Regional Alliance Strives to Implement Transportation Solutions

In rural communities, transportation is an absolute necessity. While non-driving residents of the City of Keene can take advantage of a city-run bus system or walk to many stores and businesses, the same cannot be said for residents of outlying towns. Area transportation challenges are a top concern for the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST), a coalition consisting of organizational and individual members who are striving to implement sustainable transportation solutions in our region. With so many areas of our lives affected by the need to get from Point A to Point B, the MAST coalition aims to be a forum and structural framework with several goals: building consensus on transportation needs and solutions; fostering the development of local and regional partnerships on transportation initiatives; providing information about regional and statewide sustainable transportation initiatives; helping individuals and groups locate support for sustainable transportation projects; connecting stakeholders with funding resources and technical assistance services; and advocating/educating about sustainable transportation benefits. Initially, the group came together officially back in 2006 when it was formerly known as the Travel Demand Management Advocacy Group for Keene and Beyond, building the framework for a regional transportation management association. By 2009, with assistance of grant funding from New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to promote travel demand management, a website was created, and by late 2010, with additional support from New Hampshire Endowment for Health, a symposium was held called the Monadnock TranSymposium. Thanks to this event, the Monadnock Region Transportation Management Association, or MRTMA, was launched, eventually renamed to the Monadnock Alliance for Sustainable Transportation in 2015 to clarify group goals. "Through leadership and education, MAST promotes all modes of transportation that enhance the environmental, economic and physical health and well-being of citizens in the Monadnock Region," reads their website. In addition to ongoing MAST branded projects, many coalition members also undertake projects independently that align with the MAST Action Plan goal of increasing the use and availability of local and regional transportation options. Most recently, MAST has placed emphasis on encouraging communities to adopt and implement complete streets policies through its Complete Streets Implementation Grant Program, according to Henry Underwood, senior planner at Southwest Region Planning Commission (SWRPC). Since MAST's inception, SWRPC has provided staff support to the coalition with backing from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and Cheshire Medical Center. The Complete Streets grant application defines the term as streets that are both safe and accessible for users of all ages and abilities, regardless of how they choose to travel, adding that it's a "context-sensitive approach to transportation planning and design that balances the needs of people walking, bicycling, driving, riding public transit, using wheelchairs or other mobility devices, etc." Underwood said that 14 communities in the Monadnock Region have adopted policies to improve road safety for all users who are driving, walking or biking since MAST began the annual grant program. Some examples of complete streets projects include improving pedestrian crossings, reducing speeding or adding bike lanes. "Since 2017, MAST has funded a total of 18 projects in 12 communities to improve road safety, accessibility and connectivity," Underwood said. "These projects — especially those construction projects retrofitting less-safe designs — have built momentum and capacity at the local level. That's a huge achievement for smaller and more rural communities." He shared that the 2024 round of grants resulted in approximately $100,000 in awards to Marlborough and Swanzey to construct crossing safety improvements on Route 124 and along the Ashuelot Rail Trail. Those projects are slated to be constructed this year. More funding is on the way, Underwood explained, as MAST is currently gearing up for a 2025 round of Complete Streets grants. He said the next round is expected to be announced later this spring with an application deadline in late summer or early fall. In addition to the Complete Streets grants, additional MAST activity slated for this year includes the promotion of the CommuteSmart New Hampshire Spring Statewide Challenge, running May 1 to 31, where employees of organizations can compete using an online trip logger or mobile app to track a sustainable trip during May. Challenge participants can log any commute that uses a mode of transportation other than driving in a vehicle alone, such as walking, biking, transit, carpool, telecommuting (working from home) or any combination of these options. Another initiative that MAST seeks to raise awareness of, Underwood mentioned, is the America Walks Week Without Driving, held this year from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, when communities are encouraged to go without driving for a week with the goal of understanding the barriers and challenges that non-drivers face when trying to move safely in their communities. Additionally, Underwood said that MAST would like to remind Monadnock Region residents that May is National Bike Month, with events that include National Ride-A-Bike Day on May 4, Bike-to-Work Week from May 12 to 18 and Bike-to-Work Day on May 16. For more information about MAST, visit mastnh.org or contact info@mastnh.org. Complete Streets Grant Implementation Program details can be found at mastnh.org/2024-complete-streets-grant or by contacting completestreets@mastnh.org. To learn more about participating in the CommuteSmart New Hampshire Spring Statewide Challenge, visit commutesmartnh.org/spring-statewide-challenge. The America Walks Week Without Driving is available at americawalks.org/campaigns/week-without-driving.