Meredith Traffic

exlakesregioner · 08-16-2019, 05:59 AM

Traffic nowadays is nothing but a free for all, as hardly anyone cares about traffic rules.

Hillcountry · 08-16-2019, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exlakesregioner

Traffic nowadays is nothing but a free for all, as hardly anyone cares about traffic rules.

Hmmmm...where have I heard that before?

Garcia · 08-16-2019, 09:40 AM

Given all the posts and threads about unaware and incompetent boat drivers, what do you expect when those same people get in their cars?

macbeth · 08-16-2019, 10:18 AM

Are these the Locals that don't know the rules or people from other states? Didn't know if you had happened to see any licence plates?

MAXUM · 08-16-2019, 11:41 AM

I just find it comical that somebody seems to think that rearranging a light display is any more effective? Everyone knows what to do at a stop light irrespective of where it is. Why changing this now makes any sense is beyond any rational understanding - then again this is what happens when the Feds think they know better than anyone else and have lots of tax payer money to waste. Keep that in mind as it seems some feel that the government needs to take over and run everything. Yep works great doesn't it??

joey2665 · 08-16-2019, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAXUM

I just find it comical that somebody seems to think that rearranging a light display is any more effective? Everyone knows what to do at a stop light irrespective of where it is. Why changing this now makes any sense is beyond any rational understanding - then again this is what happens when the Feds think they know better than anyone else and have lots of tax payer money to waste. Keep that in mind as it seems some feel that the government needs to take over and run everything. Yep works great doesn't it??

Because as it is currently the light is completely off when no pedestrians are present and red when they are crossing. Easy enough to make it a much more clear by being GREEN instead of being blank when no pedestrians are present. Remember also those of us that travel through are a regular basis are used to the system but many tourists and out of state delivery trucks pass through there daily and if they do not understand it just slows traffic. I green light would alleviate this.

Wifi-1 · 08-16-2019, 12:44 PM

I remember, back in my youth, when red & yellow on together was for pedestrian crossing. When yellow went off, pedestrians had to wait, then the light would go green for traffic.

Life was much simpler back when common sense was still common.

MAXUM · 08-16-2019, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey2665

Because as it is currently the light is completely off when no pedestrians are present and red when they are crossing. Easy enough to make it a much more clear by being GREEN instead of being blank when no pedestrians are present. Remember also those of us that travel through are a regular basis are used to the system but many tourists and out of state delivery trucks pass through there daily and if they do not understand it just slows traffic. I green light would alleviate this.

That's kind of my point no confusion with conventional stop lights.

Biggd · 08-16-2019, 02:20 PM

The traffic situation was better when pedestrians played chicken with on coming vehicles.

fatlazyless · 08-17-2019, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggd

The traffic situation was better when pedestrians played chicken with on coming vehicles.

From my memory, the old pre-2019 crosswalks had two in-street pedestrian crossing signs which were a black, white and high visibilty fluorescent yellow sign, about 12"wide x 44"high, cost maybe $200-each, positioned in the center of the road, in the center lane, within the two cross walks that used to be there at the Lake St and Dover St crossings. It is a pedestrian crossing sign used all across NH and other states, designed to be placed atop the center line in the middle of the road. They work by getting the driver's extra attention and the driver gets more attentive with their driving.

Those two cross walks that are no longer there seemed to actually work better. Drivers would see the pedestrians lined up to cross, would slow down or stop their cars and wave them across.

Oh well ..... so now there is one crosswalk and this new Hawk signal system is an improvement to be here forever, so's drivers gotta get familiar with it ... and be patient.

tummyman · 08-17-2019, 07:33 AM

It is time to take more serious action on this topic. I suggest EVERYONE write to the members of the Meredith Selectboard expressing their frustration. Go to MeredithNH.org, then under Boards and Committees click on Selectboard, then write to each of the members by clicking on their name. Simple, easy way to get the message out to them. If we can get 50 letters, maybe they will at least try and get the state to re-evaluate. Also, let's write to the editors at Laconia Daily Sun....maybe they will do a story on it and the adverse impact it is having on Meredith business. Without this grass roots pressure, nothing will happen.

tummyman · 08-17-2019, 08:24 AM

I just sent email letters to each of the 5 BOS members...easy to do, using copy for all your comments. Took ten minutes overall. Then I sent letters to Meredith News and Laconia Sun requesting they do a story on the issue. Will you help by sending your letters???? Please, let's get the letter writing campaign off to a great start before the summer season is over.

