Keene City Council discusses key aspects of downtown infrastructure project ahead of vote

Although no final decisions were made, the meeting marked a significant step toward finalizing the plan.

Councilor Mitch Greenwald, who leads the Municipal Services, Facilities, and Infrastructure (MSFI) Committee, highlighted notable improvements in the project since the last council meeting. The project, initiated with an approved concept last July, has now evolved into a preliminary design for a three-year downtown renovation.

This major initiative aims to replace outdated water, sewer, and stormwater systems under Central Square, Main Street, Gilbo Avenue, and Railroad Square. While there is a consensus on the necessity of these replacements, discussions have focused on potential modifications to the city’s layout.

A significant part of the three-hour meeting was dedicated to traffic patterns in Central Square. The main point of contention was whether to have two travel lanes in front of the United Church of Christ or just one. Most councilors supported a single, 20-foot lane for ease and safety, while Councilors Randy Filiault, Mitch Greenwald, Thomas Powers, and Phil Jones backed the two-lane option, citing concerns over traffic and parking.

Councilor Jacob Favolise, elected to the council last week, supported a single lane, emphasizing its simplicity and pedestrian safety, whereas Councilor Michael Remy worried about potential conflicts in a two-lane setup. Filiault suggested a compromise: a 22-foot single lane that could later be split into two lanes if needed.

Most members were in agreement on retaining the U-turn at the top of Main Street, despite Councilor Catherine Workman’s concerns about traffic congestion. The council decided to keep this feature, allowing northbound traffic to reverse direction.

The full council convened for the first time in nearly a year to review the downtown infrastructure project. Councilors delved into various aspects of the preliminary design, preparing for a vote scheduled next month.

The project will be revisited by the MSFI Committee on June 26 for further review and a recommendation to the full council on July 18. Key design features include a solar panel structure over parking spaces on Gilbo Avenue to power downtown lighting and specific left-turn restrictions from Main Street to Emerald and Railroad Streets.

Public Works Director Don Lussier proposed using dyed concrete for the protected bike lanes along Main Street and Central Square to differentiate them from sidewalks, a suggestion that gained broad support from the council.

A 360-degree interactive visualization of the project, showing both current conditions and proposed designs, is now accessible on the city’s website.

The final vote on the preliminary design is anticipated at the City Council meeting on July 18. Future phases will focus on how downtown businesses will operate during construction. The MSFI Committee meeting on June 26 at City Hall will be open to public comments.

Councilor Greenwald expressed optimism about nearing the project’s conclusion, emphasizing the collaborative effort in refining the design. Discussions also covered the project’s impact on parking, trees, bike racks, and event spaces, with detailed information available in the online visualization.