Complete Streets of New Hampshire
Complete Streets create healthier, more prosperous places for people to live and thrive.
Complete Streets create healthier, more prosperous places for people to live and thrive.
Planning for multiple modes of transportation gives people of all ages and abilities an opportunity to choose how they get around, and offer more options for the nearly 1/3 of Americans who lack a driver’s license.
When asked, New Hampshirites from rural to urban communities will tell you they want neighborhoods and village centers in which their families can walk and ride a bike. So, how can we make roads safer for all users? The May - June 2024 Town & City Magazine article provides the tools that many communities in New Hampshire and beyond have utilized to ensure roads accommodate all users. Please join us in the discovery of Complete Streets in New Hampshire.
As of January 2025, 17 different New Hampshire communities have a Complete Streets policy or resolution in place. Several others have been recognized as nice places to walk or ride a bicycle.
The town of Alstead envisions a safe, accessible, and well-connected transportation network that meets the needs of all user groups and all modes of travel that fits within the context of the Town's rural character and preserves the Town's historic and natural resources. To support this vision, it is the intent of the Town, through this policy, to create a network of "complete streets" that safely accommodate everyone. The policy organizes and formulizes this effort.
Jaffrey uses their Complete Streets Guidelines for Complete Streets policy.
The City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (2014) analyzes needs and deficiencies, provides guidelines and standards for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and identifies and prioritizes infrastructure improvements.
The Town of Exeter has contracted with Rockingham Planning Commission to gather input from residents - and others who work, shop or recreate in town – and develop a Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan with strategies to improve safety and connectivity for walking and bicycling in Exeter.
Town of Hanover Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (2012)
Pedestrian and Cyclist Advocacy Committee
Bedford Pedestrian & Bicycle Connectivity Master Plan (2014)
Merrimack Daniel Webster Highway Bicycle-Pedestrian Corridor Plan (2019)
Nashua Regional Planning Commission is in the process of developing Complete Streets Guidelines (ongoing project).
City of Concord Pedestrian Master Plan (2017)
The 2023 Lakes Region Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan is a comprehensive update to the 2012 plan. It was developed to provide the communities in the Lakes Region with additional information about existing biking and walking infrastructure and to reinforce local revitalization efforts that desire to make their communities safer and more enjoyable places to live and visit.
Communities big and small are implementing Complete Streets projects (including demonstration projects) across the Granite State. The map below highlights some planned, ongoing, and recently completed projects.