Bits and Pieces: A Weekly Update from the Strafford Region

Screenshot of the Bicycle LTS Map. (SRPC Photo)

Planning

On Thursday, Feb. 25 principal planner Kyle Pimental attended the bi-monthly CAW Talks meeting. Established in Mar. 2020 and coordinated by CAW co-chairs Abigail Lyon (PREP) and Sherry Godlewski (NHDES), these meetings allow staff and board volunteers from coastal municipalities to:

share insights and experiences about adapting to climate change impacts across municipalities
learn about emerging issues or needs to advance coastal resilience efforts

During this week’s meeting, NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) staffers Cheryl Bondi and Lori Summer provided an overview of the Aquatic Resource Mitigation (ARM) program and available funds. As explained on NHDES’s website, “The Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program aims to sustain the functions and values of aquatic resources in New Hampshire through protection, enhancement and restoration of wetlands and streams, to compensate for the aquatic resources lost from development and other impacts.”

In preparation for this funding round for ARM projects, SRPC‘s GIS planner Jackson Rand has completed a GIS analysis to prioritize eligible sites for the region. Kyle and Jackson will begin reaching out to communities next week to gauge interest.

Following the ARM presentation, Liz Durfee, owner and principal of EF | Design & Planning, LLC, gave a presentation on the Dover Street Tree Plan, a joint effort with SRPC and the City of Dover. This plan is pending adoption by the City.

For more information on CAW Talks contact Abigail Lyon. To learn more about the ARM program visit the NHDES website. And for information on the Dover Street Trees project contact Kyle Pimental .

Pieces of Interest

SRPC releases 2019 Building Permit Report

NH Planner's Association opens annual awards nomination period (see form here)

Transportation

Strafford Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) launched its Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress (LTS) online map at the end of last week. This map showcases data collected as part of a project to gauge the stress motorized traffic causes bicyclists. This effort was coordinated by Rockingham Planning Commission (RPC) in partnership with New Hampshire’s four Metropolitan Planning Organization's (MPO), one rural regional planning commission, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and Plymouth State University. 

To complement the static maps created for the project, the interactive map shows the level of traffic stress on streets throughout the region symbolized by dark green (LTS level 1 - lowest stress, suitable for all riders) down to red (LTS level 4 - high stress, suitable for experienced riders with tolerance to high speeds and traffic.). Level 5 is marked by a gray line and symbolizes where bicycles are prohibited, like state highways.

This project was funded through the FHWA Measuring Multimodal Connectivity Pilot Grant Program in 2019. The data collected was brought to citizens and bicyclists to add to its accuracy in an outreach process which took place in summer 2019. Additional edits will be made annually to reflect changes in roadways (i.e., larger shoulders from road projects) or if there is local knowledge of changes in road safety from municipal staff or residents. If you notice any roads that seem to have the wrong LTS score please contact Rachel Dewey at rdewey@strafford.org.

Pieces of Interest

Travel Demand Management in a Post COVID World (Video)

Economic Development

Over the last few weeks, economic recovery coordinator Natalie Moles has been busy working with businesses in the region on their technical assistance and funding needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In her role, Natalie is also connecting with businesses to tell their stories. She has been interviewing business owners and documenting their anecdotes of adaptation, resiliency, and success amidst the pandemic. These stories will eventually be included in an interactive story map. Other staffers working collaboratively on this effort include GIS planner Jackson Rand and senior regional planner James Burdin.

If you are employed in the region and have a story to share showing your business's positive pivoting during the pandemic, contact Natalie Moles.

Pieces of Interest

'A huge opportunity here': NH looks to offshore wind turbines for renewable energy

Strafford Regional Planning Commission | 603-994-3500 | srpc@strafford.org| www.strafford.org

Feb. 26, 2021