KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) – The Keene City Council’s Municipal Services, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee reviewed several infrastructure and transportation issues Wednesday night, including neighborhood traffic concerns, the city’s roadway safety plan, the proposed Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion and the latest plans for downtown construction.

The committee unanimously referred a request for a traffic study on School Street to city staff. Residents raised concerns about speeding, noise, cut-through traffic, school-zone violations and difficult movements for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on School Street and nearby streets. The study will look at traffic volumes and speeds, pedestrian and school safety, cut-through traffic, noise and potential traffic-calming measures.

The committee also discussed safety concerns at the intersection of South Lincoln and Roxbury streets. Staff reported several recent crashes in the area, along with sight-distance concerns and an 85th-percentile speed of about 35 miles per hour. The committee authorized staff to negotiate sight-distance easements and reassess the intersection in six months to determine whether additional safety measures are needed. Members also discussed options including warning signs and transverse rumble strips, while recommending against a proposed four-way-stop ordinance.

On infrastructure, the committee recommended that the City Council accept about 1,200 linear feet each of water and sewer infrastructure associated with the Cottage Court development on Court Street, subject to the city’s Land Development Code requirements. The committee also recommended denying a waiver requested by Elmside Cottage Court involving private water-metering and backflow-prevention infrastructure. Public Works recommended against the waiver, citing concerns about city oversight, maintenance, water quality and other responsibilities if the system remained private.

The committee also recommended adoption of Resolution R 2026-37, involving three parcels totaling about 5,098 square feet for the Thompson Road right of way.

Members continued discussions about the proposed Gilbo Avenue solar pavilion, with the committee selecting the Commercial Street parking area as its preferred location. The preferred design uses a monoslope, or flat, roof. The project is being developed with federal funding.

The committee also received updates on the city’s Partner City relationship with Einbeck, Germany, and the Roadway Safety Action Plan. The 2025 roadway safety report documented 10 serious or fatal crashes, including one fatality. Seven of the plan’s 25 highest-priority actions have been completed, with other projects underway or being considered, including potential sidewalk improvements and safety work at Route 9 near Wickham’s Mill.

Much of Wednesday night’s discussion also focused on the ongoing downtown infrastructure project. Casella plans to continue utility work into early winter, with the revised construction sequence potentially allowing some underground utility work between Water Street and Emerald Street to move forward before spring.

The change in construction sequencing means the city will need to maintain regular communication with downtown businesses and the public. Committee members emphasized the importance of maintaining pedestrian access, providing advance notice of utility interruptions, ensuring businesses can remain accessible and coordinating construction with winter sidewalk maintenance.

Staff plans to provide a more detailed update on the revised downtown construction phasing within the next one to two weeks. A sample of the proposed biweekly updates for downtown businesses is also expected to be presented at next month’s committee meeting.