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Att1_March27TACminutes_DRAFT

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156 Water Street | Exeter, NH 03833 
email@theRPC.org | 603-778-0885  
 
 
 
MINUTES 
Rockingham Planning Commission 
MPO Technical Advisory Committee 
RPC Offices, 156 Water Street, Exeter NH 
Thursday, March 27, 2025, 12:00 PM-2:00 PM 
 
 
Members Present:  S. Kizza (Brentwood); D. Sharples (Exeter); B. Dion (Greenland); J. Lynch (Hampton); 
P. Coffin (Kingston); C. Cross (Newington); C. Papachristos (Newton); T. Moore (Plaistow); E. Eby J. Harris 
(Portsmouth); J. Shaw (Rye); S. Connors (Stratham); M. Williams (COAST); M. Bevier (NH DES); L. Levine 
(FHWA). 
 
Staff: D. Walker (Assistant Director); M. Jerominek (Regional Planner); S. Bogle (Senior Transportation 
Planner) 
 
1. Introductions 
Roll call attendance was taken.  
 
2. Minutes of 02/27/2025 Meeting  
Minutes of the meetings were approved without discussion. Motion: P. Coffin; Seconded by J. 
Shaw. Approved 
 
3. Transportation Alternatives Program – S. Bogle 
S. Bogle provided an overview of the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and the one 
project application received in the region during the current application round. The project, 
submitted by the Town of Exeter, includes a suite of sidewalk, crossing and traffic calming 
improvements on Front Street and Railroad Avenue. This includes 1245’ of new sidewalk on the 
west side of Railroad Ave between Front and Winter Streets, tightening the intersection of Front 
and Railroad to shorted the crossing distance and add an ADA tip-down on the west end of the 
crosswalk, building new sidewalk on the north side of Front Street between Agway and Railroad 
Ave, and adding flashing beacons at the crosswalk on Front Street near Agway. All elements of 
the project were recommendations from the Exeter Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, completed for 
the town by RPC in 2024. The total project cost is $1.3M, of which $1.08M (80%) is requested in 
federal funding with a 20% match committed by the town.  Motion to recommend the Exeter 
proposal as the regional priority for the TAP program. Motion: P. Coffin; Seconded by B. Dion. 
Approved – D. Sharples, M. Bevier abstained. 
 
4. MPO Public Participation Plan Update – S. Bogle 
Bogle presented on the MPO’s Public Participation Plan (PPP) which was updated by staff this 
winter. The Public Participation Plan is a key planning document required for all MPOs, and 
describes how the RPC MPO engages with residents, town officials and state and federal policy 
makers to ensure availability of full information on planning processes and proposed projects, 
timely public notice, full public access to key decisions, and early and continuing participation in 
developing plans. The plan was last revised in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and still 

Rockingham Planning Commission 
 
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references emergency orders from the pandemic era that have since been repealed. Key changes 
in the new plan include: updating demographic information for municipalities, summarizing MPO 
engagement efforts over the past four years, clarifying policy on virtual and hybrid meetings post-
COVID, updating federal legislation references, acknowledging repeal by the current 
administration of Executive Orders related to Environmental Justice, updating TAC and Policy 
Committee rosters, and acknowledging changes in online platforms used for outreach. 
Motion to recommend the approval of the updated Public Participation Plan after a 45-day 
public comment period. Motion: B. Dion; Seconded by P. Coffin. Approved –M. Bevier abstained. 
 
5. Regional Safety Action Plan – D. Walker 
Walker summarized the purpose and content of the Regional Safety Action Plan. The SAP has been 
in development for just over a year and commits the MPO/RPC to working towards zero traffic 
related fatalities and serious injuries. The plan includes a number of components including a 
commitment to zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries, a structure for overseeing and 
maintaining the SAP, a detailed safety analysis, engagement with the public, considerations of 
equity, proposed policy and process changes, strategies for implementation, and ways of 
measuring progress and sharing that with the public. Walker followed up with an overview of the 
changes proposed for the draft which fall into technical edits, some updates to the crash analysis, 
and some additional requested strategies. There is also an outstanding issue regarding the Equity 
Analysis as it is required by the project agreement with FHWA however recent actions by the 
current administration have revoked many of the policies behind those requirements. Word from 
FHWA is still forthcoming regarding how to best handle that aspect of the project but it is 
anticipated to be resolved in the near future. Motion to recommend  that the MPO adopt the 
Regional Safety Action Plan including the proposed revisions identified in the draft.  Motion: B. 
Dion; Seconded by P. Coffin. Approved – S. Kizza abstained. 
 
 
6. Post Project Prioritization Ten Year Plan Discussion – D. Walker 
With only a few minutes remaining in the meeting, the TAC began discussing the recently 
completed project solicitation and selection process. Walker provided a quick overview of the 
intention of this discussion and a reminder of the process for those that are new to the TAC. Early 
discussion included concerns over funding limitations and suggestions to start the project 
solicitation process earlier to reduce the time pressure at the end. Another concern raised was 
that feedback from NHDOT Project Review occurs at a point in the process where it is very difficult 
to choose alternative projects if NHDOT sees the scope as a barrier or the cost is much higher than 
initial estimates. This conversation will continue at the April TAC meeting.  
 
7. Agency Updates and Announcements  
M. Bevier indicated that NHDES will be releasing a new multi-million dollar RFP under the Granite 
State Clean Fleets grant program (funded by Volkswagen Mitigation Trust) very soon. This will be 
open to public and private organizations. 
 
 
 
Meeting adjourned at approximately 2:00 p.m. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David Walker, Recording Secretary