City of Nashua Transportation Toolkit · 2014-03-10 · City of Nashua 2 Overview This presentation will discuss: •The connection between growing population, transportation infrastructure,

www.nashuarpc.orgCity of NashuaCity of Nashua

City of Nashua Transportation Toolkit:City of Nashua Transportation Toolkit:The Land Use and Transportation ConnectionThe Land Use and Transportation Connection

March 2008March 2008

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City of NashuaCity of Nashua 2

OverviewOverview

This presentation will discuss:This presentation will discuss:•• The connection between growing population, The connection between growing population, transportation infrastructure, development transportation infrastructure, development and land useand land use

•• The regulatory controls Nashua can The regulatory controls Nashua can implement to preserve and enhance its implement to preserve and enhance its charactercharacter


Population GrowthPopulation Growth

Growing population means increased Growing population means increased demands on transportation demands on transportation infrastructure.infrastructure.

••More roads to service more housingMore roads to service more housing••More costs to the city to maintain roads More costs to the city to maintain roads and public servicesand public services

••More tripsMore trips


Land Use and Transportation in Land Use and Transportation in NashuaNashua

Nashua has a thriving Nashua has a thriving downtown Main Street downtown Main Street surrounded by residential surrounded by residential neighborhoods.neighborhoods.

Southwest Nashua is Southwest Nashua is more suburban.more suburban.

Source: Nashua Downtown Master Plan


Transportation Infrastructure and Transportation Infrastructure and Land UseLand Use

•• New roads and road New roads and road widening only improve widening only improve traffic conditions in the traffic conditions in the short term.short term.

•• More congestion occurs More congestion occurs as more people use the as more people use the improved road.improved road.

•• Improved roads attract Improved roads attract new development which new development which also leads to increased also leads to increased congestion and congestion and encourages sprawl.encourages sprawl. Source: Rockingham Regional Planning Commission Route

16 Land Use Transportation Report.

If you build it, they will come.


Regulatory StrategiesRegulatory Strategies

To avoid cultivating sprawl and improve To avoid cultivating sprawl and improve the quality of existing developmentthe quality of existing development

•• Consolidate new developmentConsolidate new developmentNodal DevelopmentNodal DevelopmentInfill and RevitalizationInfill and Revitalization

•• Encourage mixedEncourage mixed‐‐use developmentuse developmentVillage Plan AlternativeVillage Plan AlternativeTransit Oriented DevelopmentTransit Oriented Development

•• Limit access to regional roadwaysLimit access to regional roadwaysAccess ManagementAccess ManagementMultiMulti‐‐modal Accessmodal Access

•• Maintain a sense of communityMaintain a sense of communityContext Sensitive SolutionsContext Sensitive Solutions


Nodal DevelopmentNodal Development

•• Compact and walkableCompact and walkable•• Pedestrian and cyclist Pedestrian and cyclist

friendlyfriendly•• Reduces automobile trips Reduces automobile trips

and car dependencyand car dependency•• Creates a sense of place Creates a sense of place

and enhances community and enhances community charactercharacter

•• Limits generic sprawlLimits generic sprawl

Concentrates residential, commercial and Concentrates residential, commercial and service opportunities around key intersectionsservice opportunities around key intersections

Source: “Courtesy of Dan Burden, Glatting Jackson KercherAnglin, Inc., and Walkable Communities.”


Nodal Development in Nashua:Nodal Development in Nashua:MaplewoodMaplewood

Located in the southwestern Located in the southwestern quadrant of Nashua, Maplewood quadrant of Nashua, Maplewood consists of senior housing, single consists of senior housing, single family homes, preserved open space family homes, preserved open space and a village district.and a village district.

The village district, known as the The village district, known as the Commerce Center of Commerce Center of Maplewood, is located on Merit Maplewood, is located on Merit Parkway. The center provides Parkway. The center provides convenient, nearby services that convenient, nearby services that the communitythe community’’s residents can s residents can walk and cycle to.walk and cycle to.

Source: Source: www.korsakrealty.comwww.korsakrealty.com


Nodal Development in Nashua:Nodal Development in Nashua:MaplewoodMaplewood

Ample footpaths and wellAmple footpaths and well‐‐defined crosswalks connect defined crosswalks connect the residential areas to the the residential areas to the Commerce Center.Commerce Center.