Meredith News..... mnews@salmonpress.news

Laconia Sun...... news@laconiadailysun.com

Lakemamma · 08-30-2019, 02:27 PM

So today driving by they had a police officer waiting on one side and when people would stop to let people cross he would wave traffic to keep going. He kept watching for the lights to go on then he would go out in the road and and have people stop.

Wifi-1 · 08-30-2019, 02:37 PM

Problem with a bridge or tunnel is how to make it ADA compliant ?

jbolty · 08-30-2019, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wifi-1

Problem with a bridge or tunnel is how to make it ADA compliant ?

Have to have an elevator for ADA or a really long ramp. Of course the bridge could be closed or optional for off season.

joey2665 · 08-30-2019, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbolty

Have to have an elevator for ADA or a really long ramp. Of course the bridge could be closed or optional for off season.

An ADA Compliant bridge although aesthetically pleasing would cost a fortune. Try a normal light first, easy inexpensive and hopefully it will work you can additionally add signage to stop only on a red signal

fatlazyless · 08-30-2019, 05:43 PM

An all wood, timber style bridge with a steep staircase on both sides for crossing Rt-3, there, is an excellent suggestion. Build a five foot high, steel security fence along the docks area so climbing the steep stairs, up and down the bridge, will truly be the only way to cross the road.

People will be better off climbing a pedestrian bridge with steep stairs ....... 3/4 of everybody will benefit from the extra exercise ...... build it steep .... with a covered wood bridge up top to keep the rain and snow out.

An elevated, traditional covered timber bridge will bring a lot of public attention to Meredith. Build it and tourists will come here, just to walk the Meredith covered bridge. How's about naming it ........ ta-da ..... drum roll here ...... the MEREDITH BRIDGE .... a major improvement over the Meredith hawk signal.
........

If there's no funding to build an elevated covered bridge ....... then get it done on the cheap ...... with an Indiana Jones style ..... rope and wood slats style bridge accessed by 20' high ladders, on both sides ...... what a bridge!

Downeast · 08-23-2019, 10:22 PM

Thru traffic on Main in Meredith needs to SLOW DOWN, specifically in vicinity of the USPS.

The freight trains running through these congested areas need to chill out and drift through until passages are clear and wider.

As far as the crosswalk issues on 3, this will most likely take time for re-eval and adjustments, however the formentioned needs speed control attention yesterday.

Wifi-1 · 08-24-2019, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downeast

Thru traffic on Main in Meredith needs to SLOW DOWN, specifically in vicinity of the USPS.

The freight trains running through these congested areas need to chill out and drift through until passages are clear and wider.

As far as the crosswalk issues on 3, this will most likely take time for re-eval and adjustments, however the formentioned needs speed control attention yesterday.

Yep, people trying to beat out the HAWK. Time for the famous Meredith radar traps

garysanfran · 08-24-2019, 07:13 AM

When I moved to California in the '70's, you could make a right turn on a red light. I had never seen this before. CA was the only state allowing this then, I think.

I brought the idea "home" (New Hampshire & Massachusetts) and people were extraordinarily critical of such a thing. They envisioned all sorts of calamity. A red light meant "STOP". Don't complicate things.

When I drove cross-country in April, I made right turns at red lights in every state I went through and never thought twice as to whether it was legal or not. It appears to be generally accepted and allowed now everywhere, I assume.

Not sure how this pertains to the subject of the thread...I guess, although I think evolution is a slow "change" process, getting accustomed to those "hawk" signals is not going to take hold nationwide...Maybe not even locally. Sometimes bad ideas die right where they were born.

TheTimeTraveler · 08-24-2019, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysanfran

When I moved to California in the '70's, you could make a right turn on a red light. I had never seen this before. CA was the only state allowing this then, I think.

I brought the idea "home" (New Hampshire & Massachusetts) and people were extraordinarily critical of such a thing. They envisioned all sorts of calamity. A red light meant "STOP". Don't complicate things.

