Norwalk Launches Wall Street Outreach Efforts

For years, city officials have talked about investing in the Wall Street section of Norwalk. Now with funding mostly secured, residents are being asked to weigh in on plans for the area.

Norwalk Launches Wall Street Outreach Efforts
A look at the area that the Wall Street Corridor Improvements will impact. Courtesy of the City of Norwalk.

Have you ever driven through the intersection of Wall Street and Belden Avenue and been confused? Have you ever tried walking along it and felt unsure where to cross or to safely get around? City officials are hoping the new Wall Street Corridor Improvements Project will address all of those concerns and more.

The overall reworking of the area is projected to cost about $13 to $15 million, Director of Transportation, Mobility, and Parking Jim Travers told NancyonNorwalk in February. The city has committed $1.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project and it’s also received some grants for the project including a $1.5 million Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program grant. Now that city officials say they have “secured all design funding and identified another $12.75 million in construction funding” for the project, they’re asking the community to weigh in on what they would like to see in the area.

On Tuesday, June 14, the city is hosting a Wall Street Corridor Design Kick-off event at the Wall Street Theater, where community residents, stakeholders, and organizations can attend to learn more about the project, ask any questions, and give their opinions about the design of the Wall Street Corridor.

The event will start at 4 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. Mayor Harry Rilling, Senator Bob Duff, and Common Council Members Nicol Ayers and David Heuvelman are set to speak at 5:15 p.m. The event will be open-house style and members of the Transportation, Mobility, and Parking team will be there throughout the evening to gather feedback from residents.

The goal of the event is to allow the community to provide input on ways the project can “build on the neighborhood’s existing strengths, make improvements that support existing businesses and community activities, and capture the unique spirit of Wall Street.”

Some ideas that the city is exploring are:

  • Creating safer Intersections and slowing vehicle speeds
  • Making biking safer and more comfortable
  • Widening sidewalks and improving pedestrian connections
  • Establishing great public spaces for events/street festivals
  • Providing opportunities for seating, outdoor dining, and gathering areas
  • Creating connections to citywide bike routes and walking trails
  • Improving on-street lighting
  • Adding street trees, landscaping, and greenspace
  • Fixing on-street parking
  • Improving the Norwalk Transit bus hub
  • Creating easy and safe connections to public parking, including the Yankee Doodle Garage, and enhancing its appearance

For those who can’t attend the meeting, the city has a website set up for the project that includes more information and ways to send feedback.