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Pillar 3: Connected Mobility

Pillar 3: Connected Mobility - Build regional and local connectivity, transportation and recreation networks.

Keene is the logical hub and established regional center. As the region grows, especially the surrounding areas, building this connectivity becomes essential to help the easy flow of the workforce and residents. While the Comprehensive Master Planning work is focused on Keene, topics like transportation require a regional approach. This is further amplified by the expressed desire from residents to have a highly walkable and potentially ‘car-free’ living options. This has implications to planning, as it requires the seamless linking of recreation and trail networks to build multi-modal options that allow significant choice in how people ‘get around’ the community and the local region. This connected mobility is definitely seen as one of the intriguing and appealing features of the preferred future that has been envisaged by residents in the planning work to date.

Below is what we know so far (from the community visioning phase of the comprehensive master planning process):

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History

Related Macro Trends

Currently Happening in Keene

Community Survey Results

Community Snapshot Highlights

Consultant’s Insights and Potential Trade-Offs

Add to the Discussion

History

Related Macro Trends

  • As societal values shift, driven by increased environmental sensitivity, it is expected that people will seek a greater range of mobility options that are climate neutral. This plays well into the existing Keene values and helps frame the approach in this Comprehensive Master Planning process. There is an opportunity to think about a ‘city of the future’ where connected mobility might look quite different.
  • As well as the ‘people mobility’ aspect, it is also important that planning consider the transport of goods and services to and from the community, and plans for these major transportation corridors.
  • Walkability in communities provides more connection for residents and is considered a necessary element in creating vibrant and equitable places for people to live and work.

What is Currently Happening in Keene:

  • SWRPC Micro-Transit Study
  • Neighborhood Parking Report – In the winter/spring of 2023 and 2024, the City used grant funding to explore sustainable parking and transportation options that will enable continued residential development in neighborhoods near downtown. The goal is to improve parking and sustainable transportation (i.e. biking, walking, public transit) for the community while facilitating needed housing development.
  • The City of Keene received a “Safe Streets and Roads for All” planning grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a Roadway Safety Action Plan.
  • The Downtown Infrastructure Project is a major investment and will include traffic calming, expanded and improved pedestrian infrastructure, dedicated bicycle lanes that are physically separated from motorized traffic, and better connections between the rail trains and the downtown.

What the Community Survey Results Show:

  • Under the Community and Social Fabric topics in the Community Survey, 53% of survey respondents identified assuming a greater leadership role in the Monadnock region and 50% identified connecting Keene to the greater regional identity as important in shaping the future of Keene.
  • Connectivity is an important feature of highly desirable communities. Under the Economic and Built Environment topics of the Community Survey, 67% of survey respondents identified building a network of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks as important to shaping the future of Keene.
  • Under the Environmental and Landscape topics of the Community Survey, 46% of survey respondents identified creating corridor connections between neighborhood areas and 54% of respondents identified adopting zero-waste and net zero carbon goals as important to shaping the future of Keene.

Key Community Findings:

  • Keene residents’ jobs are close to home. 62% of Keene residents commute in under 15 minutes to work. This commute time is lower than the national average of 27 minutes. This leads to more potential opportunities for ‘car-free’ living options.
  • The majority (79%) of Keene workers commute via motor vehicle, less than the 85% of Cheshire County workers and 83% of New Hampshire workers. The rate of Keene workers that walk or bike to work (4.6%) is just over two percentage points higher than both the state and county rates. (US Census ACS 2022)
  • The average household in Keene travels 17,359 vehicle miles annually, about 2,500 miles less than the average Cheshire County and New Hampshire household. (Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2020)
  • The average household in Keene takes 7 trips via public transit annually, compared to 4 trips for Cheshire County households, 8 trips for New Hampshire households and 96 trips for the average U.S. household. (Center for Neighborhood Technology, 2020)
Community Snapshot Report >>

Consultant's Insights and Potential Trade-Offs:

