The next public informational meeting for the Merritt Parkway Trail Study is June 24 in Norwalk.

The presentation starts at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave.

More information is available here. 

Two additional public informational meetings have been scheduled for the Town of New Canaan and the Town of Trumbull for the Merritt Parkway Trail Study. The dates are as follows:

New Canaan:
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Outback Teen Center
71 Main Street
New Canaan, CT
Presentation at 7:00 p.m.

Trumbull:
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Trumbull Library Community Room
33 Quality Street
Trumbull, CT
Presentation at 7:00 p.m.


Find out more information here. 

The Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously last week to adopt the Complete Streets Master Plan as part of the city's Plan of Conservation and Development. 

According to an article in the Hartford Courant, recommendations in the plan including the addition of bicycle lanes, developing trails and making areas near schools safer for pedestrians. 

Read the full article in the Courant here. 

The town of Old Lyme will hold a public meeting on Thursday to discuss the South View Beach improvement project, which calls for a bike path from Hartford Ave. to Route 156 and up to the Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge. 

BSC Group, an engineering firm from Glastonbury will present the improvement plan, design specifications and cost of the first phase of the project. 

The meeting will be held Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. at the Old Lyme Town Hall. 

 

The CT Post reports the public had a mixed reaction to the conceptual layout of the Fairfield section of the proposed trail along the Merritt Parkway during a public meeting last week. This was the first of eight informational meetings the DOT will hold in the towns where the trail will run through. 

Approximately 50 people attended the meeting in Fairfield last week. Some attendees said the trail would increase their property values and quality of life. However, three members of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy opposed the building of the trail because of its aesthetics and the fact that trees would need to be removed to build the trail. 

The portion of the trail that would run through Fairfield would run along the Parkway's southern right-of-way. The trail would be 10' wide with 2' of shoulder on each side. There would also be fences on each side of the trail. 

Read the full article in the CT Post here. 

 The Merritt Parkway Trail Study town informational meetings will begin this month. The conceptual design for the multi-use trail will be show during these meetings. 

Here is a listing of scheduled meetings to date: 

Fairfield — Tuesday, February 25, 2014, 7 p.m., Roger Ludlowe Middle School 689 Unquowa Rd. Fairfield, CT. 

Westport — Monday, March 10, 2014, 7 p.m., Westport Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT. 

Fairfield — Wednesday, March 12, 2014, 7 p.m., Osborn Hill Elementary School, 760 Stillson Road, Fairfield, CT. 


           

 - Submitted by Eric Weis, Bike Walk CT Member and Trail Program Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance

I'll bet the Merritt Parkway was a wonderful experience, once upon a time.  It looks idyllic in those vintage photographs; it was designed to be enjoyed.  No wonder they named it "parkway" rather than "highway".

For most motorists today, the Merritt has never lived up to its moniker.  These days it's a "parkway" mainly when congestion is so bad that traffic is at a standstill, and you shift your car into park so you can stretch your legs a bit.  The trees are beautiful, but difficult to enjoy when you're bumper-to-bumper, stressed out, or going 65 with the next car just 10 feet from your rear bumper.

But here we are, 80+ years after the Merritt Parkway was built, with an opportunity to put the "park" back in "parkway" - by creating the Merritt Park Trail!  Have you ever wanted to truly enjoy the trees, the landscape, and the geologic outcroppings?  Only when we're on foot, bike, or horseback will we truly have a "park" experience along the parkway.

Early this year, ConnDOT will bring its recommendations for creation of a Merritt Park Trail to the people in Merritt Parkway towns, through a series of town meetings.  We urge you to join us for these meetings to express your opinions and demonstrate your support for public parks, safe and healthy recreation, new venues for exercise, and new options for green transportation.  A Merritt Park Trail will expand opportunities for each of these in the towns along the Parkway.  Those meetings will be scheduled soon, and we'll keep you apprised.

Learn more about this great project at http://www.merrittparkwaytrail.org.

The registration deadline for hosting a Connecticut Trails Day Weekend event is coming up on Monday, February 3rd.

In 2013, Connecticut hosted the largest celebration of trails in the nation with a new record of 267 registered events in 153 towns. Don't let your community miss out on the fun! Plan an event or encourage your town leaders and organizations to host one. Connecticut Trails Day Weekend is always held during the first weekend in June which this year is June 7th and 8th.

Taking part in this nationally recognized celebration is a great way to showcase your trails, organization, staff, programs, and volunteers. Hikes, walks, trail runs, bike rides, equestrian rides, paddles, letterboxing, geocaching, and trail work parties are welcome.

Visit http://www.ctwoodlands.org/CT for more information and to ensure your event is included in the Connecticut Trails Weekend booklet.
Join the fun and register today!

The Ridgefield Press reports that the town's First Selectman Rudy Marconi stated Connecticut Light & Power agreed to lift the restriction on bicyclists using Ridgefield's rail trail. 

 Read the full article here. 

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.