Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Study
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TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY AND SYSTEMS PRESERVATION STUDY AMHERST, NEW HAMPSHIRE July, 2006 Prepared by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Study for Amherst, New Hampshire July, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................I-1 A. THE ISSUES ................................................................................................................................. I-1 B. STRATEGIES ................................................................................................................................ I-1 C. NEXT STEPS ................................................................................................................................ I-2 CHAPTER II: INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................II-1 A. ORIGIN OF THE TCSP STUDY.................................................................................................... II-1 B. NRPC ROLE.............................................................................................................................. II-2 C. STUDY PROCESS ........................................................................................................................ II-2 D. REPORT OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................... II-2 CHAPTER III: TRAFFIC PLAN......................................................................................................................II-1 A. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ III-1 B. TRAFFIC ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................. III-2 1. EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS....................................................................................... III-2 2. 24-HOUR TRAFFIC COUNTS: ............................................................................................ III-2 a. 24-Hour Traffic Volumes (average daily traffic):............................................... III-2 3. PEAK HOUR TURNING MOVEMENT COUNTS ................................................................. III-4 a. Turning Movement Count Locations: ................................................................. III-5 4. INTERSECTION PEAK HOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE ANALYSIS ............................................ III-5 a. Existing Level of Service:....................................................................................... III-6 5. FUTURE (2025) TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ............................................................................ III-6 6. FUTURE TRAFFIC VOLUMES............................................................................................. III-7 7. FUTURE LEVEL OF SERVICE............................................................................................ III-12 C. KEY ISSUES ............................................................................................................................ III-13 1. INTERSECTIONS .............................................................................................................. III-13 2. NEW HAMPSHIRE ROUTE 101 CORRIDOR PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS ....................... III-13 3. NEW HAMPSHIRE ROUTE 101A MASTER PLAN AND IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM ...... III-14 4. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES ......................................................................... III-14 5. ROADWAY SAFETY NEAR TOWN HALL........................................................................... III-14 6. GATEWAYS ..................................................................................................................... III-15 D. STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE STUDY AREA............................ III-17 1. INTERSECTIONS .............................................................................................................. III-17 2. ROADWAY SAFETY NEAR TOWN HALL........................................................................... III-18 3. GATEWAYS ..................................................................................................................... III-18 E. ACTION ITEMS....................................................................................................................... III-20 CHAPTER IV: LAND USE – REDUCING CONFLICTS BETWEEN LAND USE AND THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM........................................................................................... IV-1 A. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... IV-1 B. DEVELOPMENT OF LAND USE STRATEGIES ............................................................................ IV-1 1. INFILL DEVELOPMENT...................................................................................................... IV-1 2. LIVABLE/WALKABLE DEVELOPMENT DESIGN............................................................... IV-2 3. LOCATION OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS ................................................................................... IV-2 4. NODAL DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................... IV-2 5. TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................... IV-2 6. URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES WITH MUNICIPAL SERVICE DISTRICTS......................... IV-3 7. VILLAGE PLAN ALTERNATIVE......................................................................................... IV-3 a. Other Suggestions .................................................................................................. IV-3 C. EVALUATION OF ZONING, SUBDIVISION AND SITE PLAN REVIEW REGULATIONS ............... IV-4 D. LAND USE STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................... IV-8 1. MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................. IV-8 a. Future Land Use..................................................................................................... IV-8 b. Policy for siting public facilities ........................................................................... IV-8 Page i Transportation and Community and Systems Preservation Study for Amherst, New Hampshire July, 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT) 2. ZONING RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ IV-8 3. SUBDIVISION AND SITE PLAN REVIEW REGULATIONS.................................................... IV-8 a. Incorporate livable / walkable elements into Street Design Standards: ........ IV-8 4. OTHER ISSUES................................................................................................................... IV-9 E. ACCESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES...................................................................................... IV-9 1. ACCESS MANAGEMENT ISSUE AREAS........................................................................... IV-13 2. ACCESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ............................................................................. IV-13 3. ACCESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES – RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LAND USE REGULATIONS ................................................................................................................ IV-17 a. Zoning Ordinance ................................................................................................ IV-17 4. SUBDIVISION/ SITE PLAN REVIEW REGULATIONS........................................................ IV-17 a. Driveway Alignment ........................................................................................... IV-17 b. Driveway Design.................................................................................................. IV-18 5. ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN....................................................................................... IV-22 F. DESIGN STRATEGIES.............................................................................................................. IV-23 1. IDENTIFICATION OF ROADWAY CORRIDORS................................................................. IV-28 2. DESIRED DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS............................................................................. IV-29 3. DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... IV-31 a. Recommended Design Guidelines That Address Community Desires........ IV-32 CHAPTER V: BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN ................................................................................ V-1 A. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ V-1 B. PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENT........................................................................................................ V-1 1. POLICIES............................................................................................................................ V-1 2. PROGRAMS ........................................................................................................................ V-3 3. RECOMMENDED BICYCLE NETWORK...............................................................................