Route 120 / Lebanon Street

Transcription

1 Route 120 / Lebanon Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Improvements Connecting Hanover to DHMC December 7, 2015 HBPC Presentation to the Hanover Selectboard 1

2 The Future of Rt. 120/Lebanon St. Moving people, moving safely Sidewalks, bike lanes and Multi Use Paths (MUP) 2

3 Agenda Section I: Sand Hill Neighborhood Section II: Buck Road to Greensboro Road Section III: Future Rt. 120 MUP 3

4 Section I: Sand Hill Neighborhood 4

5 AT AT SBS AT SBS Advanced Transit Bus Stop School Bus Stop Existing side/crosswalk Existing trail Proposed side/crosswalk SBS Water Station Road SBS SBS Quinn Trailhead / Mink Brook Preserve Storrs Road Sidewalk Continuation An extension of the sidewalk ending at Storrs Rd. along the southbound lane on Rt. 120 We propose this extension be constructed at the same time as the Buck Road to Greensboro Road sidewalk 5

6 Crossing the road is challenging and dangerous at current speeds. Shrubbery, guardrails and winter conditions exacerbate the risk of this walking location (from school bus stop at 83 Lebanon Street to home at 89 Lebanon Street) 6

7 Facts Children: 15; nine students K-8 Vehicles per day (VPD): 17,500+; 400+ in 15 minutes during school bus loading and unloading times Speed Limit: 30 MPH, signs not prominent; Measured: 44 MPH Crashes: 50 in past five (5) years between intersection of Park and Lebanon Streets and Sand Hill Among the 14 signs between Greensboro Road and Sand Hill along the northbound lane, the speed limit sign is the least prominent 7

8 Speed limit at Barrymore Road changes from 25 MPH to 30 MPH Speed limit at 89 Lebanon Street changes from 30 MPH to 35 MPH Speeds often exceed 40 MPH 8

9 Crash Data - Sand Hill B B P P P S Crash related to B P S DUI Driver distraction Bicyclist not noticed Car stopped for pedestrian Merge or turn related Winter conditions Deer in road Driver fell asleep Driving under the influence DUI DUI Quinn Trail January 2010 to August

10 Cars waiting on Rt. 120 for AM school bus stop Crosswalk at Carter and Brockway at night 10

11 Storrs Road to Mink Brook Preserve and Beyond The Hanover Bike and Pedestrian Committee (HBPC) endorses a sidewalk extension from Storrs Road to at least the Quinn Trailhead between 87 and 89 Lebanon Street Sidewalk ends abruptly at Storrs Road even though there are 14 more homes along a 1/4 mile stretch Most homeowners between 69 and 89 Lebanon Street have been contacted regarding a sidewalk and all share a concern for a lack of a safe place to walk or a safe place to cross along this stretch of road DPW, Police Department, SAU 70, Dartmouth College sports teams, Hanover Conservancy have been contacted and support improved safety and/or sidewalks 11

12 Suggestions for Sand Hill segment Extend sidewalk from Storrs Road for at least.25 miles (eliminates need for school bus stop on Rt. 120) Reduce speed limit to 25 MPH in neighborhood Install Speed Feedback Signs Improve lighting at existing crosswalk and/or install new crosswalks 12

13 Section II: Gile Hill Sidewalk 13

14 Existing Bus Stop Proposed w/ Concrete Pad Existing side/crosswalk Proposed side/crosswalk Buck Road to Greensboro Road A sidewalk was committed between Hanover and Gile Hill / Twin Pines Housing Trust Department of public works will begin construction in Summer of

15 Facts Lanes: Southbound single lane splits into three north of Greensboro Road: left turning and two straight Speed limit: 35 MPH; 52 MPH measured Currently, people coming from Gile Hill or Buck Road have to cross three (3) wide lanes of traffic to get to bus stop VPD: Between 13,500 and 17,600 noted between Sand Hill and Medical Center Dr. Crashes: Nine (9) in the last five (5) years; due to driver distraction or speed Bus stop and Gile Hill Trail at Buck Road 15

16 Cars turning left onto Buck Rd are consistently passed on the right by vehicles using the bike lane High traffic levels and speeds make a sidewalk and bus top relocation necessary 16

17 Bicyclist Facts No bicycle detection at Greensboro Rd Difficult to cross two lanes of traffic if needing to turn left onto Greensboro Rd. Vehicles regularly use bicycle lanes to avoid left-turning cars at Buck Road Speed and VPD: Rt. 120 is the busiest and fastest road in Hanover 17