The Commerce Center is The Commerce Center is located around a scenic located around a scenic pond.pond.

Source: NRPC


Infill and RevitalizationInfill and Revitalization

•• Infill develops parcels of Infill develops parcels of vacant land within a builtvacant land within a built‐‐up up area.area.

•• Revitalization repairs and Revitalization repairs and modifies sites that have modifies sites that have become dilapidated or become dilapidated or obsolete to meet current obsolete to meet current needs.needs.

•• These methods typically do These methods typically do not burden existing not burden existing infrastructures or require infrastructures or require new improvements.new improvements.

•• Both can enhance the Both can enhance the character of an area by character of an area by making use of unsightly and making use of unsightly and wasted space.wasted space.

The Jackson Fall Condominiums The Jackson Fall Condominiums located in downtown Nashua were located in downtown Nashua were built on unused land along the built on unused land along the Nashua River.Nashua River.Source: Source: jacksonfallscondominiums.comjacksonfallscondominiums.com


Village Plan Alternative (VPA)Village Plan Alternative (VPA)

•• Creates compact, mixed use neighborhoods that preserve Creates compact, mixed use neighborhoods that preserve the working landscape and protect environmental the working landscape and protect environmental resources.resources.

•• Encourages design on a human scale, provides pedestrian Encourages design on a human scale, provides pedestrian access, delineates public and private spaces and allows access, delineates public and private spaces and allows connections between residential and retail areas. connections between residential and retail areas.

•• Allows new development to occur near the population Allows new development to occur near the population center and protects open space.center and protects open space.

Source: Village Design Model Ordinance, Rockingham Planning Commission


Village Plan Alternative (VPA)Village Plan Alternative (VPA)

Provides new planning tools for compact Provides new planning tools for compact development suitable for the lower density development suitable for the lower density areas of New Hampshireareas of New Hampshire•• Conventional zoning isolates residential, Conventional zoning isolates residential, commercial, recreational and business land uses.commercial, recreational and business land uses.

•• Negative economic, environmental and social Negative economic, environmental and social consequences of conventional zoning include:consequences of conventional zoning include:

Car dependencyCar dependencyAn extensive transportation networkAn extensive transportation networkAir pollutionAir pollutionSocial isolationSocial isolation


Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development (TOD)(TOD)

Creates mixed use areas that are centered Creates mixed use areas that are centered around public transitaround public transit•• Public transportation station is a main feature of Public transportation station is a main feature of the town center.the town center.

•• Citizens are encouraged to live, work and play Citizens are encouraged to live, work and play near transit and depend less on their cars.near transit and depend less on their cars.

•• Pedestrians are the highest priority and all forms Pedestrians are the highest priority and all forms of nonof non‐‐motorized transportation, such as motorized transportation, such as bicyclists and pedestrians, are considered.bicyclists and pedestrians, are considered.


Transit Oriented Development Transit Oriented Development (TOD)(TOD)

A TOD means that residents: A TOD means that residents: •• Are more likely to drive less and pollute lessAre more likely to drive less and pollute less

•• Have a high quality of life due to nearby Have a high quality of life due to nearby employment and recreational opportunities, employment and recreational opportunities, less traffic congestion and greater mobility due less traffic congestion and greater mobility due to increased transportation optionsto increased transportation options

•• Can have better air qualityCan have better air quality

•• Can have higher property valuesCan have higher property values


Access ManagementAccess Management

Coordinates the location, Coordinates the location, number, and spacing of number, and spacing of access points to access points to maximize the traffic maximize the traffic capacity of a roadwaycapacity of a roadway

•• Strip development along Strip development along major travel corridors major travel corridors results in an abundance results in an abundance of access points. of access points.

•• Frequent access points Frequent access points increase the potential increase the potential conflict points.conflict points.

These two access points These two access points create 18 possible roadway create 18 possible roadway accidents.accidents.

Source: Source: ““Courtesy of Dan Burden, Courtesy of Dan Burden, GlattingGlatting Jackson Jackson KercherKercher AnglinAnglin, Inc., and , Inc., and WalkableWalkable Communities.Communities.””


