8.6.2026 Parking and Traffic Safety Committee

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Parking and Traffic Safety Committee convened on August 6, 2026, to discuss various traffic and parking issues, including a significant agenda item on the proposed design of a contraflow bike lane on Fleet Street from Hanover to Congress Street. The committee reviewed detailed plans involving switching parking from the west to the east side of Fleet Street to accommodate the bike lane, which would legally allow bicycles to travel against vehicular traffic. The committee voted to approve the design with modifications such as additional pavement markings, buffer striping, and potential curb treatments to enhance safety. They also recommended ordinance amendments to permit contraflow bicycle traffic and to relocate parking spaces accordingly. Other procurement-related discussions included updates on ongoing construction projects like Middle Street repaving and Edmond Avenue sidewalk improvements, as well as the introduction of a new traffic data analytics tool (Urban SDK) to better monitor vehicle speeds and volumes. Several motions were passed to schedule site visits and staff evaluations for various traffic calming and parking concerns throughout the city. The meeting also addressed public safety concerns related to parking enforcement at the library and pedestrian safety at crosswalks. Overall, the meeting focused on improving traffic flow, bicycle infrastructure, and parking management, with several action items directed toward ordinance changes, project implementation, and further evaluations.