time. Questions were raised about the “30 Min. Parking” signs and their feasibility. TC will take up these sign questions with Matt and Steve. TC will conduct a few more traffic observations in late spring or early summer.
- Failing railing around canal in the center of the village: Select Board has decided to form an ad hoc committee to address the issue and asked that a TC member join the group. John K, as rep for HHI, agreed to act as the TC rep on this committee.
- Updates related to developing a walking path through the village:
John K: Trip Hammer project has not yet been presented publicly, which will occur by fall. A walking path will be constructed from Trip Hammer to the Mill #1 parking lot, which will cover a section of the village path. The path location is currently uncertain as yet and dependent on site plans.
Mary Day learned from J.B. Mack that if town funds are used to create a public path on private property, a public easement would need to be agreed upon between the Town and the property owner. ADA compliance is not necessarily required for a town path, as ADA requirements may be waived for contextual elements where the requirements are not practical to implement.
- Mary Day reported on her talk with Don Scott on creation of a walking path on Main St.
Don proposed a walking path on the side of Main St. to be created by moving lanes over 2-3 feet to create walking room on east side of Main St. pavement. He felt that this could be accomplished if the travel lanes were reduced from 12 feet to 10 feet.
Mary Day subsequently measured the Main St. lane widths in the village center and discovered that the average width of the lanes from white line to yellow center line(s) is 10 ft, the minimum width permitted by DOT. There is generally an average 2 ft of pavement on either side of the white lines to the gravel shoulders. Mary Day will do further follow-up with Frank Linenbringer, DOT District Engineer, and SWRPC to explore options.
- TC members reported on their research of potential funding sources:
TAP is probably not a good option according to JB Mack of SWRPC – from talk with Mary Day.
MAST grant this year (mid-Sept deadline) is still best option for TC to get large amount of money according to JB Mack of SWRPC.
SWRPC engineering funds, used last year, might still be available for use this year; for example, to create better visual maps of the potential five-segment town pathways.
Recreational Trails: Russ C reported that this is a state program funded via Fed Highway Administration. He is unsure if a walking path in the village is acceptable as a recreational trail. Grants for 2027 will be available to view by end of month. Anyone can apply. This may be more appropriate for our Trails Committee. Russ will report further at next TC meeting.
AARP’s Challenge Program: Mary Day has yet to research; will report at next TC meeting
Timber for Transit: Don S does not think it is applicable to village, though it might be appropriate for a wooden walkway over a specific spot if necessary.
- General Store ledge sheering for pedestrian safety on Main St.
Steve L believes that ledge sheering would greatly improve sight lines, thereby enhancing safety for drivers and pedestrians (west of General Store along Main St edge).
Can money be found for ledge sheering and the installation of a parabolic mirror for pedestrian crossing safety? John K will explore the possibilities with BC Contractors, who are currently working on the Community Center project. TC will discuss options at the next meeting.
- Discussion of other possible TC next steps:
TC would like to meet this spring with J.B. Mack and Henry Underwood of SWRPC to talk about funding questions/sources.
Do we need a parabolic mirror at the Willard Hill/Main St. intersection to improve driver/pedestrian safety? To be discussed with Steve L and Matt and reviewed at next TC meeting.
Claire L and John K will work with AI to help with drawings of the proposed five-segment town pathway (for a 2026 potential community conversation).
TC will discuss a plan for a community conversation on the possible Main St. town path at next meeting.