Four Transportation Updates from Lower Fairfield County

Across southwest Connecticut, communities have been working to make their local roads safer after some of the deadliest years in the state’s history.

We’ve previously reported on some of these programs and initiatives through our Getting Around series, but we have some updates out of Norwalk, Stamford, Fairfield, and Greenwich.

Norwalk Adopts Complete Streets Ordinance 

This section is published in partnership with NancyonNorwalk.

All roadway projects in the city now have to follow Complete Streets guidelines, since the Common Council unanimously adopted a Complete Streets ordinance.

The ordinance states that all transportation projects should “advance the goals of creating equitable, accessible, and convenient travel options along and across streets for users of all ages and abilities and for all modes of transportation, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, public transportation vehicles and their passengers, delivery trucks, and movers of commercial goods.”

Council member Josh Goldstein, who crafted the ordinance with help from the Transportation, Mobility, and Parking department, said this makes “Complete Streets not just a policy preference but the law.” 

“This means that for the first time there will be a law requiring that Norwalk streets become more walkable, bike friendly, environmentally friendly, and transit oriented, in essence, making Norwalk a more friendly transportation destination,” Goldstein said. 

Stamford Advances Vision Zero Action Plan

The draft action plan lays out some policies and projects that the city can put into effect to try and reduce crashes at its most dangerous intersections and areas.

“We [now] can get an understanding where we are, and understand some of our crash hot spots, different crash trends that we're seeing throughout the city,” Luke Buttenwieser, a transportation planner for the city, said. “We're happy to say we've spoken with thousands of Stamford residents all across the city, of different walks of life, different ages, all about Vision Zero—really got great feedback. There's a lot of great interest in roadway safety. I don't think I have to tell all of you that roadway safety is a top concern, I would say, of the Stamford residents.” 

Buttenwieser gave the Transportation Committee of the Board of Representatives a look into the draft plan in October, ahead of a planned public open house on December 10.

The draft recommendations include a mix of policies and projects. The policy recommendations include:

• Funding Vision Zero-related projects in the city’s annual capital budget.
• Creating a citywide base speed limit on 25 miles per hour on all local roads.
• Working with the state to reduce speeds on state-owned roads that run through the city.
• Asking the Board of Representatives to pass a resolution that would allow the city to create pedestrian safety zones near schools, downtown, and other similar areas. 

The project recommendations include: 

• Adding a mid-block crosswalk, curb extensions, protected bike lanes, and bus stop amenities to Stillwater Avenue.
• Widening sidewalks, adding a mid-block crosswalk, and extending curbs on West Main Street between Mill River Street to Tresser Boulevard.
• Adding protected bike lanes, bike intersection treatments, and a mid-block crosswalk on North Street.
• Creating pedestrian refuge space, reducing lane width, adding protected bike lanes, and increasing street trees along Tresser Boulevard
• Adding sidewalks and curb extensions as well as reducing lane width on High Ridge Road. 

Buttenwieser said they hope to finalize the action plan by January and then work to start on some of its proposals.

Still, some members of the Board of Representatives said they weren’t sure if the Vision Zero work was paying off. 

“If our objective several years ago was to reduce traffic fatalities to zero, and if you measure our performance in terms of approaching that objective, you'd have to say we failed,” Representative David Watkins said. “All I know is that there is a vast disparity between stated objectives and the outcomes thus far.” 

Buttenwieser said he believed their work was on track to help support the city’s goals of having 0 traffic-related fatalities by 2032.

“There's still a lot of work to be done, and this is a longer term plan—it's not going to happen overnight,” he said. 

Fairfield Considers Launching Vision Zero Efforts

The Board of Health is set to review a draft Vision Zero pledge on Monday, November 18. The pledge would be signed by First Selectman Bill Gerber, leaders of all city departments, including health, public works, and economic and community development, as well as some town groups, like Sustainable Fairfield.

The draft pledge states that the town “is committed to maintaining a transportation system that prioritizes safety, efficiency and accessibility for all users, including people walking, rolling, biking, using transit and driving. This pledge formalizes Fairfield’s commitment to reach the goal of zero traffic deaths and severe injuries on Town streets by 2034.”

For Vision Zero to be successful, the pledge states that it must receive buy-in from town employees, members of the public, elected officials, local groups, and businesses.

If adopted, the pledge says Fairfield would “commit to our participation in this effort, embedding Vision Zero principles in Town practices, and working together with all stakeholders to implement the changes necessary to achieve our Vision Zero goal.”

CTDOT Studies How to Make I-95 Safer in Greenwich and Stamford

The state is currently in the middle of performing “a Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study to analyze ways to improve safety and mobility along the I-95 corridor from the New York State Line to Exit 7 in Stamford and along U.S. Route 1.”

Right now, CTDOT officials said they are currently collecting data and analyzing the current conditions of the roads in this area. This type of study aims to combine planning, engineering and environmental reviews while collecting and analyzing data to “inform future project development.”

The study began last year and is expected to run until 2026.

Residents can get a look at the project at two CTDOT I-95 Greenwich Planning & Environment Linkages Study (PEL) Public Information Meetings—an in-person one on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Greenwich High School and a virtual on Thursday, November 21 at 12 p.m.