Here Is How Madison Plans To Improve Safety For Pedestrians

MADISON, CT — The town of Madison is hoping to embark soon on a Bradley Road pedestrian improvements project. The topic was discussed at a Board of Selectmen meeting held earlier this week.

Public Works Director John Iennaco stated that the conceptual phase design has been completed. It includes portions of the road from Vista to Old Route 79; extending the sidewalk across the driveways of the businesses on the south side of the road.

Also, the sidewalk will be widened from 4 feet to 6 feet. Another concept is to install cross walks at three different sections of the road. The Town needs to meet with all of the property owners on this side of the road to solicit input on the scope of the project.

Iennaco stated that he does not anticipate any issues with property owners. The Board reviewed that the new system will provide a path to the east side of Wall Street and to the north side of Bradley Road.

The grant funding for the section between Wall Street and the train station is $200,000 from the TOD; the remainder of the project from the train station to the Tuxis Walk is part of the $400,000 TOD Grant. The Consultant is working very carefully to keep the project within the grant funding.

When the detailed design phase begins we may determine that need to cut some things back, e.g. widening the sidewalks, in order to stay within the funding amounts. The timeline for completion is affected by the state process and state bidding procedure, which can be somewhat time
consuming.

Selectman Goldberg asked if a Public Hearing was planned for this project and Iennaco stated that the most important input to solicit is from the abutting property owners. He stated that Director of Planning and Economic Development, Dave Anderson, has been advising on the project on behalf of his department as well as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Selectman Goldberg stated that he still felt a Public Hearing would be a good idea.