  • Keene’s network of trails offers the potential to create a unique layer to the connectivity and mobility equation. There is a desire expressed by some residents to create a system, similar to some European cities, where these trails are a major part of the mobility system and serve a purpose beyond just recreation.
  • The last decade has seen explosive growth in new mobility technologies and trends including the development of autonomous vehicles, e-bikes, e-scooters, on-demand transit, paratransit, micro transit, e-commerce, rideshares, and mass adoption of electric vehicles. The rise of Vision Zero and Complete Streets has also increased the emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle safety on public roads.
  • Keene has been proactive in its adoption of complete streets and building out its bike network. However, with the rise in new mobility options the City may need to revisit its Complete Street Guidelines adopted a decade ago to see how these new modes affect the design principles outlined in the plan. For example, as the city continues to build out its network of bike lanes, new e-bikes, e-scooters, and pedal assist bicycles use these lanes. The city may have to update the guidelines and local ordinances to ensure these new mobility options are used in the way the City prefers.
  • As a central hub of an area known for outdoor recreation, the City has the opportunity to reinforce that central position by continuing to connect the existing bike network and continue its expansion to nearby communities.
    • Bike trail expansion can be an expensive endeavor. Therefore, it’s important for the City to identify strategies that are the most cost effective. The state of Montana adopted their Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan in 2019. The plan focuses on expanding the pedestrian and bicycle network in a cost-effective manner with special attention focusing on rural areas. The existing Keene Complete Street Design Guidelines already incorporate some of these strategies. The City could work with the State or Southwest Region Planning Commission to adopt similar standards and develop a more comprehensive regional network.
    • Expanding the miles of bike trails will also raise the amount of money required for consistent maintenance. Keene and the region may need to look at new revenue sources to maintain the expanded network. For example, Sonoma, California created an Adopt a Bike Path Program to allow civic organizations and citizen groups to adopt a section of bike paths and preform monthly maintenance.
  • Pedestrian and bicycle safety is a critical element of creating a multimodal transportation network. Cities and states have begun adopting Vision Zero Resolutions, meaning there is a goal to eliminate all traffic deaths and injuries. Keene has already begun discussing this goal as part of its Roadway Safety Action Plan. Implementation of Vision Zero has been difficult for cities due to the high cost of roadway projects. Therefore, some cities have turned to tactical urbanism to make low-cost, high-impact changes to existing roads. The Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) implemented tactical urbanism initiative called #BTactical to improve pedestrian safety at a dangerous intersection using paint. Similarly, Jersey City used tactical urbanism strategies in its JC Pedestrian Enhancement projects.
  • Finally, land use has a major impact on how people navigate. Encouraging transportation-oriented development (TODs) and walkable neighborhoods makes it easier, safer, and more enjoyable to walk, bike, and take transit.

Keene is a community that is attractive to many people. Knowing that there are a range of views on this topic, we are keen to hear your comments about the future trajectory of the city.

What do you think would be the ideal transportation and connectivity solutions that could create the best overall outcomes for Keene?

We would love to hear your thoughts!

5 Comments

As mentioned above, we have such a wonderful rail trail network connecting us to different corners of our city, as well as other neighboring towns. I’m wondering if a bike share would work well, where folks can rent a bike and return it to any alike bike station. IE. There could be one downtown, at the college, at a West St plaza or out at the Target/Home Fepot plaza. I have used these in Boston and it made getting around much easier, more affordable, and quite enjoyable.

Reply

I am surprised to see no mention of a plan to improve accessibility for disabled people in the area of transportation. While I can’t think of any specific suggestions as I don’t personally live with significant mobility limitations, I think it would be great to put out a survey for any disabled residents to fill out if they have any specific needs/suggestions to bring up in the area of transportation. I know that the accessibility of transportation systems is a huge issue for disabled people and I am sure that Keene is no exception, so when we’re working on improving this city, that’s something to consider.

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Rebecca makes an excellent suggestion and I think we should be seeking out more input from anyone that has difficulty getting around with our existing transportation system. As I understand it, one positive of improving multi-modal transportation options and making it easier to get around outside of a personal vehicle is that many groups benefit from the changes, including people with disabilities. I recommend the book “When Driving is Not an Option” by Anna Zivarts which centers on the transportation needs of the 1/3 of our population that are non-drivers and how our transportation systems can be improved to support them. (https://islandpress.org/books/when-driving-not-option#desc)

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Thank you for sharing this resource, Andy! I know many communities have focused on becoming “age-friendly” and there is a lot we can learn from other efforts in NH and elsewhere to be more accessible to all. I love that the City Express & Friendly Bus are accessible and have bike racks, but I think a more robust public transportation system would serve our residents well. I’d love to see creative ideas/solutions for successful public transit in rural areas, like Southwest Region Planning Commission’s micro transit study.

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Although we have a very good multi-modal trail and pathway system, which checks off many boxes in most of the Pillars, I believe the last major feature of the is the Transportation Heritage Trail is overdue for completion. Please complete the Second Phase of this project sooner rather than later!

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MORE INFORMATION​

For more information about the Keene Comprehensive Master Plan Project, please contact:

Mari Brunner, Senior Planner
City of Keene
3 Washington Street
Keene, NH 03431
(603)352-5440
mbrunner@keenenh.gov

David Beurle
Chief Executive Officer
Future iQ
(612)757-9190
david@future-iq.com

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