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Highway Safety Committee — March 5, 2026

Public raised repeated safety frustrations on Route 11 and funding concerns for the four-way stop, but board remained procedural and no major internal divisions emerged.

Date Thursday, March 5, 2026 Duration 1.1h Speakers 8 Public comments 3 Decisions 4 Mildly contentious
📄 Agenda ▶ Video

Public ⁠impact

Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01

Route 11 Traffic Calming and Potential Four-Way Stop

Ongoing safety risk with delayed infrastructure improvements Affected: Residents and visitors using Route 11 near post office, Sunapee Cove, and Nutting/Bradford intersections
safety change
02

Bradford Road Speeding and Proposed Four-Way Stop

Proposal advanced to Select Board after years of discussion Affected: Residents along Bradford/Nutting roads and commuters
safety change

Decisions ⁠logged

Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Approved meeting minutes with amendment correcting Route 11 to Route 103.
Motion, second, and approval after discussion.
All in favor
Removed impact fees discussion from committee agenda pending Select Board action on CIP.
No formal vote due to lack of quorum later in meeting.
Consensus
Table discussion of proposed four-way stop or related item until June meeting
Deferred due to weather and member absence
Consensus
Set next meeting date
June 4 at 9am
Consensus

Topics ⁠discussed

Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 00:50 Minutes Approval

Roll call conducted; minutes approved with amendment correcting Route 11 reference to Route 103.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 03:36 Safe Streets for All Grant Presentation

Derek Perl presented county-wide Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan funded by federal grant; data-driven analysis, public outreach, and eligibility for 80/20 implementation grants discussed, with Sunapee projects limited to Route 11/Sergeant Road.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 15:16 Georges Mills Safety Audit Integration

Committee discussed incorporating recent Georges Mills road safety audit (Springfield/Route 11) into the action plan before March deadline; audit report forwarded to consultant.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 32:28 Impact Fees and CIP

Impact fee discussion deferred pending Capital Improvement Program adoption and Select Board action; topic removed from committee agenda.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 35:42 Nutting/Bradford Road Four-Way Stop

Quotes received for signage ($2,600-$7,396 range); funding challenges noted as not in highway budget; committee agreed to prepare proposal for Select Board and review draft letter next meeting. Later tabled to June meeting due to weather and member absence.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 56:38 Crosswalk and ADA Compliance in Harbor Area

Discussion of whether the harbor could be designated as a single large crosswalk per MUTCD standards, with focus on ADA compliance requirements for sidewalks, curbs, and curb cuts; concluded current sidewalks make this unviable without major expense. Harbor crosswalk ordinance deemed not viable.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 57:31 Georges Mills Road Safety Audit Updates

Audit recommendations reviewed; short-term items include sign relocation and flashing stop sign (~$2,500); potential grant funding via Safe Streets plan noted; public comments on crosswalks and speeds.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:02:24 Traffic, Parking, and Walkability Concerns

Review of expected traffic from upcoming voting, new business approval (-50 capacity between Fenton's Landing and Hoptobistic), parking shortages, and lack of sidewalks on multiple streets including routes from Sherburne Gym.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:06:06 Mud Season Road Postings

Roads will be posted for mud season starting Tuesday the 10th, requiring permitted vehicles on posted roads.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:07:07 Next Meeting Scheduling

Agreement to hold the next committee meeting on June 4 at 9am.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 1:30:38 Other Updates

NHDOT Highway Safety Plan meeting scheduled April 8; center line markings tabled to June.

Speakers: Unidentified speaker

Controversy & ⁠dissent

Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.

