Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Town of Hanover, New Hampshire October, 2012 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Town of Hanover, New Hampshire Hanover Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee: Scot Drysdale, Chairman Hugh Mellert Tim Cox Charlie Sullivan Doug Deatt Carol Perera Weingeist David Dostal Joanna Whitcomb Barbara McIlroy Bill Young Sloane Mayor Athos Rassias, Selectboard Representative Peter Kulbacki, Director of Public Works Prepared for: Town of Hanover 46 South Main Street Prepared by: Hanover, NH 03765 ORW Landscape Architects and Planners Dartmouth College White River Junction, Vermont Campus Planning and Facilities 4 Currier Place Smart Mobility Hanover, NH Norwich, Vermont Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan Table of Contents List of Figures 1. Introduction .................................................................................................1-1 Figure 1: Plan Area ..........................................................................................1-4 Purpose of the Master Plan...............................................................1-1 Figure 2: Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents.....................................................1-8 The Benefits of Walking and Bicycling................................................1-1 Figure 3: The Relationship Between Speed and Pedestrian Fatalities...............2-4 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Planning Goals ..............................................1-2 Figure 4: Spatial Dimensions for Pedestrians...................................................2-5 Factors that Influence Walking and Bicycling........................................1-3 Figure 5: Four Types of Transportation Cyclists...............................................3-2 Plan Area .............................................................................................1-4 Figure 6: Recommended Pedestrian Improvements.........................................4-2 Walking and Bicycling in Hanover........................................................1-4 Figure 7: Conceptual Plan Central Hanover ....................................................4-4 2. Pedestrians...................................................................................................2-1 Figure 8: Bicycle Master Plan............................................................................4-7 New Hampshire State Statutes............................................................2-1 Figure 9: Bicycle Master Plan - Downtown Area ..............................................4-9 Characteristics of Pedestrian Friendly Streets....................................2-2 Figure 10: Bicycle Master Plan - Dresden Village Area .......................................4-10 Figure 11: Conceptual Plan for Reservoir Road Area........... ................................4-11 3. Bicycles.........................................................................................................3-1 Figure 12: Conceptual Plan for Greensboro Road / Route 120............................4-15 New Hampshire State Statutes and Town Laws...................................3-1 Encouraging Bicycling as a Mode of Transportation..........................3-2 Types of Bicycle Facilities .....................................................................3-3 List of Tables 4. Plan Recommendations .................................................................................4-1 Table 1: Recommendations for Crosswalks at Uncontrolled Locations..........2-8 The Pedestrian and Bicycle Network...................................................4-1 Table 2: Sample Bike Parking Requirements .................................................4-19 Downtown and Central Campus Area ................................................4-2 Dresden Village / Lyme Road Area ................................................4-12 Table 3: Plan Implementation...........................................................................5-2 Greensboro Road / Route 120 Area...................................................4-14 South Main Street / Mink Brook Area ................................................4-16 Education ...........................................................................................4-16 Enforcement ......................................................................................4-16 Encouragement.................................................................................4-17 4. Plan Implementation .................................................................................5-1 Introduction “An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” -Henry David Thoreau Purpose of the Master Plan This is the first master plan for pedestrian and bicycle circulation that has been developed for the Town of Hanover. The plan has been developed in order to: • identify policies to make walking and bicycling in Hanover safer, easier and more attractive; • identify standards and guidelines for pedestrian and bicycle facility de- sign; • provide an action plan for future improvements to the bicycle and pedes- trian network; • outline steps to promote walking and bicycling in Hanover as an alterna- tive to driving. The Benefits of Walking and Bicycling There are a number of reasons to promote walking and bicycling in Hanover: Improved Mobility. Walking and bicycling provides an alternative means for travel beyond driving. Most trips begin and end as pedestrian trips. Encouraging trips by foot and bicycle helps to reduce demand for limited street and parking space capacity. Unlike driving, walking and bicycling as a means of transporta- tion is more accessible to a broader range of individuals, particularly children and seniors who may otherwise not be able to drive. Given the broader range of ages of walkers and bike riders, safety in the design of these facilities is an important Pedestrians on South Main Street in the downtown. consideration. Introduction 1-1 Enhanced Economy and Quality of Life. Studies sures pedestrian and cyclist safety, conve- have also found that communities that are pedes- nience, and accessibility; and provides for trian and bicycle friendly often have certain eco- enjoyable travel. nomic advantages such as higher property values, attraction to ‘creative economy’ professionals and b. Connectivity: Create links for pedestrians tourists, lower commuting costs and lower costs to and cyclists on streets and other places, taxpayers. Walking and bicycling also contribute which connect neighborhoods, schools, to improved quality of life and a greater sense of shopping, places of employment, transit, community, providing more social opportunity for and public spaces. residents. c. Access: Prioritize routes to school and transit that enable pedestrians and cyclists Pedestrian and Bicyclist Planning Goals to travel safely and freely. The Hanover Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Com- d. Streetscapes and Land Use: Create an en- mittee has adopted the following vision statement, vironment using landscaping, public spaces mission and goals for Hanover: and amenities that encourages pedestrian Vision: and cyclist travel; builds a sense of com- munity; complements neighborhoods and Bicyclist on Dresden Road. To develop an enlightened public policy and com- commercial districts; and reduces impact munity support that encourages walking and on air and water resources. Improved Public Health. There is a vast and grow- cycling. ing body of evidence that physical activity is impor- e. Mobility Alternatives: Adopt programs to tant for both physical and mental health. In the Mission: increase the use of transit, ridesharing and United States, higher levels of walking and bicycling other forms of mobility to help promote are correlated with lower obesity levels, lower The Hanover Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee is pedestrian and cyclist activity. diabetes rates, and lower incidence of high blood dedicated to educating and influencing public policy pressure.1 Walking is one form of exercise readily for the safe accommodation of cycling and walking 2. Integrate pedestrian and cyclist considerations available to most individuals; research increasingly for transportation, commuting, recreation, indi- into all projects, policies and the planning pro- notes that walking 30 minutes a day is an exercise vidual and environmental health. The Committee cesses. regimen that holds many health benefits and is informs and advises the Town on matters of pedes- accessible across the spectrum of age, economic trian and cyclist safety and road design consistent 3. Inform and educate residents of the benefits of position and ability. with the values and objectives expressed in the walking and cycling. Town of Hanover Master Plan. A Healthy Environment. Driving is a major con- 4. Develop a comprehensive pedestrian and cyclist tributor to air, water and land pollution and Hanover Pedestrian and Cyclist Goals: plan based on the ‘Five E’s’ as follows: Educa- greenhouse gas emissions. Walking and bicycling tion, Engineering, Encouragement, Enforce- promote a sustainable and healthy environment 1. Increase the level of walking and bicycling in ment, and Evaluation. because they are both zero emission modes of Hanover: transportation. 5. Strive to achieve the standards of the League of a. Infrastructure: Build infrastructure that American Bicyclists to be designated a Bicycle 1 Alliance for Biking and Walking, Bicycling and Walking in encourages walking and bicycling; that en- the United States, 2010, Benchmarking Report. Washington, DC, 2010. 1-2 Hanover Bicycle