When I drove cross-country in April, I made right turns at red lights in every state I went through and never thought twice as to whether it was legal or not. It appears to be generally accepted and allowed now everywhere, I assume.

Not sure how this pertains to the subject of the thread...I guess, although I think evolution is a slow "change" process, getting accustomed to those "hawk" signals is not going to take hold nationwide...Maybe not even locally. Sometimes bad ideas die right where they were born.

Right turn on Red is allowed in all 50 States. I believe Massachusetts was the last state to allow this back sometime in the 1980's.

Additionally (and unknown to most Mass drivers) you can take a left turn on a red light when you have two intersecting one way streets.

tummyman · 08-30-2019, 07:02 AM

I had written and asked the Meredith News and Laconia Daily Sun to do an article on the lights issues. I also wrote to all the members of the BOS and asked readers of the blog to do the same.

In today's (8/30) LDS, there is an excellent article on the situation. Everyone should read it.....

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...6e34ab2c0.html

joey2665 · 08-30-2019, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tummyman

I had written and asked the Meredith News and Laconia Daily Sun to do an article on the lights issues. I also wrote to all the members of the BOS and asked readers of the blog to do the same.

In today's (8/30) LDS, there is an excellent article on the situation. Everyone should read it.....

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...6e34ab2c0.html

Informative article but I do not see a resolution just more observation. I just do not understand it’s so easy to fix. Change the signal to a traditional green yellow and red and you’ll be done.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

garysanfran · 08-30-2019, 08:33 AM

Starting with "observation" and then requesting more info on Fed. issues for requirements seems to be a good start. Solution seems to be steering toward green, yellow, red.

I love "small town" activism. Gets stuff done. In San Francisco, my home base, getting someone to respond to anything is almost impossible. A neighbor recently had her car broken into. Called SFPD. Three days later the SFPD showed up to "take a report".

hilltopper · 08-30-2019, 08:35 AM

Wiki has a pretty decent write-up on the HAWK Traffic Signal. This is the statement in the beginning that I don't fully understand but it may help explain the lack of a solution (IF a solution, other than patience, is actually needed):

Where standard traffic signal 'warrants' prevent the installation of standard three-color traffic signals, the HAWK beacon provides an alternative.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAWK_beacon

TheProfessor · 08-30-2019, 09:07 AM

BYPASS.

Most/many/all are missing the solution.

A bypass around the lights in Meredith. To take/remove all of the through traffic.

Go from 104 to at least the top of the hill past the high school/schools.

Will not, of course, solve any pedestrian lights issues. But will provide much less traffic.

Biggd · 08-30-2019, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey2665

Informative article but I do not see a resolution just more observation. I just do not understand it’s so easy to fix. Change the signal to a traditional green yellow and red and you’ll be done.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Your solution is too easy. It has to be studied 1000 times first before changes can be made.
Personally I think they should have built a bridge and it would have solved multiple problems, no traffic stop and no oversized trucks. They could have even built a platform at the top for a great view of the bay.

TheTimeTraveler · 08-31-2019, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey2665

Informative article but I do not see a resolution just more observation. I just do not understand it’s so easy to fix. Change the signal to a traditional green yellow and red and you’ll be done.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

This is an interesting article....

The Town of Meredith used Federal Money to do this project, so they have to follow the federal guidelines and rules.

Simple solution would be for the Town to reimburse the Federal Government and then the Town could alter the signal set up as it sees fit according to NH State Guidelines.

Of course all this is easier said than done......

Sue Doe-Nym · 09-01-2019, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

This is an interesting article....

The Town of Meredith used Federal Money to do this project, so they have to follow the federal guidelines and rules.

Simple solution would be for the Town to reimburse the Federal Government and then the Town could alter the signal set up as it sees fit according to NH State Guidelines.

Of course all this is easier said than done......

According to one of the selectmen I talked to state money was used,not federal.

Sue Doe-Nym · 08-16-2019, 02:26 PM

It was absolutely unavoidable, going to Meredith this morning. Terrible traffic jam, worse than we usually get. By the time we were through, I had a distinct feeling of being mentally unhinged. Hopefully, the traffic light/pedestrian crosswalk situation will somehow get solved.
Common sense? Hard to find these days!

