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First and last mile
connectivity

Bicycle connections can play
an important role in extending
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network. Providing continuous,
dedicated bicycle facilities to
connect residential areas and
job centers to commuter rail
stations can help shift trips
away from automobiles and
encourage more sustainable
travel options.

40 to 44 minutes

35 to 39 minutes | >

3%

30 to 34 minutes
13%

25 to 29 minutes
6%

60 to 89 minutes

7%, a 10%
45 to 59 minutes

a

20 to 24 minutes
N%

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Scenario development around future potential commuter rail sites
present ideas for improving first and last mile connectivity by
expanding bike and pedestrian infrastructure and improving the overall
public realm experience and walkability around multi-transit areas.

Commuting Patterns

Like many smaller American
cities, a wide range of travel times
to work (by workers who did

not work at home) is present in
Nashua. Commuters tend to prefer
commutes that are approximately
half an hour or less, when
possible. The large percentage of
commuters traveling more than
45 minutes shows that Nashua’s
employment shed draws from
across both states, but is alsoa
sign that the City has much room
to try to focus on developing more
jobs within its borders

Travel Time to Work in Nashua

90 minutes or more: Less than 5 minutes: <1%
4%

5 to 9 minutes

10 to 14 minutes
18%

15 to 19 minutes
18%

Source: American Community Survey 2019 1-year Estimates

Future of Rail

Nashua has been at the forefront
of advocating for rail connection
between Boston and New
Hampshire along the northern end
of the NH Capitol Corridor. The
rail connection will utilize existing
transportation infrastructure,
including the Pan Am Railway,

US Route 3 and I-93. Nashua

is exploring potential stops
throughout the City such as the
recently purchased property
located at 25 Crown Street in East
Hollis and along DW Hwy. Re-
establishing this historic passenger
rail connection will improve
regional connectivity and address
concerns around mobility and
economic development.

The scenarios for development
around these future potential
commuter rail sites in the Land Use
section present ideas for improving
first and last mile connectivity by
expanding bike and pedestrian
infrastructure and improving the
overall public realm experience
and walkability around multi-
transit areas.

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

Rail road by East Hollis

Safety and ee TET UT |
The New Hampshire Capitol

Infrastructure Corridor Project studies

strategic rail and bus transit
investments to improve
(oroyaTarreidelplwel Col ar oma atom ace aTI cs
stretch between Boston, MA
and Concord, NH. Even though
a multimodal transportation
network already exists

along the Capitol Corridor,
demand is increasingly
higher than capacity. The
enhanced transportation
network is meant to support
communities along the
corridor from an economic,
environmental and socially
sustainable perspective. The
Nashua Regional Planning
Commission (NRPC) has been
Wola <inreMedokolN Ar UiapmaNtem NeaU]
Hampshire Department of
Transportation (NHDOT) to
support this project.

While Nashua’s means of getting
to work is still predominantly the
car, the City’s efforts to quantify,
analyze, and improve conditions
for bicycles and pedestrians area
fundamental component of shifting
mode of transport away from

the car. The City’s research into
infrastructure and repair needs
for sidewalks, curb ramps, and
street condition is an important
first step. Aligning those findings
with the broader goals of the
master plan—areas for larger-
scale improvements, citywide
strategies for redevelopment
versus preservation—will ensure
that capital budgets are fiscally
responsible, and that public works
projects help work alongside
other longer-range planning
considerations.

Many of the designated bike
and pedestrian areas in the City
can only be accessed by driving
or traveling by bike or foot in
unsafe conditions. A Citywide bike
and pedestrian plan would help
prioritize where connections and
improvements should be made and
how to better utilize the limited
grant funding available, such as
TAP. Safer travel would benefit
all residents and visitors but it
would especially help the aging
population age in place.

Main Street bike lane

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Livable Nashua

Livable Nashua is a citizen
centered tool that allows the
City to increase the levels of
iagedansy o-co1ny MON M Lele mel arte
of topics including; water
quality, access to healthy
food, and solar energy. The
tool details statistics to help
track progress on actions
through time and encourages
community members to

be part of the solution by
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making recommendations

Cola eCoUnl (enV ele) (em xoreImolennale
City. Check it out at www.
livablenashua.org

Electric Vehicle Registrations
Nashua has experienced a
significant increase in the
number of EVs registered
between 2015 and 2019, with
the current total at more than
400. In addition to private
charging stations, there

are 10 locations in Nashua
equipped with 1-3 public
charging stations each. The
City of Nashua anticipates

the number of EVs and public
charging stations to increase in
ide materslamiUy MU Eon

Sustainable
Transportation and
Emerging Trends

Imagine Nashua aims to promote
and encourage sustainable
transportation options and

a well-connected mobility
network in the city, advancing

and linking economic efficiency,
environmental protection, and
social equity. Transportation
planning for Nashua must consider
reciprocal effects on the physical
environment, be cost-effective
and adaptable to changing

needs, and overall improve the
quality of life for residents. The
City has set larger resiliency and
sustainability goals through the
Livable Nashua Initiative, that
actively promotes environmentally
sustainable transportation
options. This is important, as
currently transportation accounts
for 47.4% of New Hampshire’s
GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
Nashua’s Environment and Energy
Committee continues to work
towards bringing cleaner forms

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

of transportation to the city -
promoting and encouraging ride
sharing options, and providing
residents with a suite of mobility
options. In 2018, two hundred
turquoise-colored bikes were
stationed around the city to kick off
Nashua’s four-month pilot program
with VeoRide, an adaptable,
dockless bike-share system.
Electric scooters were added to the
fleet in 2019 and returned in 2021
through an agreement with Bird.
Nashua has also experienced a
significant increase in the number
of EVs registered between 2015
and 2019, with the current total

at more than 400. The City sees
the transition to EVs and more
renewable energy sources as a key
strategy to a more Livable Nashua.

