Town Again Seeks Improvements, ADA Compliance On Greenwich Avenue

GREENWICH, CT — With repaving on the horizon and a need to bring Greenwich Avenue into compliance with current ADA standards to improve safety for all, the town's Department of Public Works is planning modifications at and around eight intersections along the iconic stretch of roadway.

Last week, Greenwich DPW held a public hearing on the proposal, which includes improvements to parking, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, curbs, landscape beds and lighting at the following intersections:

• Greenwich Avenue and Route 1
• Greenwich Avenue and Amogerone Crossway
• Greenwich Avenue and Lewis Street
• Greenwich Avenue and Bruce Place
• Greenwich Avenue, Arch Street, and Havemeyer Place.
• Greenwich Avenue and Fawcett Place
• Greenwich Avenue and Grigg Street
• Greenwich Avenue and Railroad Avenue

"There are many challenges that we face with Greenwich Avenue and ADA accessibility," said Greenwich DPW Deputy Commissioner Jim Michel. "The slopes of Greenwich Avenue, if you think from the top to the bottom, there's a significant slope that makes it challenging to meet some of the aspects of ADA compliance. There's also a lot of different parking concerns, lighting concerns, all kinds of different things."

Curb extensions would slow vehicles down around turns, make pedestrians more visible, and reduce the crossing distance and parking conflicts at intersections, Michel said.

Exiting ADA parking stalls would be improved with 8-foot access aisles — many of the aisles are inadequate today, Michel said.

The proposed plan results in no net loss to parking near Route 1, Amogerone Crossway, CVS, St. Mary's Church, Bruce Place, Arch Street/Havemeyer Place, or Railroad Avenue.

There would be two more ADA spaces after the project is complete, and 403 total spaces compared to 405 as of a count in May 2023.

New light fixtures would match the existing style on Greenwich Avenue, with two new light poles proposed at the Amogerone Crossway intersection, according to Michel. Some existing lights would be relocated to optimal locations at other intersections.

On the landscaping front, curb extensions would provide more opportunities for additional green space, and more trees would be planted along the Avenue, although a total number hasn't been identified yet, Michel said.

Tree wells and planter beds would be more consistent looking, with enlarged tree wells where sidewalk width allows.

The town is looking to repave Greenwich Avenue in the fall or spring 2025. ADA deficiencies must be addressed when reconstructing sidewalks or repaving.

Greenwich DPW will now look to get $450,000 released, which was put aside for some of the project, from the Board of Estimate and Taxation. The money was approved based on several conditions that needed to be met by the department.

Michel said the entire project is expected to cost around $800,000 to $900,000.

Additionally, DPW needs to acquire an encroachment permit from the state for the Route 1 intersection.

The topic of intersection improvements on Greenwich Avenue has been a hot-button issue over the past few years.

In December 2022, the Representative Town Meeting voted to halt proposed intersection improvements on Greenwich Avenue at Arch and Grigg Streets.

Similar to the Greenwich Avenue/Elm Street project that was completed in 2021, aesthetic improvements, more green space and plantings would have been added at the intersections.

"Bumpouts," as they're called, would have been added to decrease crossing times in crosswalks, and improve sightlines and the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

With the RTM's vote, Greenwich also turned away $2.7 million in state grant money that would've paid for construction costs.

Opponents argued the construction would have encroached upon trees and war monuments, changed the character of the historic district in the area, taken away precious parking spaces, and not improved safety.

An ADA grievance was filed by Stephanie Cowie and Alan Gunzburg, who are both members of the First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, following the RTM's vote.

In response to the grievance in January 2023, Human Services Commissioner Demetria Nelson recommended that a new improvement plan be developed to address the ADA compliance issues, and Greenwich DPW has been working on a new plan since.

During last week's public hearing, Michel said the raised nature, or "speed-hump" feel of the Elm Street intersection is not proposed at any of the locations along the Avenue.

"This is significantly less than what we proposed before," Michel said. "This is to address the minimum impacts to the community, and trying to address those pieces to meet our ADA compliance. That's what we're trying to accomplish with this project."

Still, several residents felt this was a repeat of the ill-fated proposal from a couple of years ago, and they criticized the Elm Street intersection.

Greenwich resident Pam Fontana spoke in opposition to the current proposal.

"We've seen the plantings get very leggy and long, and you feel like when you're trying to make a turn, you're looking through the Savannah for small children. It's tough, and it's dangerous," she said. "How can we make ourselves be a town that welcomes all visitors to our beautiful Greenwich Avenue without these bumpouts encroaching on the drivers' space? I'd like to see a different proposal."

Another resident, Beth MacGillivray, said the community is "deeply concerned about the proposed changes to this historic and beloved area under the guise of safety and modern recommendations."

She railed against the Elm Street intersection.

"It's very difficult maneuvering, and adding that at each intersection is only going to complicate the use of the Avenue," she said.

Some spoke in favor of the proposal and the need to be compliant with current ADA standards.

Dan Quigley, a resident of West Elm Street, said the town needs to remediate the ADA compliance issues.

"This is not really a choice, it's something we have to do," he said. "We cannot be out of compliance because it leaves our town at risk to lawsuits."

Cowie said the project is "not a nice-to-have," and she encouraged DPW to proceed.

"It's disturbing we even have to this conversation — that it's such a pain point for so many," Cowie said. "The Avenue is not changing, it's not losing its character. If anything, it's gaining character. It's gaining public safety. That is what our town and municipality is supposed to do, provide safe passage for everybody."

View the entire DPW public hearing on YouTube

The dedicated webpage for the project can be found here.