Appendix a Public Meeting Notes

Appendix A Public Meeting Notes New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan Route 101 Corridor Study – Amherst, Milford, and Wilton Amherst-Milford-Wilton Public Meeting Notes September 4, 2002 6:30 – 8:30 PM A small group of residents attended the public meeting, which was held at the Milford Town Hall. Martin Kennedy, Assistant Project Manager, from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin’s Bedford office gave a presentation on the final recommendations for improvement of Route 101. Following discussion, Jim Purdy, from Wallace Floyd De- sign Group gave a presentation on land use and development and landscaping recommendations. It was noted that these recommendations had been well-received by officials in all three towns, and there was general support for the recommendations from those present. Specific comments were as follows: Traffic: • There was concern about the potential inconvenience of restricting left turns from side streets such as Saddle Hill Road in Amherst. Residents would have to travel to Joppa Hill Road in Bedford (approximately 1.5 miles) to reverse direction in order to enter their street from eastbound Route 101. It was suggested by the consultants that this tradeoff is necessary to manage access for reasons of both traffic flow and safety. The same issue was discussed in Bedford, where most of the Bedford Advisory Committee agreed that the turn restrictions are necessary and that many people already forego left turns which they believe are unsafe. There is a direct safety benefit for those people who are inconvenienced. • It was suggested that the total time required to go to a safe turn-around point such as the proposed Horace Greeley overpass would only be a couple of minutes and is not significant. • Concern was expressed about traffic being diverted along Old Manchester Road to the Horace Greeley overpass/turn-around by drivers who now make left turns onto Walnut Hill Road. (The number of such diverted trips is expected to be small, given the potential to enter Walnut Hill Road at the proposed local overpass which would connect it to westbound Route 101. • Is a two-lane cross-section sufficient on the proposed extension of the bypass in western Milford? The situation is borderline, and the consultants will look at output from the NRPC traffic model and reconsider this cross- section if necessary. • There was discussion about the time frame for improving the bypass, both in the short-term (4-foot painted median with plastic delineator posts) and long term (4-lane cross-section with 26-foot planted median. The three NRPC New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan towns and Bedford are cooperating to advance the Route 101 Corridor study projects in the regional Long Range Transportation Plans and the state Transportation Improvement Program. The interim safety improvements are recommended for implementation within 3 years if funds can be secured, and long-range improvements in 5 to 10 years. • Traffic backups on the eastbound exit ramp to Route 101A was discussed. The Corridor Plan recommends a double right-turn, which should relieve the ramp queue. New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan Route 101 Corridor Study – Amherst, Milford, and Wilton Amherst Visioning Workshop Notes January 8, 2002 6:30 – 8:30 PM Approximately 12 Amherst residents, officials, and business people attended the meeting, which was held at the Town Hall. NRPC Project Manager Matt Waitkins introduced the consultants working on the Route 101 Corridor Study. Jim Purdy, the Project Manager from Wallace Floyd Design Group and Martin Kennedy, Assistant Project Manager from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin’s Bedford office gave a brief presentation of the traffic analysis of Route 101 in Amherst as well as land use, zoning, and the visual analysis. A progress report on work in the Bedford portion of the corridor was also presented. The balance of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of Amherst residents’ vision for the 101 Corridor. Summary: o There was substantial interest in solving safety problems along Route 101 as soon as possible, including providing for safer left turns off of and onto Route 101, improved merges on the bypass section, providing safer opportunities to pass slow moving traffic, and measures to prevent cross-over accidents. o There was general agreement that the section of Route 101 east of the Amherst Street/Spring Road interchange should retain its present character, and become neither more urbanized through the installation of traffic signals, nor more like a limited access highway with median barriers, etc. Character of the Road o There are two very distinct sections of Route 101: the bypass section and the section between the bypass and the Amherst/Bedford town line. The bypass section is basically good as it is, although some improvements should be made. The character of the non-bypass section is very important to people who live in the town and should not become either more highway- like nor more urbanized. Bypass Section o There is a need for some protection against cars crossing over the center line on the bypass section. A rumble strip of textured pavement is thought to be sufficient and is preferable to a concrete median barrier or guard rail. o Many of the accident situations on the bypass result from frustrated drivers passing slower traffic in a dangerous manner. Addition of passing lanes in several locations in Amherst and Milford (particularly on upgrades which cause trucks to slow down) would do much to solve this problem. A four- New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan lane section throughout the bypass does not seem necessary if there are opportunities to pass. o There are hazardous merge areas, such as at the Route 101A interchange in Milford, where cars entering heavy traffic during peak periods increase the risk of accidents. The merge west of the Meeting Place was also mentioned as a potentially dangerous situation. The consultants will look at possible geometric improvements. o It would be desirable to provide for the two movements that are not served by the half-interchange at Ponemah/Boston Post Road. This situation increases traffic on local roads. There may be insurmountable problems in adding these movements because of the presence of wetlands, but the possi- bility of developing a smaller footprint for a full interchange should be investigated. Route 101 East of the Bypass o Left turn lanes are needed in a number of places to make movement in and out of streets and businesses safer. An example is the turn lane at the Meet- ing Place. o The left turns could possibly be accommodated in a bi-directional center turn lane. o The right turn lane at Horace Greeley Road is helpful, but the edge of pavement is too close to utility poles; these should be moved back. There is a similar problem turning into the Black Forest. o Walnut Hill Road is a location where left turns are difficult and dangerous and should be improved. o Old Manchester Road should also be considered for a turn lane. o The turns into and out of the Town transfer station seem to work reasonably well because of traffic patterns. o The consultants will look at capacity to carry future traffic volumes, which are projected to be 40% higher twenty years from now. o There is a parking problem at Bragdon farm, but this seems to be more of an off-the-road problem. However, the parking on the shoulder which results poses a hazard. o At the Meeting Place, an improved intersection should be considered, with a possible entrance to a parcel zoned for office use immediately opposite. o Cut-through routes should not be improved in a manner that encourages traffic from Route 101 to divert. o Providing new connector roads between some side streets that enter Route 101 might be a way to improve traffic flow and safety on Route 101 with- out widening it at these intersections. New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan Aesthetics o There would be opposition to any widening or median divider along this stretch of Route 101. o The first interchange on the Bypass is an important location. It should be landscaped to create a gateway to the village center. o Trees screening the transfer station may be in jeopardy because of conflict with overhead electric lines, which requires tree-trimming by the Public Service Company. One possible solution id to plant a second row of trees further back from the utility poles. Bicycles o It is important to preserve the paved shoulder, which is the route of choice for many bicyclists. New Hampshire Route 101 Corridor Plan Route 101 Corridor Study – Amherst, Milford, and Wilton Public Meeting Notes June 13, 2001 Amherst Town Hall 7:30 – 9:00 PM Approximately 30 Amherst residents and business people as well as representatives of Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) attended the meeting. Matt Waitkins of NRPC greeted those attending and introduced the consultants who were hired to do the study. Jim Purdy, the project manager from Wallace Floyd Design Group and Martin Kennedy, Assistant Project Manager from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin’s Bedford office gave a brief overview presentation on the study. The balance of the meeting was devoted to comments from those attending on issues, concerns, and possible solutions to be considered. Comments recorded from citizens and businesses are summarized below. A range of opinions was expressed. Facts raised in comments will be checked as the study progresses. Conducting the Study o Q: Why isn’t the Amherst part of the Corridor Study using federal funds (like Bedford’s)? A: Bedford pursued and won a federal TCSP grant from Federal Highway Administration. NRPC worked to extend the study through Amherst, Milford, and Wilton and secured New Hampshire DOT funding for this purpose.

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