DOVER — After hearing from residents, plans are being revised to help slow traffic and reduce volume on four downtown streets, according to Director of Planning and Community Development Chris Parker.

Officials held a second neighborhood meeting August 21, following one in July, to review a proposed plan to install “bump outs” rather than traffic islands, for a traffic calming pilot program along Atkinson, Belknap, Cushing and Lexington streets.

A few years ago, residents from the four streets approached elected officials who brought the matter up to the City Council, Parker said.

“Residents had come forward and said there were a lot of cut-through traffic coming through at a high speed,” Parker said, adding the streets connect two major roads in the city.

“People would cut through to get from the Spaulding Turnpike to downtown,” Parker said. Residents were also concerned about traffic going in the opposite direction, to the Woodman School.

Residents viewed the plan and provided input to Jeffrey Taylor, who will finish the plan based on the meeting, Parker said.

While the plan attempts to retain parking along the streets, the bump outs, which reduce the width of the road from 36 to 24 feet, would remove three spaces on either side. Residents accepted the slight loss of parking, Parker said.

“This year is the design phase,” Parker said, adding it’s up to the City Council to include the funding for the project in the Capital Improvements Plan later this month.

While the city allocated $10,000 for the design phase, Parker said it’s still too early to determine how much the project will cost. Officials encourage residents throughout the city to participate in the hearings so all sides can be considered.

Parker said residents will have one more chance to review the changes before the recommendations are presented to the City’s Transportation Advisory Commission later this month.

- - - - - - - -

John Quinn may be reached at jquinn@newstote.com.