13 Norwalk Intersections Targeted in Consultants' Transportation Plan

A consultant still working on a transportation plan for Norwalk lifted the cover a bit on Tuesday to let city officials see some of the recommendations coming when the report is finalized and presented to the public this winter.

Part of the Norwalk Traffic Management Plan will propose ways the city can make its streets safer and easier for bikers and pedestrians to use. Another part will suggest road improvements to help motor vehicle traffic get through main roads and intersections quicker. Other parts will address design standards for making changes in roads and sidewalks.

"We've done a complete evaluation of traffic conditions that exist in the city," said Robert Nagi, the head of the consulting project and a principal with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. of Watertown Mass.

Nagi was in Norwalk to brief some members of the Common Council and other city officials on the recommendations in what is still a draft report. Nagi said he expects to describe the report to the public at large in January or February at the latest.

Still another part of the plan identifies intersections in particular need of improvements to make them either safer or less of a bottleneck at times, or both.

The draft Transportation Management Plan for the city identifies these five "Demonstration Intersections" for intensive scrutiny:

• New Canaan Avenue (state Route 123) and Barlett Avenue and Ellis Street
• Newtown Avenue (state Route 53) and Dry Hill Road
• West Avenue at Belden Avenue and Mott Avenue
• Taylor Avenue and Flax Hill Road
• Flax Hill Road and Richards Avenue/Rowayton Avenue

The "demonstration" element of these priority intersections is only conceptual—it doesn't mean physical demonstration projects will be undertaken at these sites, Nagi said.

The intersections will be studied more intensively than others to demonstrate what kinds of improvements may be undertaken and to give examples of certain recommended improvements.

These other "Priority Intersections" are also identified in the draft plan. At most, only a few other intersections are expected to be added:

• Grist Mill Road and Belden Hill Road
• Richards Avenue and West Cedar Street
• North Taylor Avenue and Benedict Street
• Maple Street and Van Buren Avenue
• Main Street and North Avenue
• East Avenue/Park Street and Wall Street/Hubbell Lane
• Strawberry Hill Avenue and Tierney Street
• Highland Avenue and Soundview Avenue/Devils Garden Road

Making the priority list might make it easier for a particular intersection to be changed earlier, rather than later, although city officials will have the final say on that, Nagi said.

Nagy's firm will include more detailed recommendations for the priority intersections and even more specific ideas for improving the "demonstration intersections."

At some intersections, the consultants may recommend street widening in order to let more traffic through quicker and safer, he said. In other cases, the consultants may recommend street painting to mark off areas for bikes or pedestrians, even if that narrows some of the lanes. Narrowing lanes may discourage traffic in certain areas, which may be desired by nearby residents.

But along the most important transportation corridors, widening may be preferred in order to keep large numbers of vehicles from taking residential side streets, he said.

It may take years for certain intersections or roads to be improved, even if they're considered priorities, he said.

Nagi's report identified the main corridors through the city as the priority routes, and two of those: West Rocks Road as well as Washington Street and Fairfield Avenue (considered as one route) as "demonstration roadways" with even more detailed recommendations.

Editor's note: This article was originally published at 5:55 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4. Its time stamp was changed for layout purposes on the Norwalk Patch homepage (I wanted to keep it there longer).