We Built this City on Walk and Roll: Steps Towards a Transpo rtation Transition in Keene, New Hampshire NNiicckk RRiioouuxx Dr. Christopher Cusack TTuuddoorr SSttaanneessccuu Department of Geography TTrraavviiss HHeeoonn Keene State College JJoohhnn GGiiggaass December 2009 i Acknowledgements The creators of this report would like to thank the following people for their guidance, insight and useful information utilized in this project. Without their contributions, this project would not be possible. Dr. Christopher Cusack, Friend and Foe, Professor of Geography, Keene State College Dr. Yvonne Goldsberry, Senior Director of Community Health, Cheshire Medical Center Jim Duffy, Keene City Councilor at Large Thom Little, Thom Little Associates Ltd., Secretary of Pathways for Keene J.B. Mack, Senior Planner, Southwest Regional Planning Commission Ted McGreer, Proprietor, Ted’s Shoe and Sport Michele Chalice, Natural Resource Planner, Antioch New England Institute Anne Nordstrom, Project Director, Antioch New England Institute Will Schoefmann, GIS Technician, City of Keene Dr. Dottie Bauer, Professor of Education, Keene State College Becky Dunn, Instructor of Health Sciences, Keene State College Dr. John Finneran, Assisstant Professor of Health Sciences, Keene State College Dr. James Kraly, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Keene State College Dr. Michael McCarthy, Professor of Communications, Keene State College Dr. Peter Nielsen, Professor of Geology, Keene State College Dr. W. James Stemp, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Keene State College Dr. Graham Warder, Assistant Professor of History, Keene State College John Gigas, Travis Heon, Nick Rioux, and Tudor Stanescu, Project Group Members; Thank you for the laughs, long hours in the GIS Lab, and all the times in between. i Abstract One of the most important aspects of an urban setting is its effect on the overall health of a community. Due to a habitual use of the automobile for transportation necessities, the American culture seems to have forgotten basic and healthy forms of alternative transit. Walking and cycling are simple, cheap, and relatively ‘green’, as well as widely applicable. A change in transportation culture would require the pedestrian and biking infrastructure of a city to prove complete and capable. This report examines the history, current state, and future plans, for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure development within the City of Keene, New Hampshire. Through the use of a PEDS Structural Road Survey, 22 high-volume street segments are thoroughly examined with particular focus on sidewalks, connectivity, lighting, signage, and traffic conditions, among other topics. Each factor contributes to the overall use of the pedestrian paths. Regarding cycling, several aspects influence a person’s willingness to use bike facilities, including but not limited to awareness, accessibility, aesthetics, living situation, and location. The sense of safety proves to be another influential factor in the decision to walk or ride. Based off data from Keene Police logs, monthly motor vehicle accidents ranging from April to September 2009 are plotted on maps to show areas of greater risk. Attitudes are also examined through the distribution of a comprehensive survey to a random sample of 156 students attending Keene State College. Results are analyzed through the statistical software program, SPSSx. Findings reveal that 3rd and 4th year students, as well as off campus residents are more aware, use the paths more frequently, and acknowledge the need for path publicity at a statistically significant level. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ i Abstract ................................................................................................................................ ii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................iv List of Tables .........................................................................................................................vi Chapter 1 Getting Off on the Right Foot ................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 A Step in the Right Direction: Literature Review ..................................................... 7 Effects of the Automobile ............................................................................................................ 8 Transportation and Health ......................................................................................................... 12 Sustainable Urban Planning ....................................................................................................... 15 Similar Studies ............................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 3 Case Study City Keene: New Hampshire ............................................................... 21 Short History .............................................................................................................................. 22 The People of Keene .................................................................................................................. 26 Transportation Habits ................................................................................................................ 27 Community Action ..................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 4 The Existing Built Environment ............................................................................ 36 Sidewalk Condition Analysis ...................................................................................................... 38 Keene Bike Path Network Analysis ............................................................................................ 45 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 54 Chapter 5 Motor Vehicle Accident Analysis .......................................................................... 55 Accident Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 56 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................ 67 Chapter 6 Community Perspective and Statistical Research ................................................. 69 Surveying Methodology ............................................................................................................. 70 Statistical Results ....................................................................................................................... 72 Chapter 7 The Final Step ...................................................................................................... 83 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 87 Appendix ............................................................................................................................. 93 iii List of Figures Figure 1 Relative Location of Keene, New Hampshire .............................................................. 2 Figure 2 Five Health Goals of Vision 2020 ................................................................................ 3 Figure 3 Narrow Segment of Infrastructure Common to Europe. Amsterdam, Netherlands ....... 9 Figure 4 Change in National Population and Amount of Motor Vehicles. 1994-2007 ............... 11 Figure 5 Pedestrian Oriented Church Street. Burlington, Vermont .......................................... 17 Figure 6 Aerial Photo and Elevation. Keene, New Hampshire. Source: NH GRANIT .................. 23 Figure 7 Views from Central Square. Keene, New Hampshire ................................................. 25 Figure 8 Population Growth: 1900-2008. Keene, New Hampshire ........................................... 26 Figure 9 Population Pyramid for the City of Keene, New Hampshire ....................................... 27 Figure 10 Percentages of Travel Time in Minutes, Commuting to Work .................................. 29 Figure 11 Percentages by Method of Travel for Keene, New Hampshire ................................. 30 Figure 12 Traffic Flow Density. Keene, New Hampshire .......................................................... 39 Figure 13 Physical Condition of Sidewalks along Main Corridors. Keene, New Hampshire ........ 40 Figure 14 Width of Buffer Separating Sidewalks from Roadways. Keene, New Hampshire ....... 44 Figure 15 Existing Bike Paths in Keene, New Hampshire ......................................................... 47 Figure 16 Cheshire Rail Trail and Downtown Cheshire Trail Hazardous Crossing Area .............. 49 Figure 17 Dangerous Crossing Area on Franklin Pierce Highway (Source: Authors) .................. 50 Figure 18 Cheshire Rail Trail Intersection with Franklin Pierce Highway (Source: Authors) ....... 50 Figure 19 Ashuelot Rail Trail Hazardous Crossing Area ........................................................... 52 Figure 20 Dangerous Crossing Area Dividing Ashuelot Rail Trail (Source: Authors) ................... 53 Figure 21 Tunnel Running Below Route 101 (Source: Authors) ..............................................