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Select Board discusses four-way stop and Main Street improvements; to invite state traffic presenter
Summary
Board heard a community discussion about converting key Route 113 intersections to four-way stops, adding bike shoulders and sidewalks, and agreed to invite state and regional traffic experts to brief the board.
Tamworth—s Select Board reviewed community interest in traffic-calming and pedestrian improvements on Main Street and in the village area, including a possible four-way stop at the Route 113 intersection and bike shoulders toward the school.
Community members, business owners and property owners joined a recent neighborhood discussion and asked the board to consider conversion of two intersections to four-way stops and to study bike lanes or widened shoulders. The board discussed prior traffic reviews; staff said earlier reviews rejected a four-way stop at one village intersection because of line-of-sight issues on the downhill approach, but noted the state has recently been more willing to modify problem intersections.
Board members agreed it would be valuable to hear a formal presentation from Neil (Bill) Lambert of the state traffic group and to invite John Gotchen, the town—s representative to the regional planning Transportation Advisory Committee, to provide background on how to get projects on the DOT 10-year plan and what funding might be available. "We should have Bill Lambert come present to the select board," one member said; the board agreed to invite Lambert and Gotchen to a future meeting and to invite interested neighbors.
Why it matters: Changes to traffic control and added sidewalks or shoulders affect pedestrian safety, business access and town right-of-way. Board members noted trade-offs including potential faster driving if a shoulder widens the travel way, right-of-way constraints that could implicate property acquisition, and the long timelines and funding cycles associated with DOT projects.
Details: Ideas discussed included converting the village Y to lawn, adding crosswalks, installing 4-foot shoulders along Route 113 toward the school, and planning sidewalks from the Unitarian church to the library. The board discussed prior grant applications and the need to coordinate with Lakes Region Planning Commission and the state Department of Transportation. They asked staff to follow up and set a meeting with the state presenter and the regional TAC member.
Ending: The board directed staff to invite the state traffic presenter and John Gotchen to a future Select Board meeting. No formal vote was taken on traffic changes at this meeting.
