The Downtown Infrastructure Improvement Project final design recommendation will be presented at a City Council MSFI Committee meeting in December. 

The MSFI meeting to be scheduled in December will be a public meeting, and it is likely the final opportunity for public input in the design process. When the meeting date is confirmed, we will publish notices via the KeeneNH.gov/Downtown project website, email and text message, City social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram), and a press release. Presentation documents will be posted on the project website.

The final design is the result of a thorough technical analysis and associated utility coordination, geotechnical investigations, and permit applications, all of which are based upon the specific elements in the preliminary design approved by the City Council last July including:

• Keeping the current Central Square traffic pattern with a single lane on the north side of the square
• Keeping the current emergency vehicle response patterns
• Maintaining 2 lanes of traffic on Main Street - both northbound and southbound
• Keeping a U-turn lane in the Main Street northbound lane
• Eliminating median parking along Main Street (with no reduction in the total number of parking spaces downtown)
• Adding carefully selected trees both to replace some that must be removed and to add some in new locations (with an expected increase in the total number of trees downtown)
• Expanding sidewalk areas for pedestrian use and to provide a 10-foot sidewalk commerce zone where possible
• Adding protected bike lanes
• Adding raised crosswalks for side streets entering Main Street and around Central Square including an expanded crossing between Railroad Street and Gilbo Avenue
• Improving Railroad Square with increased hardscape, separation of bike and pedestrian traffic, additional trees and benches, a gateway arch, and a railroad motif
• Tentative: Adding a solar pavilion that also provides a parking canopy on the west side of Gilbo Avenue (dependent upon obtaining grant funding).

Construction for the first phase, Central Square, is scheduled to begin in May 2025. 

There are multiple ways for the public to stay informed and communicate with us as the project proceeds.

• The Public Works Department is planning to hold monthly “Coffee and Hard Hats” in-person project updates in downtown Keene. This will provide a good opportunity for downtown businesses and residents to get detailed information, ask questions, and provide input and feedback throughout the project lifecycle. Details such as dates, times, and locations will be shared soon.

• We plan to hire a project ombudsman to be a key community resource to provide independent and impartial assistance in navigating construction impacts. In general, the ombudsman will listen and learn about all perspectives, consider all resources and data, and communicate and coordinate with the City and public stakeholders to facilitate the resolution of concerns that arise during construction.

• We continue to encourage downtown businesses and residents to sign up for notifications. We will periodically send emails and text messages to subscribers to provide information about possible interruptions and impacts on traffic, parking, sidewalk access, and more. Signup via the website, KeeneNh.gov/Downtown, or directly on the signup page. (Make sure to respond to the confirmation email or text message to activate your contact info! The “marketing” and “cart reminders” language on the signup page is mandatory, but we will only use this list for Downtown Project information.)

• We will use the KeeneNH.gov/Downtown project website, email and text message, City social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram), mailings to property owners, and press releases as necessary to share information and updates. 

• Monthly updates at public City Council MSFI Committee meetings will begin as the start of construction approaches, and the public is welcome to attend these meetings in person at City Hall or watch online. The MSFI Committee typically meets on the 4^th Wednesday of each calendar month at 6:00 P.M., subject to schedule adjustments (check KeeneNH.gov/Calendar).