18 Crash Data: Greensboro Rd. to Medical Center Dr. Crash related to Driver distraction Deer in road S Driver fell asleep Other S January 2010 to August

19 Suggestions for Gile Hill sidewalk Install a new crosswalk at Greensboro Road bisecting the median to give pedestrians a refuge crossing this wide stretch of Rt. 120 Install concrete pad for AT commuters at Buck Road Extend sidewalk from Gile Hill entrance to existing bus stop Collaborate with AT to relocate northbound DPW bus stop to just north of Greensboro Rd. (This was envisioned in 2008 bus stop study) 19

20 Concrete pad needed at southbound Buck Rd. stop Current northbound AT bus stop at DPW Crosswalk will bisect median Proposed northbound bus stop 20

21 Suggestions for Bicyclists Install bicycle detection at Greensboro Rd. Reduce speed to 30 MPH from Mink Brook Preserve to Greensboro Rd. Reduce southbound lanes at Greensboro Rd. to left turn and one straight Reduce traffic lane width 21

22 Section III: Future Rt. 120 MUP 22

23 Sand Hill DPW Wheelock Terrace Gile Hill Multi-Modal Corridor A Multi-Use Path (MUP) connecting Hanover to the path on Medical Center Drive This is a longer-term undertaking but one that should continue to be explored. 23

24 Credit: 2012 HBPC Plan Current and future views of Rt. 120 (west side) south of Buck Road 24

25 A MUP from Hanover would link up to the paths at Medical Center Drive, the Mount Support Road MUP, Hanover Road Extension, High Street and then ultimately to the Northern Rail Trail. A MUP from Hanover would provide a much needed bicyclist link to one of the largest employers in NH. With current traffic levels and future development along Rt. 120, improvements need to be considered to move people, not just vehicles. 25

26 Suggestions for MUP In the short-term, the HBPC would like to pursue a temporary pop-up bike lane to track the usage on a bike-to-work day or other healthy-living initiative day by DHMC Using traffic tape, portable bollards, planters, etc. alongside new Gile sidewalk - allows the public to try out the idea In the long-term, the HBPC proposes dropping a lane from Greensboro Road to Medical Center Drive A lane drop would allow space for left turn lanes or a center turn lane and a MUP Left turn center lanes would keep cars out of the bicycle lanes 26

27 Summary - Connect Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic from Hanover to DHMC Short-term Extend sidewalk from Storrs Road to Mink Brook Preserve Support reduced speeds south of Park St and Mink Brook Preserve trailhead Improve the crosswalk at Carter/Brockway Create new crosswalk at Greensboro Rd. that bisects the median on Rt. 120 Work with AT to relocate the northbound DPW bus stop north of Greensboro Install bicycle detection at Greensboro Road Reduce southbound lanes to two at Greensboro Road Allow a pop-up bike lane in the spring of 2016 Long-term Extend sidewalk all the way from Mink Brook Preserve to Greensboro Rd. Consider multi-modal corridor including a MUP 27

28 Lane drop with center turn lane Assists cars turning left from main road and cars turning left onto main road 28

29 Thank you! HBPC and Sand Hill Neighborhood 29

30 Appendices Rt. 120 Subcommittee Sand Hill Homeowners and Tenants Letters of Support for sidewalk extension or reduced speed limit SAU 70 Hanover Conservancy Dartmouth College Track and Field Dartmouth College Nordic Team 2012 Bike/Ped Master Plan Excerpts (two pages) Mink Brook Nature Preserve Trail Map Additional photos of interest (two pages) 30

31 Rt. 120 Subcommittee and HBPC Members Peter Clark (Gile Hill resident and bicyclist) Scot Drysdale (Greensboro Neighborhood and bicyclist) John Leigh (DHMC and bicyclist) Barbara McIlroy (Subcommittee Chair) Carolyn Radisch (Transportation Planner, Civil Engineer) Janice Starkey (Sand Hill resident) Erica Wygonik (Traffic Engineer and Sand Hill resident), Bill Young (HBPC Chair) 31

32 Sand Hill Residents 69 - Malcolm and Barbara Swenson 71 Erica Wygonik and Brian Porter - 2 children 71 1/2 Mary Ann and Robert Darnall 73 Tenants and Roger Clarkson (owner/landlord) 75 Emily Ridgeway and Eric Goldwarg - 1 child 77 Alison and Nirav Kapadia - 1 child 79 Richard and Diana Colt 81 Janice and Rob Starkey - 3 children 82 Judith and Steve Solberg (2 children cross the road often for friends and cousins) 83 Boris and Meg Menkov - 3 children 85 Elizabeth and Richard Morse (landlord) 87 Tenants 89 Krista and AJ Riester - 3 children Note: 87, 89, 91 / 93 homeowners not contacted 32

