New Plan Details West Hartford Center's Revitalization

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT – Local officials Tuesday formally confirmed they have more than concepts of a plan relative to West Hartford's downtown infrastructure future.

They have a full plan to work off of.

After months of extensive community engagement and public outreach, the town Tuesday announced the adoption of a reimagined West Hartford Town Center Infrastructure Plan.

"The final plan reflects input from a wide range of local stakeholders and balances the town's goals of enhancing pedestrian and cyclist safety while preserving the charm and character that defines West Hartford’s town center," wrote the town.

The plan also includes investments in public spaces and mobility hubs, allowing for "more dynamic, flexible spaces that will foster a welcoming and lively atmosphere."

It is hoped the plan will lead to improvements better linking the town's center with outlying areas, which "will make it easier for residents to explore local shops and restaurants."

Included in the plan is:

• Enhanced pedestrian and cyclist safety: Ensuring safer, more accessible routes for pedestrians and cyclists by addressing aging street trees and damaged sidewalks and updating faded and worn crosswalks.

• Increased bike access measures: Creating new, direct connections to the town center via improvements to the Trout Brook Trail, which will encourage sustainable transportation options to and from the center. Also included are bike shelters, micro-mobility parking and charging, and bike, e-bike, and e-scooter share/rentals.

• Preserving neighborhood charm: Enhancing streetscapes by planting new and more trees, wider landscaped areas, implementing traffic calming measures like raised crosswalk and expanded outdoor dining.

• Creation of flexible public spaces for community events: Installing a new bollard system to permit temporary closure of LaSalle Road for special events such as artist performances, street fairs, and holidays.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor thanked all involved in the planning process.

“This collaborative, community-driven plan sets the stage for West Hartford’s long-term success," Cantor said Tuesday in a statement.

"We are committed to creating a safer, more accessible, and interconnected community, all while preserving the unique charm that makes our town a wonderful place to live and work.”

“This plan reflects our commitment to both preserving what makes West Hartford special and embracing new ideas for the future,” added West Hartford Town Manager Rick Ledwith in a release.

“It’s a balanced, thoughtful approach that takes into consideration the feedback we received from a broad range of voices in our community. We are excited about the ways this plan will improve safety and enhance all that our town has to offer for residents and visitors while promoting economic growth.”

Work toward the plan's end is already scheduled, with construction is set to begin on LaSalle Road in early 2025 and Farmington Avenue in early 2026.

For a series of architectural renderings associated with the plan, click on this link.