Access Management TechniquesAccess Management Techniques

•• Width of access pointsWidth of access points

•• Alignment of access pointsAlignment of access pointsDirectly across from other access points Directly across from other access points and at a 90 degree to the roadand at a 90 degree to the road

•• Throat lengthThroat lengthLimits access to vehicles within parking Limits access to vehicles within parking lot to access pointlot to access point

•• Corner clearanceCorner clearanceLocate access points at a distance, Locate access points at a distance, prescribed by speed limit of the road, prescribed by speed limit of the road, from intersections to prevent interference from intersections to prevent interference at intersection.at intersection.


Access Management TechniquesAccess Management Techniques

•• Turning radiusTurning radiusAffects the speed of turning traffic. A Affects the speed of turning traffic. A large radius allows fast turns; a small large radius allows fast turns; a small radius requires braking to turn.radius requires braking to turn.

•• Spacing of access pointsSpacing of access pointsLimits location of access pointsLimits location of access points

•• Reduce the number of access Reduce the number of access pointspoints

One access point shared between multiple One access point shared between multiple buildingsbuildings

•• Cross connectionsCross connectionsProvides access between adjacent sitesProvides access between adjacent sites


Access ManagementAccess Management

NH 101A Corridor Master Plan and NH 101A Corridor Master Plan and Improvements Program Improvements Program •• Parallel Cross Easement ConnectionsParallel Cross Easement Connections

•• Provide vehicular and pedestrian access Provide vehicular and pedestrian access between sites without the need to access 101Abetween sites without the need to access 101A

•• Between Cotton Road and Townsend WestBetween Cotton Road and Townsend West


MultiMulti‐‐modal Amenitiesmodal Amenities

Provides for alternative Provides for alternative means of mobilitymeans of mobility

•• Bike lanes, traffic Bike lanes, traffic lights, and rackslights, and racks

••Cross walks and Cross walks and sidewalkssidewalks

•• Public transitPublic transit

If you build it, they will come.If you build it, they will come.

Source: Source: ““Courtesy of Dan Burden, Courtesy of Dan Burden, GlattingGlatting Jackson Jackson KercherKercherAnglinAnglin, Inc., and , Inc., and WalkableWalkable Communities.Communities.””


Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)

•• CSS is a process in which community CSS is a process in which community stakeholders: stakeholders:

Define problemsDefine problemsCreate vision statementsCreate vision statementsProvide input into solutionsProvide input into solutions

•• The New Hampshire Department of The New Hampshire Department of TransportationTransportation’’s official definition of CSS: s official definition of CSS:

““a collaborative interdisciplinary approach that involves all a collaborative interdisciplinary approach that involves all stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its stakeholders to develop a transportation facility that fits its physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and physical setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility.mobility.””


Context Sensitive SolutionsContext Sensitive Solutions

Place Making Place Making •• Often the first step in the CSS Often the first step in the CSS planning processplanning process

•• Used to help a community to define Used to help a community to define the character, problems and the character, problems and opportunities of a particular locationopportunities of a particular location

•• Communities can identify ideas for Communities can identify ideas for projects and discover new projects and discover new opportunities for collaboration and opportunities for collaboration and problemproblem‐‐solvingsolving

NRPC Staff

NRPC Staff


Implementation StrategiesImplementation Strategies

•• Master PlanMaster Plan•• Integrated Land Use and Transportation Integrated Land Use and Transportation PlanningPlanning

•• Land Use RegulationLand Use Regulation•• Streamlined Review Streamlined Review and Permittingand Permitting

•• Consolidation of Consolidation of DevelopmentDevelopment

•• IncentivesIncentives


The Connection Between Land Use The Connection Between Land Use and Transportationand Transportation

These strategies can be used in Nashua to: These strategies can be used in Nashua to: •• Balance growth with quality of lifeBalance growth with quality of life•• Prevent congestionPrevent congestion•• Limit pollution and sprawlLimit pollution and sprawl•• Preserve open spacePreserve open space

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Documents

City of Nashua Transportation Toolkit · 2014-03-10 · City of Nashua 2 Overview This presentation will discuss: •The connection between growing population, transportation infrastructure,