Electric Vehicle Registrations in Nashua

500

400

300

Registrations

200

100

am

2015 2016 2017

Source: https://www.livablenashua.org

2018 2019 5-Year
Total

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Nashua Transit System has 2.new electric hybrid buses

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Implementation Report Card
Baseline —> 2030 Target

% Households within 1/4 mile
of Transit stop
81% —>85%

Pedestrian Walkability: % of
most walkable roads
39% —>55%

Bicycle Traffic Stress: % of
least stressful roads
30% —>40%

Mean Travel Time to Work
(minutes)
27 —>25

Top Goal 1:
Equitable and
Connected
Transportation

Networks

Ensure access to a range of
transportation options that meet
the current and future mobility
needs of residents, workers, and
visitors of all ages, incomes and
abilities.

Action: Ensure all
public rights-of-way
are Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)-
compliant

Recommendation 1

Timeframe: Near-term

Create an ADA Transition Plan

to guide the upgrade of existing
public right-of-way infrastructure
to meet accessibility standards.

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Recommendation 2

Timeframe: Ongoing

Review designs for all new
public right-of-way projects to
ensure they comply with ADA
accessibility standards.

Recommendation 3

Timeframe: Ongoing

Adopt the Access Board’s Public
Right of Way Accessibility
Guidelines (PROWAG) to help
engineers meet accessibility
standards.

Recommendation 4

Timeframe: Mid-term

Create a form that can be
accessed online for residents
and visitors to submit reasonable
modification requests to respond
to accessibility issues.

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

There is an opportunity to build out transportation networks throughout
the City that are equitable, and accessible to all transit users regardless
of their ability, age, and income.

Action: Adopt Complete

Streets policy and

initiatives.

Recommendation 1 Recommendation 2
Timeframe: Mid-term Timeframe: Ongoing

Develop Complete Street In conjunction with Complete
Guidelines to streamline future Street Guidelines update road and
design and create dimensional sidewalk standards to meet the
standards based on national needs of all transportation users.

best practice guidance such
as NACTO Urban Street Design
Guide, NACTO Urban Bikeway °
Design Guide, NACTO Designing Recommendation 3
for All Ages and Abilities, NACTO Timeframe: Near/Mid-term
Transit Street Guide, AASHTO

Guide for the Development of Develop Complete Streets Task
Bicycle Facilities, FHWA Achieving Force to champion transportation
Multimodal Networks, FHWA efforts in the City.

Bikeway Selection Guide, FHWA
Separated Bike Lane Planning
and Design Guide, and MassDOT
Separated Bike Lane Design
Guide.

Main Street crosswalk 101

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Action: Build robust, safe
and connected pedestrian
and bicycle network.

Recommendation 1

Timeframe: Ongoing

Improve pedestrian and bicycle
access to all open spaces, and
recreational areas.

- Evaluate opportunities for
developing buffered or
protected bicycle lanes and
opportunities for creating
shared bicycle and pedestrian
pathways to increase safety
and accessibility for all ages
and abilities.

- Address areas of concern

highlighted in the Nashua

Bicycle and Pedestrian

Project including, Main Street/

Downtown, Amherst Street,

Daniel Webster Highway, and

the North End.

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

When roads are improved
(including repaving),

evaluate and implement
accommodations for bicyclists
and pedestrians in the design,
when feasible.

Prioritize first-last mile bicycle
facilities between future
commuter rail stops and
neighborhoods

Include bicycle parking in
major activity centers and
destinations to encourage
bicycling throughout the city.
Develop a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Master Plan for
the city, to further implement
these recommendations.

Action: Adopt a Vision
Zero policy with the goal
of reducing traffic injuries
and fatalities on Nashua
streets

Recommendation 1

Timeframe: Mid-term

Identify streets where fatal or
serious injury collisions are likely
to occur and prioritize these areas
for safety-related improvements.

Crosswalk in front of Nashua Transit Center

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

103

ifvetets601) Nashua \

Action: Expand Rideshare
and Shared Micromobility
Options

Recommendation 1

https://imagine.nashuanh.gov

Recommendation 3

Timeframe: Ongoing
* Seek partnership to

reimplement bike share
systems.

Recommendation 2

Timeframe: Mid-term

With new bikeshare program,
start a pilot in one zone of the City
with key destinations to build up
support and a fan base among the
community.

Timeframe: Near/Mid-term

As support and funding continues
to grow, expand the bikeshare and
e-scooter program throughout the
City.

Recommendation 4

Timeframe: Near/Mid-term

Ensure that bikeshare and
e-scooters stations are placed
near important destinations, like
job centers, shopping areas, the
downtown, and popular civic
assets (the riverfront, town hall,
the library, etc.) to encourage
the use of less carbon intensive
transportation methods.

Recommendation 5

Timeframe: Mid-term

Work with a carshare vendor to

locate shared vehicle spaces in

residential neighborhoods so

people can reduce their need

to own a private vehicle while

retaining access to cars when

necessary.

* Work with developers to
include car share spaces in lieu
of parking minimums.

Recommendation 6

Timeframe: Mid-term

Conduct a feasibility study to
determine the desire for employer
based carpooling or rideshare
programs.

Recommendation 7

Timeframe: Mid-term

Provide wayfinding and
educational programming to aid
residents, visitors, and people
who work in Nashua how to use
the alternative transportation
methods.

EScooter Share

Comprehensive Master Plan

Mobility and Transit

105