Town officials in Jaffrey have completed a set of planning and design guidelines that address the maintenance, layout, and safety of town roads.
Director of Planning and Economic Development Jo Anne Carr will meet with the Planning Board on Tuesday, July 11 at 7 p.m. for a public hearing regarding the Complete Streets guidelines.
The guidelines, which were prepared by a seven person committee with the help of the Southwest Region Planning Commission, are designed to promote streets that benefit all modes of travel.
“The guidelines would suggest that when building new, to consider all modes of transportation,” said Carr, who said the guidelines must ultimately be approved by the Select Board.
All town roads are put into five categories – slow, transition zone, connector, neighborhood, and rural – each with its own sets of guidelines. Guidelines are put in place for things like sidewalks, street furniture, lighting, signage, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossing, on-street parking, and more, depending on the street type.
Carr said all roads would not be required to change immediately under the guidelines, instead allowing for changes to occur when other projects, like paving, are being completed.
If adopted, the guidelines could also be used to help the town secure grants for various complete streets projects.
Carr said that roads like Stratton Road and Peterborough Street – two town roads that have a lot of pedestrian traffic – will be priorities for grant funding moving forward.