During a meeting last week, the public was briefed on a feasibility study to link the Fairfield Metro and Black Rock with a new pedestrian bridge. 

The study was spearheaded by the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council. Officials hope this study will lead to the bridge construction, as well as street and sidewalk improvements in 2016. 

Read the full article in the CT Post here. 

A new analysis from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign found that in the three years from 2010 to 2012, 111 pedestrians were killed on Connecticut roads.

Connecticut’s pedestrian fatalities were concentrated in New Haven County (30 fatalities), Hartford County (29 fatalities) and Fairfield County (24 fatalities). These fatalities represent an increase from the Campaign’s 2013 analysis which found that 100 pedestrians were killed on the state’s roads from 2009 through 2011.

The analysis found, for the sixth year in a row, US-1 to be the state’s most deadly road for pedestrians. During this period, 11 pedestrians were killed on the roadway. With four pedestrian fatalities, US-44 was the second most dangerous road for walking.

“Since the Campaign’s first analysis in 2008, US-1 has consistently been Connecticut’s most deadly road for pedestrians. The state must commit to making significant changes that will save lives,” said Steven Higashide, senior planner with the Campaign.

The Campaign found that arterial roadways—multi-lane roads that often have speed limits of 40 mph or more with little pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure—are the region’s most deadly for pedestrians. 

“While it is important that Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) address safety on state owned roads like US-1, cities and towns across the state should also pass, implement and enforce complete streets policies, to ensure that pedestrian, transit riders, bicyclists and motorists of all ages and abilities can safely travel on local roads as well,” said Kelly Kennedy, Executive Director of Bike Walk Connecticut.

The Campaign praised and highlighted ConnDOT’s plan to narrow a three-mile section of US-44 in East Hartford as a good example of how to redesign dangerous roadways. The road will be transformed from four lanes to two lanes with additional parking, bike lanes and dedicated turn lanes. 

The Campaign urges Connecticut’s elected officials and agency leaders to:

• Update Connecticut’s Highway Design Manual, Connecticut’s standard road design reference book, to address the goals and policies set forth in the state’s complete streets law.
• Pass a vulnerable users bill which would increase penalties for careless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, cyclists, police officers and other users of the road who are most at risk.
• Create a Safe Routes to Transit and a Safe Routes for Seniors program which would prioritize transit stops and areas with high densities of senior citizens or senior amenities to enhance pedestrian safety.

The analysis relied upon the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) to determine which routes within each county had the highest number of pedestrian fatalities from 2010 to 2012. The analysis excludes interstates and other roads where pedestrians are prohibited and omits those fatalities that occurred on portions of roads where pedestrians are not allowed.


For more information, visit http://tstc.org/reports/danger14/index.php

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is creating a new master plan—the Next Generation Connecticut plan, which will bring extensive development and renovation to the university. 

According to the Hartford Courant, plan of the plan includes looking into adding more walkways and bikeways on the roads around the UConn campus in Mansfield. 

Linda Painter, the Mansfield Town Planner stated she wants to see more walkways and bikeways near the campus to cut down on vehicular traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

Read the article in its entirety here. 

The City of New Haven plans to replace many of the city's pedestrian and street signs in 2014. 

According to the Yale Daily News, many of the signs have grown out of date. The city will use a $670,000 grant it won in 2011 to renew its signage system. 

Many of the signs are over 20 years old. They are being replaced because they contain out-of-date information or appear decrepit. Many are worn or pealing or are leaning over. 

City officials also hope to add signs that will market destinations throughout the city. 

Additionally, the project will add pedestrian signs in the downtown area, and other areas in the city with high pedestrian traffic. 

Fieldwork on the project will begin in 2014, and the signs will be place in 2015. 

Read the full article here. 

The town of Fairfield received a $1.2 million grant for improvements to the Kings Highway East and Commerce Drive area.

The federally funded grant, which was recently approved by town bodies, was received from the Connecticut Department of Transportation through the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program and will enable the town to make improvements along Kings Highway East from Chambers Street to Brentwood Avenue.