08-30-2019, 02:27 PM	#13
Lakemamma Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Meredith/Florida Posts: 148 Thanks: 156 Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts	Police Officer So today driving by they had a police officer waiting on one side and when people would stop to let people cross he would wave traffic to keep going. He kept watching for the lights to go on then he would go out in the road and and have people stop.

08-30-2019, 05:43 PM	#17
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,842 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 303 Thanked 1,033 Times in 752 Posts	..... the MEREDITH BRIDGE An all wood, timber style bridge with a steep staircase on both sides for crossing Rt-3, there, is an excellent suggestion. Build a five foot high, steel security fence along the docks area so climbing the steep stairs, up and down the bridge, will truly be the only way to cross the road. People will be better off climbing a pedestrian bridge with steep stairs ....... 3/4 of everybody will benefit from the extra exercise ...... build it steep .... with a covered wood bridge up top to keep the rain and snow out. An elevated, traditional covered timber bridge will bring a lot of public attention to Meredith. Build it and tourists will come here, just to walk the Meredith covered bridge. How's about naming it ........ ta-da ..... drum roll here ...... the MEREDITH BRIDGE .... a major improvement over the Meredith hawk signal. ........ If there's no funding to build an elevated covered bridge ....... then get it done on the cheap ...... with an Indiana Jones style ..... rope and wood slats style bridge accessed by 20' high ladders, on both sides ...... what a bridge! __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake! Last edited by fatlazyless; 08-30-2019 at 06:35 PM.

08-24-2019, 07:13 AM	#20
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,581 Thanks: 680 Thanked 684 Times in 350 Posts	Right turn on red..... When I moved to California in the '70's, you could make a right turn on a red light. I had never seen this before. CA was the only state allowing this then, I think. I brought the idea "home" (New Hampshire & Massachusetts) and people were extraordinarily critical of such a thing. They envisioned all sorts of calamity. A red light meant "STOP". Don't complicate things. When I drove cross-country in April, I made right turns at red lights in every state I went through and never thought twice as to whether it was legal or not. It appears to be generally accepted and allowed now everywhere, I assume. Not sure how this pertains to the subject of the thread...I guess, although I think evolution is a slow "change" process, getting accustomed to those "hawk" signals is not going to take hold nationwide...Maybe not even locally. Sometimes bad ideas die right where they were born. __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

08-30-2019, 07:02 AM	#22
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 845 Thanks: 261 Thanked 698 Times in 246 Posts	Laconia Daily Sun I had written and asked the Meredith News and Laconia Daily Sun to do an article on the lights issues. I also wrote to all the members of the BOS and asked readers of the blog to do the same. In today's (8/30) LDS, there is an excellent article on the situation. Everyone should read it..... https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...6e34ab2c0.html

08-30-2019, 08:33 AM	#24
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,581 Thanks: 680 Thanked 684 Times in 350 Posts	I'm pleased they are taking this seriously... Starting with "observation" and then requesting more info on Fed. issues for requirements seems to be a good start. Solution seems to be steering toward green, yellow, red. I love "small town" activism. Gets stuff done. In San Francisco, my home base, getting someone to respond to anything is almost impossible. A neighbor recently had her car broken into. Called SFPD. Three days later the SFPD showed up to "take a report". __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

08-16-2019, 05:59 AM	#1
exlakesregioner Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 45 Thanks: 2 Thanked 18 Times in 12 Posts	Traffic nowadays is nothing but a free for all, as hardly anyone cares about traffic rules.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to exlakesregioner For This Useful Post:
Hillcountry (08-16-2019), Wifi-1 (08-16-2019)

08-16-2019, 09:40 AM	#3
Garcia Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Posts: 625 Thanks: 138 Thanked 284 Times in 172 Posts	Given all the posts and threads about unaware and incompetent boat drivers, what do you expect when those same people get in their cars?

08-16-2019, 10:18 AM	#4
macbeth Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 60 Thanks: 40 Thanked 33 Times in 15 Posts	Are these the Locals that don't know the rules or people from other states? Didn't know if you had happened to see any licence plates?

