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Public input on Downtown Dover Traffic Options
Date and Time
Thursday Nov 20, 2014
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ESTPublic input on Downtown Dover Traffi...Description
In 2013, the City retained the Cecil Group to review and evaluate ways to improve pedestrian and vehicular access in Dover's urban core. Over the past year several alternatives to traffic circulation and pedestrian and bicycle facilities for downtown have been reviewed. A major issue to be resolved is whether downtown's major streets - Chestnut Street, Main Street, Central Avenue, and Washington Street - should remain one-way or be changed to two-way traffic flow.
On Sept. 22, the City's Transportation Advisory Commission reviewed the preferred alternative, and scheduled a public hearing on that alternative. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20, will provide an opportunity for the public to review and understand the circulation alternatives. The Nov. 20 hearing will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the McConnell Center, Room 306, 61 Locust St., Dover, and will include a presentation of the proposed plan and plenty of opportunity for interaction with the public. The City is very interested in hearing from the public, and all are welcome to join.
"Throughout this whole process, we have urged the public to participate, and we have had good turnout for discussion about this complex plan," said Christopher Parker, AICP, Dover's Director of Planning and Community Development. "We are looking for feedback from residents, businesses owners and consumers of downtowns goods and services. We want to understand how changes may or may not impact the vibrancy of downtown."
The last time the public had an opportunity to weigh in was a May 15 workshop. Since that time, the consulting team developed a preferred alternative, including more detailed streetscape components such as trees, paving, and furniture; pedestrian amenities such as enhanced crosswalks and narrower crossing distances; and a refined traffic circulation plan. This preferred alternative includes specific solutions for particular intersections and for overall traffic flow.
Regarding traffic circulation, the plan proposed to create a plaza at the Upper Square, and two-way flow for traffic running through downtown. At the Lower Square, the proposal is to narrow up the edge of pavement, while redefining lanes to allow for more vehicular traffic to flow through and at the same time narrowing down the pedestrian crossings, to provide a safer connection between Henry Law Park and Central Avenue.
Chestnut Street is proposed to be narrowed and to add significant streetscape elements in an effort to improve pedestrian safety and encourage slower speeds by those in cars.
"One of the major intents of this project, was to calm traffic on Chestnut Street; to make it safer for those who cross it, and to convert it from a raceway into an urban road, similar to Central Avenue," Parker said.
Another component of the project is to develop streetscape standards for downtown, to help keep Dover's downtown vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and inviting for commerce, recreation, and transportation. All roads within the Downtown have streetscape elements proposed for them, whether it be uniformed street trees, wayfinding signage, or improved sidewalks and street benches.
The project website, http://1.usa.gov/ZbwgnX, contains links to previous presentations made to the Transportation Advisory Commission as well as background information about the project. Newly added is a video produced by the City, in conjunction with the consultant. The video provides an overview of the project, and the proposed plan. In addition to streaming online, at http://dovernh.pegcentral.com/, and on the project web site, the video will be added to the City's government access channel, DNTV Channel 22. Tell a Friend