[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6236260,"mediaKeyId","3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204","parentId",3374808,"title","Safe Streets grant moves forward; Local Traffic Authority approves short-term demonstration projects on Mill Plain and Sturges","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",258000,"endMs",345000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204&start=258&end=345","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204/thumbnail_258000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236260/Connecticut/Safe-Streets-grant-moves-forward-Local-Traffic-Authority-approves-short-term-demonstration-projects-on-Mill-Plain-and-Sturges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236260-28aaf79ef6807082f32e6896152e78ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775266441&Signature=ObJrFhh9hkDSw7PQCBS67qmGgOs15kYn4PDOA7EInkjls88~Pvl1FRmniNAc8E5kvfFVzTRXd8hD6Wk3xijSYxrOTv48UcTvfyRehSHxG~bxNylqk6Caz6eDGVNkLd4NRmxpqH-C9W1zT27cCOGyYDLutDTNNQzCx-ltBzOYDPu7ZXOJ1mRUSnIUr7xMuVGDqvei6vLuBK~~YWD7HSDlIVo6hWC4k8xvDZg5GkRmzELmHWGfn6nPSiGxCKYuXdE0xJCtu~Ps07jfYaaeraY65QKBvNQ69rwYqb3Xe5VzXdGCmzLUKmhTagx-ZrTpORYU3S1TKt1dqKvegXjZyke1pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Fairfield, CT","date","2025-05-17T04:58:36Z","article","The committee heard an update on the federal Safe Streets for All planning grant and on recently approved demonstration traffic-calming projects for Mill Plain Road, Sturges and South Benson.

A committee member said the town removed some language about equity considerations at the federal government’s request and resubmitted the grant agreement; the member said the town expects the grant agreement to be signed shortly and that once the agreement is signed the town will be able to award a vetted consultant to prepare a safety action plan.

Separately, the town’s Local Traffic Authority approved several short-term demonstration projects at intersections along Sturges and Mill Plain Road — including raised intersections and curb bump-outs — and authorized temporary bollards and other pilot treatments for one to six months to allow community observation and feedback before deciding on permanent measures. The committee was told the demonstrations will allow the town to “see what's going on and give feedback as they kinda move forward to traffic calming solutions.”

Committee members were briefed that these demonstration projects are intended as temporary tests, with changes possible if pilots show different outcomes; no formal committee vote on the grant or demonstration projects was taken at this meeting, as these updates came from staff and the Local Traffic Authority.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairfield 05/15/25 Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Committee received an update that the federal Safe Streets for All planning grant is moving toward final agreement after edits; the town’s Local Traffic Authority approved temporary demonstration projects on Mill Plain Road, Sturges and South Benson to run one to six months for community feedback.","taxTitle","Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",57943,"location","Connecticut","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6236265,"Committee asks town to seek DOT road safety audit for Post Road segment",143,4471000,4614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204&start=4471&end=4614","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204/thumbnail_4471000.jpg","/articles/6236265/Connecticut/Committee-asks-town-to-seek-DOT-road-safety-audit-for-Post-Road-segment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236265-e64853770da6372cecee4e0b9af24ddf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775266441&Signature=b1scb4CI~SSTxX4VQKzL48Dg~bmBfvGunj~goISmlfKDSQH4FsBjtvWVh72e9Cduqum1ZnLstlXcABRmz3DoDOoH9PmCRu~CcFeK0o6Yecu5ab9dEUSpXtgcWsBh0s3k3CdjWEdsIqpiZixlS-jNK5OoFxbS39XLl4Jz87ExTgXYnBq4g988Mr3bol6iITxKunRA5IU64hvblc1FMOX2L876wTHMOs1DKtbwZJozG2SB5HlfYH4EADMKxRe-Lo~Jne-bxvBW70jFBQe0S5t4O~FiMSlyRCkA1VlSEDuQSrU~aRAQCUiWrSNYgLY43nzs89SA6WZpWpkVaNsmzTO5yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bike & Pedestrian Committee voted to endorse engineering’s request that Connecticut DOT conduct a formal road safety audit on Post Road between Mill Plain and North Benson, a segment included in a recent MetroCOG/CtDOT walk audit for the state’s active transportation planning.

Committee members told engineering that a formal road safety audit with DOT participation would help the town identify improvements and make the case for state-supported changes. “A road safety audit is to get the state on board with looking at the post road and helping to propose changes that will make it better for, well, safer for cars, but also for, pedestrians and cyclists,” a committee member said.

The committee noted Stratfield Road as a local precedent: a previous road safety audit involving DOT helped secure town funding and consultant work that led to improvements now being discussed publicly. The committee approved the motion to endorse DOT participation and a safety audit with an aye vote recorded; Francisco seconded the motion.