33 School Administrative Unit 70 Hanover High School 41 Lebanon Street Suite 2 Hanover, New Hampshire Franklyn G. Bass, Ph.D., Superintendent John P. Aubín, A s s i s t øn t S up er in ten d e n t for B us in e s s Rhett Darak, Director of Special Education Amy E. Tarallo, E d.d., Director of Curriculurn, Instruction, and z4ssessmenf Frances C. Richmond Middle School Bernice A. Ray School Marion W. Cross School Ad ministrative Off ices Town of Hanover PO Box 483 Hanover, NH Dear Sirs November 20,2015 As you may be aware, the section of road between say, Bl and 89 Lebanon Street has perennially been a problem area as far as school bus stops are concerned. As Lebanon Street takes a significant bend at that location, and the road comes over a rise at the same time, sight distance is limited. Traffic is often heavy and typically moves at a pretty good clip. While school populations change frequently, currently nine children use the bus stop in this location. Depending on which s de of the road students live on, they will have to cross this very heavily traveled road either in the morning or in the afternoon. Walking to the next nearest bus stop is problematical, as there are no sidewalks in this section of Lebanon Street. Board of Directors Nancy Collier President Kristine McDevitt Vice President Jay Pierson Treasurer Stan Colla Eric Evans Karen Geiling Tom Hall Tom Jack Julia Griffin, Town Manager Town of Hanover PO Box 483 Hanover NH RE: Route 120 pedestrian passage Dear Julia, November 20, 2015 The Hanover Conservancy strongly supports the efforts of the Hanover Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and area neighbors to improve safety and access for the Lebanon Street neighborhood. Currently, the only passage for those on foot or bicycle is on a very narrow strip along one of Hanover s busiest highways. I am not aware of any accidents involving school buses or school children, but I would rather not wait until there was one to see changes implemented. The school district would certainly support any sort of structural improvement possible for this area. This might include reduced speed limit, heightened speed enforcement, construction of a sidewalk, or widening of the roadway to accommodate a wider shoulder. I would encourage the Town to take whatever act on would lead to greater safety in that atea. ïhank you very much for your consideration Ann Malenka Hugh Mellert Mary Sloat Joanna Whitcomb Jim Wooster Emeritus Improvements on the west side of Route 120 would encourage pedestrian access to the Tanzi Tract, where the Town has expended much time and effort to protect public enjoyment of its nature area. Trails at the Tanzi Tract connect to our Mink Brook Nature Preserve. Providing safe access from the Coop area down to the Tanzi access will permit a long, lovely, and safe walking loop convenient to residents of in-town neighborhoods and workers in the downtown business area. What better answer to the stated goals of the Town s Open Space Plan? Edwin Chamberlain Very truly yours, James F. Hornig Ass Superintendent for Business Robert Norman Adair D. Mulligan Executive Director Adair D. Mulligan Executive Director Tel Fax Buck Road Hanover, NH

34 ! Cami Thompson Graves Dartmouth Ski Team HB 6083, Alumni Gym, Hanover, NH 03755, November 2, 2015 Barbara McIlroy Erica Wygonik Bill Young Dear Members of the Hanover Bike and Pedestrian Committee, It has come to my attention that there is a group advocating for a better pedestrian area leaving Hanover proper on Rte I would like to express my support for making that area safer for pedestrians, bikes and others. I am one of the Nordic Ski coaches at Dartmouth, our team roller skis in that area on a regular basis, as we head out of town. We would love to see a wider shoulder or bike path area and slower speed limits in the area, particularly on the corner where visibility can be limited. Being out on the roads in Hanover is challenging and a bit scary at times. We do our best to obey the rules of the road and be very visible to traffic and still we have some close calls. It worries me much more to think of children heading to school on a foggy morning or rainy afternoon! If there are any follow-up questions, I would be happy to answer them. Sincerely, Cami Thompson Graves Director of Skiing, Dartmouth Ski Team 34

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36 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, Town of Hanover, New Hampshire, October 2012, p Relocated transit stops with covered bike parking New signal with pedestrian and bicycle detection Lane Drop - Bike Lanes and Shared Use Path to DHMC 36

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38 West side residents using east side sidewalk have to cross at some point - line of sight is very limited Bike lanes are cut off by light to heavy vehicles 38

39 Winter conditions (lower sun, snowbanks, icy roads exacerbate walking issue Southbound speed limit is hidden by trees Backyards don t exist for many homes so this is not an option for a shortcut to Storrs Road 39