Portsmouth: Hanover Street improvements

Portsmouth transportation officials presented plans last week for a series of improvements to Hanover Street, including a bus stop, new sidewalks and lighting.

City parking and transportation director John Burke said the project will coincide with the Hilton Gardens Inn, soon to be built across from the existing parking garage. The bus stop in Market Square is pushing capacity, he said, and the parking garage on Hanover Street is the "largest pedestrian generator in downtown."

The Market Square stop will still be used, but probably won't be used for layovers or driver shift changes, Burke said.

The plans will go before the Traffic Safety Committee on Thursday, March 10. Burke said the improvements should be finished next spring, shortly after the Hilton Gardens Inn opens.

Dover: citizen survey results

Dover residents love the town's appearance and sense of community but are worried about rapid population growth and drugs, according to results from the town's 2004 National Citizen Survey. The survey was sent to 1,200 Dover residents, 444 of whom responded.

For overall quality of life, the town received an average of 77 points out of 100. The three highest rated characteristics of the town were its overall appearance, sense of community and recreational opportunities; the top three concerns were traffic congestion, too much growth and drugs. Residents gave the town a score of 55 when asked if they thought they received a good value for taxes they pay. The overall quality of city services was rated at 63. Learn more at www.ci.dover.nh.us/Manager/survey.htm.

upcoming meetings

?Çó Republican Rep. Jeb Bradley will hold a "town hall"-style meeting in Dover in the City Hall auditorium on Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and there's no agenda, so the public will have the chance to quiz Bradley directly.

?Çó Also on March 7, there will be a public forum to discuss the Seacoast Region Wastewater management study at the Red Hook Brewery in Newington. The forum is open to the public and costs $10 to register. Lunch will be provided to those who pre-register. For more information or to register, call 603-679-5616.