Press Releases/What’s New

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) rating agency, for the sixth year, has again affirmed the City’s long-term rating of “AAA,” the highest obtainable rating. S&P weighs a host of financial, economic, debt and managerial information in order to assess the City’s performance.

The City of Portsmouth is excited to announce that the Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation (COAST) will be managing and operating the Senior Transportation Program as of October 1, 2018. Portsmouth Senior Services and COAST have been working hand in hand to ensure a smooth transition.

Throughout the day on Monday, June 11th, crews will be paving Islington Street spanning Route 33 (the Plains ballfield) and the Route 1 Bypass. These operations will result in the closure of that stretch of road from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and traffic detours; drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes.

Additionally, final paving operations are scheduled to occur on Thursday, June 14th on the Brewster and McDonough Streets’ area, weather permitting.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Portsmouth recognize June as National Homeownership Month. In order to help first-time homebuyers overcome financial barriers to homeownership in the City, the Portsmouth HomeTown Program provides financial assistance to qualified households who, without this support, could not purchase a home.

Market Square Day in Portsmouth

Chief Merner will be invoking his ‘Emergency Powers” and orders that NO Parking will be permitted on the following Portsmouth streets on Saturday, June 9th, due to the Annual Market Square Day and Market Square Day Road Race.

The City of Portsmouth will host a community meeting about the Coakley Landfill on Thursday, June 7th at 7 p.m. at the Community Campus in Portsmouth.

Each year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires community water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report – also known as an Annual Drinking Water Quality Report – to their customers. These reports, which are mailed out to water customers by July 1st, provide information about their drinking water quality from the previous year of sampling including a summary of detected contaminants, compliance, and educational information.

Public Works staff will be holding a preconstruction meeting next Tuesday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Public Works Facility on 680 Peverly Hill Road. The meeting will provide the public with the latest information on the improvement project for the intersection of Andrew Jarvis Drive and Lafayette Road. The project includes widening the intersection to provide a right-turn lane on Lafayette Road and two exiting lanes on Andrew Jarvis Drive. A fully actuated traffic signal will also be installed at the intersection.