Residents urge stronger enforcement and engineering fixes for speeding on Old Dover Road

Several Rochester residents told the Public Safety Committee on April 16 that speeding on Old Dover Road and a downtown crosswalk is putting people at risk and pushed the city for more enforcement and engineering changes.

The comments came during the meeting’s public input period, when residents detailed frequent high speeds — in some cases they estimated 75–80 mph — near the Tibbetts Road intersection and along stretches of Old Dover Road. “There’s not a day that goes by I don’t see a car or a motorcycle go by my house doing above the speed of 75 miles per hour,” said Carl Schneerson, a resident of 204 Old Dover Road. Schneerson and others asked the police department to increase patrols and radar enforcement at problem locations.

The concerns focused on pedestrian safety, neighborhood noise and recurring crashes. A downtown business occupant who identified herself only as Carol said she had witnessed a pedestrian struck at a crosswalk near 1 North Main Street and said she wants flashing lights or a push-to-activate beacon and a reduced downtown speed limit of 25 mph. “I would actually love to see initiative taken specifically for this downtown area where we reduced the speed limit to 25,” she said.

Several speakers proposed engineering changes. Rich Slosky, a 45-year Old Dover Road resident, recommended consistent posted speeds along the full corridor from the Somersworth line to Route 125, speed tables on newly paved sections, and conversion of some intersections to “T” stops to force drivers to stop rather than yield. “Change the speed limit so it’s consistent for the entire road,” Slosky said. He also urged that officers issue tickets rather than warnings to change behavior.

Other residents described a pattern of temporary enforcement that did not continue after a crash. Gregory Amrill said police pulled over about 35 vehicles the day after a motorcycle fatality at the Tibbetts Road intersection but did not return regularly. “They pulled over 35 cars in that short of time. Never saw them again,” he said.

Speakers proposed alternatives to a previously discussed roundabout at Tibbetts Road: some said a roundabout might require property takings and questioned its suitability in a residential area; others asked for traffic signals or additional stop control. Several residents also urged placement of speed‑monitoring equipment and periodic squad-car presence at strategic locations, including an area near the former stump dump where oncoming vehicles can be heard early.

Committee Chair opened other business noting that the Old Dover Road speeding concern would be discussed later in the meeting under “other business.” No formal action on the corridor was taken during public input; committee members acknowledged the complaints and said they would consider them in subsequent agenda items and staff reports.

The meeting began with a procedural vote to approve the March 19 meeting minutes. The motion to approve was moved and seconded; a voice vote was taken and the ayes carried.

Residents emphasized that speeding and noise are longstanding issues that have been raised years earlier. Several said they want immediate, low-cost measures — consistent signage, focused patrols and selective physical calming like speed tables or stop controls — while longer-term engineering (roundabouts or traffic circles) be evaluated with attention to property impacts and state approvals where applicable.

Committee members thanked speakers for raising the issue and said staff would include the public comments in the committee’s consideration of crosswalk and corridor safety measures.