Wwhbipro/\Bedond 52700. 00 Nash
‘Circuditon Shudyirepors\Final RepartFinal
Report dock
@ Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
5
Factory Street
In addition to the aesthetic and community enhancements and the improved
pedestrian connectivity to the Nashua River, converting the western segment of
Water Street to a pedestrian corridor, would remove vehicular traffic from entering
Factory Street from Water Street and thereby negate the poor sight line issue. With
the poor sight line issue addressed, Factory Street can be converted to two-way flow,
Factory Street’s existing 36-foot curb-to-curb width would accommodate a single
travel lane in each direction while maintaining the existing on-street parking on the
north side of the street. This change would require modifications to the Main
Street/Factory Street/Temple Street traffic signal. The City should consider
converting Factory Street to two-way, but only as part of the closure of the western
segment of Water Street.
West Pear] Street
Converting West Pearl Street to two-way flow would provide improved connectivity
to and from Main Street. The existing 36-foot curb-to-curb width along the segment
of West Pearl Street from Main Street to Elm Street would accommodate a single
travel lane per direction while allowing the City to maintain the existing on-street
parking on the north side of the street. However, because the segment of West Pearl
Street from Elm Street to Walnut Street is only 34 feet wide with on-street parking on
both sides of the street, the conversion to two-way flow would most likely result in
the loss of the existing on-street parking spaces on the south side of the street. In an
effort to minimize any loss of on-street parking, the City could consider reducing the
approximately 8’ wide sidewalk on the south side of the west end of West Hollis
Street by approximately 2 feet. This additional roadway width could accommodate
two 10’ travel lanes in addition to maintaining on-street parking on both sides of the
roadway.
This conversion to two-way operation would require modifications to the Main
Street/ East Pearl Street/ West Pearl Street traffic signal. Converting West Pearl Street
to two-way flow would best be accomplished as part of any reconfiguration and
redevelopment plan for the Walnut Street Oval.
Temple Street and East Pearl Streets
Converting either Temple Street and/or East Pearl Street from their existing one-way
operation to two-way flow would improve vehicular mobility. However, the
downside of the conversion would be the loss of on-street parking and/or an existing
designated bike lane. Temple Street's existing 34-foot curb-to-curb width
accommodates a single travel lane, a bicycle lane, and on-street parking on both sides
of the street. To convert the roadway to two-way flow with a travel lane and a bike
lane in each direction would necessitate the loss of parking on both sides of the
street. Similarly, providing two-way flow on East Pearl Street, which has sections as
narrow as 28 feet, would necessitate the loss of parking and the bike lane.
Additionally, based on public input, there does not appear to be much support for
converting either Temple Street or East Pear] Street to two-way flow. For these
reasons, it may be best for the City to leave Temple Street and East Pearl as currently
configured for the time being.
Spring Street
Converting Spring Street from East Hollis Street to East Pearl Street from its existing
one-way northbound operation to two-way flow would be relatively straightforward
as the roadway currently has two travel lanes in addition to on-street parking on the
east side of the street. However, the change would require modifications to the East
Executive Summary