Potentially controversial issues

01

Nutting/Bradford Road Four-Way Stop Proposal

Multi-year public safety concern with high signage costs ($2,600-$7,396) not in highway budget, forcing potential fundraising; item tabled again despite repeated discussion
Board position: Prepare proposal and draft letter for Select Board review; table formal action to June
medium concern
02

Route 11 Crosswalk Visibility and Speed Limits

Public reports of near-misses and faded markings near post office/Sunapee Cove; frustration with state 85th-percentile speed policy preventing reductions
Board position: Annual repainting confirmed; referenced safety audit and grants but no commitment to speed limit changes
medium concern

Community vs. board tension

Action ⁠items

Who owes what, by when.
Forward Georges Mills safety audit to Derek Perl/consultant and speak with Shannon about Select Board agenda slot for four-way stop proposal.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Before next meeting
Add draft letter recommending four-way stop to next meeting agenda for review.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next meeting
Check status of Upper Valley temporary traffic calming measures and report back.
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Next meeting
Prepare and submit four-way stop proposal to Select Board if timing allows before grant deadlines.
Assigned: a speaker / a speaker · Due: Before grant window closes
Move proposed four-way item to June meeting agenda; research flashing light ownership and costs; prepare drop letter to select board with funding options and red blinking light conversion
Assigned: a speaker · Due: June meeting
Reach out to Steve McGrath for updates on downtown crosswalk/plan from community group
Assigned: a speaker · Due: Prior to June meeting

Notable ⁠statements

This is a great opportunity for the Georges Mills safety audit to potentially lead into Safe Streets grant funding. — Unidentified speaker · Discussion of audit integration ▶ 15:50
It amazes me that we're going to have to do fundraising for a safety issue. — Unidentified speaker · Four-way stop signage costs ▶ 44:19
Time to funnel the four-way stop recommendation to the Select Board. — Unidentified speaker · After years of discussion ▶ 42:36
Recommended requiring traffic and parking studies for changes of use or increased use but planning board did not adopt; expressed disappointment — Unidentified speaker · Parking and traffic impacts from new business ▶ 1:04:10
No safe walking route exists from Sherburne Gym to Main Street due to absent sidewalks — Unidentified speaker · Walkability concerns ▶ 1:02:24

Public ⁠comment

What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
3
Total speakers
1
Addressed
2
Partial
0
Not addressed
Unidentified speaker
▶ 36:58
Addressed
a speaker raised concerns about unsafe crosswalks near Sunapee Cove and the post office, noting increased traffic from Prospect Hill developments and faded markings. They advocated for better signage (permanent or temporary) to alert drivers to pedestrians, especially in summer, and questioned speed data collection. Key concern
Inadequate crosswalk visibility and signage on Route 11 amid rising pedestrian and vehicle traffic
Board response
Board confirmed crosswalks are repainted annually, discussed DOT approval needs for signage, referenced safety audit recommendations including flashing signs, shared speed study data (avg ~44 mph), and noted options for piecemeal implementation or grants.
Board directly engaged with the crosswalk and signage issues, referenced studies and costs, and outlined next steps.
Unidentified speaker
▶ 44:04
Partial
a speaker described two recent near-miss incidents due to speeding vehicles on Route 11 near the post office. They supported lowering speeds (citing examples from New London) and questioned why the safety report did not recommend reducing the limit in that rural section. Key concern
Excessive vehicle speeds on Route 11 creating safety hazards
Board response
Board discussed challenges with state speed limit policies (85th percentile data), past efforts to reduce speeds, and potential unintended consequences of new studies; acknowledged the concern but expressed caution.
Board acknowledged the speed issue and explained state constraints but did not commit to new actions or endorse a speed reduction.
Unidentified speaker
▶ 51:31
Partial
a speaker suggested piloting temporary traffic calming measures (as used by Upper Valley) before permanent changes to test effectiveness on speed reduction. Key concern
Need to trial low-cost temporary traffic calming before permanent installations
Board response
Board members clarified that such measures require Select Board approval and prior public notice; no prior vote had occurred, and the item would need to be brought forward formally.
Process requirements were explained, but no decision or timeline was set during the meeting.

Accountability ⁠flags

Documented procedural gaps. Each item links to its source.

Agenda items not discussed

Topics discussed — not on agenda

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Report composed by grok-4.3, claude-opus-4-7 · analyzed 2026-05-27.