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A transportation center connecting the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont
Post your comments regarding Local Impacts here
Have you estimated the cost in energy just to create a location? Tearing down old buildings; building a new building; energy costs to pave and make parking areas; impact of such pavement to the eco-system right there??? Have to pull a whole lot of cars off the highway to cover those costs, for sure.
The Lebanon Safe Routes to School Task Force discussed this project yesterday. We would like to note that we’ve been working diligently for the past year to develop the Hanover Street/Hanover Street Extension route to Hanover Street School as a Walking School Bus Route, with ~20 kids walking to school every Friday (and hopes for increasing this number. Today 160 kids and parents walked via this route). We hope that if this project goes forward that it be designed with consideration to how young children (K-4) will be able to safely cross through this area. Along with safety in the minds of planners, please note that “perception” of safety is a critical issue, as parents who perceive that safety is a concern simply will not allow their children to walk/bike to school. Best wishes.
I have heard a lot of talk about the negative impacts that the ‘improvements’ would have in the area, and i would have to disagree with most of them.
First, as a high school student at LHS, I recognize the traffic problems on NH-120. It is not uncommon for it to take me over 20 minutes to get to the green if I leave anywhere between 5 and 6 (not uncommon being involved in many sports). I think is is frankly unacceptable to think that if we leave this situation alone it is going to go away. That’s why i think reconnecting Hanover street is a good idea, it provides another point where people can go (and with the majority of the high school students living in leb or west leb, i am sure they would agree with me).
Second, I find it hard to believe that reconnecting Hanover street by putting a bridge in would be as detrimental as some people say. I believe that one of the greatest benefits (as being a high school student) would be that, done right, it could really make the high school feel closer to town. Currently the high school feels disconnected from the town, and that would be an issue that could be resolved by providing more connection to the town itself. To those who say that traffic would be unacceptable, just think of how the Jr. High, Sem Hill, School Street, and Hanover High School deal with the traffic. 200% increase in traffic on Hanover Street would be more than welcome to me if it cut down my drive to the green by 15 minutes!
Third, I am optimistic that a transit center here would allow high school students to learn how to use public transit effectively and have it be a viable option for students (currently the bus schedules operating via the high school is really messed up, and not reliable. And the Red line, which serves leb, stops in downtown leb, aways away)
Lastly, I believe reconnecting the Hanover street bridge could provide the potential for revitalizing downtown. As a resident of Lebanon, it makes me sad when I see Hanover Street businesses move because they feel that this location is undesirable. (I believe) It comes down to visibility (traffic + pedestrian counts) and accessibility, and downtown Lebanon doesn’t have either of those (especially for those on the outside of lebanon). I believe that if this project moves forward, that the City Council should work with project officials to make this project benefit downtown Lebanon. Simply put, I believe this project could restore the vitality that downtown Lebanon once saw.
oh yeah, i would also appreciate any staff comments if you have them
i have heard the concerns of the Lebanon planning board, city council and public. There may be solutions to these legitimate concerns for a win/win. I offer them for your consideration. Please cut and past the click the following link for possible solutions and benefits.
http://control.cisdata.net/bin/filelink.php/AR118338/77a315884b59731f96af9d0da9518465/