Town Seeks Feedback On Greenwich Avenue Streetscape Initiative

GREENWICH, CT — Following the completion of the Elm Street/Greenwich Avenue intersection improvement project last month, the Greenwich Department of Public Works has launched a new website to solicit opinions and ideas from the community during the conceptual stages of similar projects along the iconic strip of road in central Greenwich.

Five proposed intersection projects on Greenwich Avenue are featured on the new website as part of the Greenwich Avenue Streetscape Initiative. The intersections are on West Putnam Avenue, Amogerone Crossway, Lewis Street, Havemeyer Place and Arch Street, and Grigg Street and Fawcett Place. The initiative aims to enhance aesthetics, safety and accessibility.

The Elm Street intersection, which was completed last month, features "bulb outs" — sometimes referred to as "bump outs" —which extend the curb-line to the edge of the existing parking areas on east/west Elm Street, and the angled parking areas on Greenwich Avenue. The purpose of bulb outs are to increase the visual connection between pedestrian and driver, and reduce the crossing distance and crossing time for pedestrians.

The intersection is also raised, so pedestrians who are approaching the intersection at the elevation of the sidewalk travel at a consistent elevation across.

Additionally, the project addressed green-space around the intersection with new plantings.

To give better illumination for pedestrians, lights were relocated closer to the crosswalks, and two designated accessible parking spaces were retrofitted to meet all current codes. These spaces provide dedicated access to the sidewalk from the parking space, never requiring a person to go into the roadway. There are also new bicycle racks and benches.

Overall, the project cost $350,000.

Several of these features are anticipated to be included in future intersection projects on Greenwich Avenue, DPW said in a news release.

The public can view renderings of each intersection and provide feedback on the new website. They can also deliberate and respond to proposed vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding signage prototypes, potential locations for new signs and traffic analysis. Along with using public input, DPW has conducted over 20 studies in the past 20 years that focus on key ways of improving Greenwich Avenue.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said he's excited to get feedback from residents.

"If it's anything like the feedback we've been getting about the intersection at Elm Street, I think it's going to be positive," Camillo said.

Camillo had hoped to include $500,000 for future projects on the Avenue in this year's budget, but RTM members chose to delete the funds before their budget vote in May, citing the need to "pause" and make an assessment on the Elm Street intersection and its impact first before moving forward with other projects.

Members also wanted more clarity and details on future projects. Camillo hopes the new website and renderings can provide that. Camillo would like to include funding in the next budget so work can begin in summer of 2022.

"We were thinking about going before that next budget, but it just doesn't make sense because of timing and when these projects could be done," Camillo said. "People have really only had a month or so to look at this. Unfortunately we have a little bit of a delay but it's not too much and we hope to get started again next summer."

Greenwich DPW senior civil engineer Jason Kaufman played an important role in designing the Elm Street intersection. He said he's looking forward to hearing what the community thinks of the completed work, as well as the five proposed intersections.

"We're excited to get feedback from the public, and excited to launch our first ever interactive website for a project like this. We're hoping we can reach a lot of people by doing this," Kaufman said.

During the Greenwich Sidewalk Sales last week, Greenwich DPW set up a booth so residents could fill out questionnaires on the project. Kaufman said they received approximately 190 responses, and DPW hopes to summarize them and post the findings on the new website.

To check out the Greenwich Avenue Streetscape website, click here.