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Exeter committee to host Aug. 7 design sessions to reimagine Lincoln Street train platform
Summary
The Exeter Train Station Committee will hold two public design sessions with Plan New Hampshire on Aug. 7 to gather resident input for converting the small Lincoln Street platform into a weather-protected station with restrooms, a welcome center and nearby amenities; designers will present concepts Aug. 8.
A member of the Exeter Train Station Committee announced that the town will hold two public design sessions on Friday, Aug. 7 to gather community ideas for reimagining the small Lincoln Street train platform into a larger, weather-protected station with amenities.
The committee member said the sessions, organized with Plan New Hampshire, will be at Lincoln Street School from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. “That’s exactly what the Exeter Train Station Committee is working to do,” the committee member said, describing a desire for a “vibrant” station that could be marketed as a destination beyond daily commuters.
Why it matters: The existing platform is exposed to wind and rain and has limited parking and no restrooms, committee members and commuters said. The committee described the effort as a long-term (20–30 year) vision that could expand the site’s role in downtown placemaking and local economic activity.
The committee emphasized it will prioritize public input. “The first thing we do is listen during those public sessions to what the neighborhood and what the community wants,” the committee member said, adding that the design team will develop ideas during the workshops rather than the committee pre-committing to specific outcomes.
Commuters who were interviewed ahead of the sessions suggested modest, practical changes. One commuter said an earlier-opening coffee shop would be welcome and that parking sometimes fills up during peak periods, suggesting overflow parking might help. Another commuter recommended a small cafe area and restroom facilities at the station: “Bathrooms would be nice too for sure,” the commuter said.
The committee said the designers will present initial concepts the following day, Saturday, Aug. 8 at 3 p.m., shortening the usual gap between feedback and visible ideas. The committee also pointed to recent local projects—sidewalk widening and added benches on Lincoln Street—as examples of change that followed community engagement.
Funding: The committee said it hopes to use Plan New Hampshire’s package to help pursue grant funding and other revenue sources to support construction of amenities such as restrooms and a welcome center, though specific funding amounts and sources were not specified.
Next steps: Residents who want to comment or attend the sessions can find updates on the town calendar on the municipal website. The committee encouraged broad participation and said public feedback will shape the design team’s concepts.