The funding will be used to construct new sidewalks and curbs along both north and south sides, with median improvements for improved pedestrian access and aesthetics. There will also be ADA compliant handicap ramps installed at intersections. Bicycle amenities, such as bike racks, signs and bike parking will also be included, as well as possible bike routes, according to First Selectman Mike Tetreau.

The town applied for the grant following a public informational meeting held last June where requests were made to improve and encourage more walking and biking in this area.

Design for this project is expected to start Spring 2014 and be completed around October 2014. Construction should begin April 2015 with project completion around December 2015, according to Tetreau. 

Stamford city leaders announced the completion of the Hope Street project. The project, which started in April, widened a  a stretch of Hope Street, which added pedestrian signaling and other safety and cosmetic improvements that are geared to improve traffic flow.

The project that was just completed includes new concrete sidewalks with a buffer of ornamental brick pavers between the sidewalk and curb line, which will improve the street's appearance. Existing crosswalks were improved with new striping and curb cut ramps that meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The improved crosswalks also included pedestrian signaling to improve safety, 

Two upcoming programs offered by The Jonah Center will explain new plans to increase the walkability and bikeability of Middletown and Portland.


These events include: 

Bringing the Air Line Trail to Portland
When: Tuesday, November 26 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Portland Library, Mary Flood Room, 20 Freestone Ave., Portland
What: John Shafer, President of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art, and Deanna Rhodes, Planning and Zoning Administrator for the Town of Portland, will describe a proposed extension of the Air Line Trail from East Hampton to Portland. The discussion will include maps, ground level and aerial photographs, cost estimates, potential funding sources, and consideration of the planning and community organizing tasks that will be required to realize this vision.


Middletown Street, Sidewalk & Trail Improvements for Walking and Bicycling
When: Tuesday, December 3 from 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Russell Library, Hubbard Room, 123 Broad Street, Middletown
What: Middletown’s Complete Streets Committee will present specific plans to make city streets and intersections safer and more inviting for bicyclists and pedestrians.
This program will include priority areas of Middletown identified by the Master Plan; proposed routes to connect residential neighborhoods to the downtown area, parks, and schools; a new sidewalk along Saybrook Road near the Stop & Shop; proposed improvements in the area of Veterans Park and West Street; Safe Routes to School programs; results of a recent bike-pedestrian traffic count; and state-wide advocacy for biking and walking.

Both of these programs are free, open to the public, and no advance registration is necessary.  For more contact John Hall at 860-398-3771.

CTfastrak has issued a construction bulletin. 


In Hartford, the current pedestrian/cyclist crossing at the Flower Street Amtrak rail line will be permanently closed as of November 11, 2013. A temporary pedestrian walkway will be installed prior to the closure.  The temporary pedestrian walkway is located below the I-84 viaduct, just north of the existing Amtrak rail crossing on Flower Street. It will run parallel to the rail line between Flower Street and Broad Street. This walkway has been established to provide connectivity with Capitol Avenue. View Temporary Pedestrian Walkway map here.

                     

Stage 3 of the Flatbush Avenue Reconstruction project in Hartford and West Hartford was completed ahead of schedule. The Flatbush Avenue Bridge opened on Friday, October 18.

The Bridge goes over the existing Amtrak Railroad and the new  CTfastrak guideway.
The four-lane bridge spans 1,100 feet and contains a pedestrian walkway. It cost $23.1 million.  

The project also included the realignment and reconstruction of the intersection of New Park Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, and the reconstruction of the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Newfield Avenue. 

Stage 3 of the project was scheduled to take 21 days, however it was completed earlier (11 days). 

New Britain's Smith School will be debuting a "walking school bus" on Thursday. According to the Hartford Courant, several of the school's parents have volunteered to walk with groups of students to school in the morning and back home in the afternoon. 

The idea behind the walk to school group is to make walking to school safer and fun, while also building a sense of community and encouraging better school attendance. 

The idea of the "walking school bus" is based on similar programs throughout the U.S.
Students will gather at a pre-desingated spot (which is similar to waiting for the school bus), and then they will walk as a group to school. When school gets out the system will be in reverse. 

The New Britain police department is assigning a patrol car to lead the way for the group on the Thursday morning kick-off walk.