Traffic Light Debate Could Shape Future of Gateway District

Time is running out for the Windham Board of Selectmen to decide on the future of a signalized intersection that has sparked interest in recent weeks among parties from every direction.

Those stakeholders packed into Town Hall Monday night to discuss whether the traffic light at the intersection of Routes 111 and 111A should either stay put or be removed.

Unless Selectmen act, the decision on the books requested by the town in 2002 is to remove the traffic light.

But Selectman Roger Hohenberger, who served on the board at that time, doesn't think it was the right call.

"I'm convinced the decision made 10 years ago is probably the wrong one today," he said, noting that the scope of development along that corridor was never anticipated.

One condition of Hohenberger's opinion that the traffic light should remain – he wants the new Route 111A to be scrapped. Hohenberger believes that a traffic signal at that intersection, coupled with the potential for another new signal near Delahunty Nurseries and Florist, would cause gridlock similar to South Willow Street in Manchester.

As part of the Interstate 93 widening project, there are currently plans to create a new Route 111a that will run parallel to the old road on the other side of the Country Shoppes plaza and Nault's Windham Motorcycles.

Should a signal remain at the Route 111/111A crossing, that would make for four traffic lights in a row on Route 111 starting at the Delahunty intersection and heading toward what will be the town's new Interstate 93 ramp.

Rob Woodland of Woodland Design Group spoke to the board in favor of keeping the light.

Woodland's organization prepared a recent traffic signal study which took a look at whether a signal would still be warranted at that intersection once the routes are realigned to their proposed locations.

Woodland said that initial findings showed that peak hour traffic volumes would be high enough to require a signal. He said that some more recent counts have projected 1,600 cars per hour without development. He didn't present standard 4-hour or 8-hour traffic models, but said with confidence that those models should also meet the warrant to maintain a traffic light.

"Maintaining access in any fashion at this location is the goal," said Woodland.

To Hohenberger's strategy, Woodland said that a 40-acre portion of the Gateway Commercial District adjacent to the Country Shoppes has "high-value tax base" written all over it, but needs the second access point created by the new Route 111A.

Opposing Woodland's traffic assessment was Stephen Pernaw, a Salem-based traffic consultant who appeared on behalf of Windham businessman Mark Cafua and his company – Cafua Management Inc. Pernaw was surprised to hear that the intersection would meet the criteria for signalization, even if left turns were permitted.

Cafua recently spoke out against the traffic light being removed because of the major property investment he recently made at 43 Range Road with the understanding that the state would maintain the plan set in motion starting 10 years ago.

He purchased the property with the plan to build a new Dunkin' Donuts establishment after his former location between the two barrels of Interstate 93 was taken by eminent domain. Cafua also owns the two Dunkin' Donuts locations currently in town.

Chairman Phil LoChiatto agreed that investments were made based on what was agreed upon 10 years ago, but added that if the Route 111/111A light remains, the Delahunty Drive light needs to go in as well.

Also presenting at the meeting was local engineer Karl Dubay of The Dubay Group, who gave a 53-page packet to Selectmen with letters from business and property owners requesting the light remain.

Dubay displayed photos of every business near the intersection that would be impacted by the traffic light decision.

"We all recognize things change," said Dubay of the shift in strategy from the town decision made 10 years ago. "(The New Hampshire Department of Transportation) has been wonderful with this town and the working changes with this board."

Dubay explained that the signals at 111/111A, Delahunty Drive and the new 111A intersection would all be "interconnected and coordinated," a fact that Pernaw later disputed because he said equal spacing is needing between traffic lights.

As for other invested business interests, Dubay said that the 28.36-acre state property and former location of Applewood Golf Links is a "very exciting opportunity" for business development in Windham.

Part of the packet provided by Dubay included a letter from Harry Shea of Shea Commercial Properties Inc.

Shea is the real estate broker representing the state as it attempts to sell the former Applewood property. Like Dubay, he is in favor of maintaining the traffic light, indicating in his letter that removal of the light will limit the potential buyers and uses for that site.

A good chunk of the discussion also centered on the roundabout concept, and how that unique engineering concept could perhaps create a solution where all parties are happy.

Selectman Ross McLeod noted that four roundabouts in the Village Center District of Windham are slated at some point in the "far distant future," and that a 15-mph through speed concept could work between the Delahunty and new Route 111A lights.

Fellow Selectman Al Letizio Jr. agreed.

"I'm looking at this scenario, I see something of an opportunity in front of us."

Letizio outlined the idea behind a neatly engineered "Searles Square," which could serve as a staple for the community off I-93.

Vice Chairwoman Kathleen DiFrusica said she supports keeping the light unless the NHDOT comes back with radical new information for the board.

"This is the fabric of our community, this is our Gateway District," she said. "I want to look at what we can do to make sure that all these businesses are going to be successful.

Former Selectman Alan Carpenter suggested a service road that could link all of the properties that have the potential for development.

Planning Board member Kristi St. Laurent, who travels the intersection up to 12 times a day as a nearby resident, said that the left turn toward Range Road can cue up past Delahunty Drive while youth sports are taking place.

Speaking for the residents across from Delahunty Drive, Shawn Foster of 44 Range Road presented a petition supporting the proposed Delahunty light as a means for he and his neighbors to get home easier.

Melissa Magnuson, owner of Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital at 61 Range Road, stressed the need for a light to make things easier on her 250 clients, many of whom are driving to her in stressful situations due to sick animals. The argument was also made for ConvenientMD across the street at 125 Indian Rock Road, where many patients are either children or elderly.

Without a traffic light at the nearby intersection, Magnuson said that those trying to access her business from the north will have to drive past the old Route 111a, take a left at the new Route 111a and drive around. She said that many won't do that, and rather create the unsafe situation of cutting through the Klemm's Mobil parking lot or Country Shoppes.

The next step for Windham Selectmen is to hear from NHDOT, which will take place at a meeting in the near future. I-93 Project Manager Pete Stamnas attended on Monday, but only to observe the meeting.

The board is seeking answers to cost questions, such as whether Windham will have to pick up the financial slack for a light at the intersection.

DiFruscia said that based on what she has been told, the state will assume the light responsibility if traffic warrants are met.