08-16-2019, 11:41 AM	#5
MAXUM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kuna ID Posts: 2,755 Thanks: 246 Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts	I just find it comical that somebody seems to think that rearranging a light display is any more effective? Everyone knows what to do at a stop light irrespective of where it is. Why changing this now makes any sense is beyond any rational understanding - then again this is what happens when the Feds think they know better than anyone else and have lots of tax payer money to waste. Keep that in mind as it seems some feel that the government needs to take over and run everything. Yep works great doesn't it??

08-16-2019, 12:44 PM	#7
Wifi-1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 213 Thanks: 196 Thanked 87 Times in 57 Posts	I remember, back in my youth, when red & yellow on together was for pedestrian crossing. When yellow went off, pedestrians had to wait, then the light would go green for traffic. Life was much simpler back when common sense was still common.

08-16-2019, 02:20 PM	#9
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,226 Thanks: 2,290 Thanked 1,224 Times in 782 Posts	The traffic situation was better when pedestrians played chicken with on coming vehicles.

08-17-2019, 07:33 AM	#11
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 845 Thanks: 261 Thanked 698 Times in 246 Posts	It is time to take more serious action on this topic. I suggest EVERYONE write to the members of the Meredith Selectboard expressing their frustration. Go to MeredithNH.org, then under Boards and Committees click on Selectboard, then write to each of the members by clicking on their name. Simple, easy way to get the message out to them. If we can get 50 letters, maybe they will at least try and get the state to re-evaluate. Also, let's write to the editors at Laconia Daily Sun....maybe they will do a story on it and the adverse impact it is having on Meredith business. Without this grass roots pressure, nothing will happen.

08-17-2019, 08:24 AM	#12
tummyman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 845 Thanks: 261 Thanked 698 Times in 246 Posts	I just sent email letters to each of the 5 BOS members...easy to do, using copy for all your comments. Took ten minutes overall. Then I sent letters to Meredith News and Laconia Sun requesting they do a story on the issue. Will you help by sending your letters???? Please, let's get the letter writing campaign off to a great start before the summer season is over. Meredith News..... mnews@salmonpress.news Laconia Sun...... news@laconiadailysun.com

The Following User Says Thank You to tummyman For This Useful Post:
Orion (08-17-2019)

08-30-2019, 02:37 PM	#14
Wifi-1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2019 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 213 Thanks: 196 Thanked 87 Times in 57 Posts	Problem with a bridge or tunnel is how to make it ADA compliant ?

08-23-2019, 10:22 PM	#18
Downeast Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 104 Thanks: 1 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Thru traffic on Main in Meredith needs to SLOW DOWN, specifically in vicinity of the USPS. The freight trains running through these congested areas need to chill out and drift through until passages are clear and wider. As far as the crosswalk issues on 3, this will most likely take time for re-eval and adjustments, however the formentioned needs speed control attention yesterday.

08-30-2019, 08:35 AM	#25
hilltopper Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 727 Thanks: 25 Thanked 109 Times in 70 Posts	Wiki has a pretty decent write-up on the HAWK Traffic Signal. This is the statement in the beginning that I don't fully understand but it may help explain the lack of a solution (IF a solution, other than patience, is actually needed): Where standard traffic signal 'warrants' prevent the installation of standard three-color traffic signals, the HAWK beacon provides an alternative. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAWK_beacon

08-30-2019, 09:07 AM	#26
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,142 Thanks: 17 Thanked 349 Times in 211 Posts	BYPASS. Most/many/all are missing the solution. A bypass around the lights in Meredith. To take/remove all of the through traffic. Go from 104 to at least the top of the hill past the high school/schools. Will not, of course, solve any pedestrian lights issues. But will provide much less traffic.

The Following User Says Thank You to Biggd For This Useful Post:
pondguy (08-30-2019)

08-16-2019, 02:26 PM	#30
Sue Doe-Nym Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,450 Thanks: 759 Thanked 794 Times in 417 Posts	It was absolutely unavoidable, going to Meredith this morning. Terrible traffic jam, worse than we usually get. By the time we were through, I had a distinct feeling of being mentally unhinged. Hopefully, the traffic light/pedestrian crosswalk situation will somehow get solved. Common sense? Hard to find these days!