The endorsement asks engineering to request DOT’s inclusion on their audit list; committee members acknowledged the list may be long and said the town could commission its own audit with DOT participation if necessary. No funding appropriation was made at this meeting; the vote was an endorsement to support engineering’s outreach to DOT and to advance a formal audit process.","The Bike & Pedestrian Committee voted to endorse asking Connecticut DOT to perform a road safety audit on Post Road from Mill Plain to North Benson to identify improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers; the committee noted that such an audit helped secure funding for Stratfield Road improvements in the past.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6236270,"Bike & ped committee endorses north–south Greenway master plan and seeks conservation buy-in",1994,2426000,4420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204&start=2426&end=4420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204/thumbnail_2426000.jpg","/articles/6236270/Connecticut/Bike-ped-committee-endorses-northsouth-Greenway-master-plan-and-seeks-conservation-buy-in","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236270-cd9777a9a6c82c2cbd5a66cd52e54b97/orig.mp4?Expires=1775266441&Signature=oXqoaIAuRMnsh~Hp5tsEYpWN-Cgiet3j06~L~JHV-XwRy3LLR0qnAv4jK~Pycrl2Fpbhvf6C6W2DO7F1JU4Y7HaYqprdTi~WFA9-z41YYkvxKZuzgpoc2Ws9YlzJ-PbTUIMFX4BiBdVJHeGIT8qaJT56SczeIUxMz6~iY9YuGdY01k5rmNpH1W5y-Gs4G92Srrwgmq4b7wN~AqAJtyXCHp05LLH~P~OnoS242GjHLW48ikeHnneKH2qzKWDrX4xLq87RA4IWKntzE-1l7nRC~bAl85N8lIXIWC2nDn08DCwym0KJoID3l~G9sZoGpfnnuKD37-ZW9k2prBi9Epzi9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bike & Pedestrian Committee voted to endorse a schematic “north–south” pedestrian Greenway concept — presented as Gabriel’s Trail and a town Greenway master plan — and authorized committee members to seek conservation and municipal support and pursue planning grants to develop a formal trail master plan.

Presenters Joseph (resident/organizer) and Jeff (planning volunteer) outlined a route that they said could link open spaces from the town’s northern border near Beers Road and Hoytens Hill down to South Pine Creek Beach, using a combination of existing town-owned trails, conservation land and short roadway connections where easements are not yet secured. “There’s a chance to highlight that local history as well,” Joseph told the committee, describing mapped alignments and the feasibility coding used to differentiate easy, moderate and challenging sections.

Organizers asked the committee to endorse moving the plan forward to conservation, forestry and the first selectman’s office and to support a planning grant application. Committee members described the plan as a schematic that could be rapidly marked on existing town parcels to engage the public while a planning grant funds right-of-way studies, environmental reviews and bridge design where needed.

The committee agreed to endorse the plan and asked presenters to coordinate next steps with the Conservation Commission, forestry and the town grants manager. Presenters said tactical clearing and volunteer-led trail marking on town parcels could begin quickly; the group discussed likely grant sources including Connecticut Recreational Trails Program and other state greenway funds.

No construction funding was approved at the meeting; the endorsement is a committee-level statement to support further planning and interagency outreach.","Committee members voted to endorse a proposed Gabriel’s Trail and Greenway Master Plan schematic and to pursue planning grants; organizers said the plan links existing town-owned open spaces and would support grant applications for planning and design.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6236274,"Developer outlines Commerce Drive project with plaza, inset street parking and public art plan",1631,559000,2190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204&start=559&end=2190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3374808-2186447e6f9f80264c1fa5f59f576204/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6236274/Connecticut/Developer-outlines-Commerce-Drive-project-with-plaza-inset-street-parking-and-public-art-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236274-7ceba8963d914bb9639658c2fbab7ca7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775266441&Signature=P4oVyj4pEJ62Ij0yS5de6LOd1DCDr4WzXGM7~-ELUmobrZNCFsT04MKZ4USjr-R1F~aXqXfu4sq0XfU7pdgUGGLgws4buueWbsuUGezLlElJLn8aZC83W5gBWP2ZDRnTiAoeNFyxRx6cS0mCw9vEFcktGiAUcjpFMS-GRA78kzsN9NQ9N43vPhD~SLasmEO5q6P7YgfBNG6oTe9F6Ahp82Jy0oQzK4GdTp9OGUQpU0q0vhNZzdqip9dlMGt9ZkJxRwlcoIaxmGRhmt4lHBD7FF7q9ffVsFUG70rM2SBdUdl79J4hHbIW1f0bVto12GMdvfCu2NK5WhY1V-cEjUzTtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A development team seeking predevelopment feedback on a Commerce Drive project described plans to replace two commercial buildings at the Commerce Drive/Kings Highway corner with a residential building, a public plaza intended for permanent public art and retail or restaurant space along Kings Highway.

The project team said the retail frontage would sit at the zoning minimum 10-foot setback and proposed inset parallel parking between the property line and curb “to give a more intimate pedestrian environment,” architect Cielen (principal, Bionfield Architecture) told the committee. “We intentionally created a plaza … a place of public art. So it's truly a public space.”

Committee members pressed the team on sidewalks, sight lines and utility poles. The project team said portions of the stretch currently have no sidewalk and that sidewalk on an adjacent daycare property stops at its parcel; the team said they plan to extend sidewalks along their property and would coordinate with the daycare owner where needed. The developers said they have initiated conversations with UI (United Illuminating) about power poles and that poles feeding the train station are not movable.

The team proposed six inset parallel spaces along Kings Highway and said the Local Traffic Authority recommended limiting those curbside spaces to two-hour durations; the team said the limited curb parking is intended to slow traffic and support short-term retail use, not to serve long-term parking or train-station commuters. The project team said residential units will include on-site bike storage rooms and indicated that public bike racks will be provided near the curbside spaces.

Committee members also discussed street trees and the tree warden’s role in plantings, and asked whether the parking counts were required by current zoning or discretionary. The developers said the on-site parking satisfies existing zoning requirements — citing a residential ratio of about 1.25 spaces per unit and a commercial requirement of roughly 1 per 250 square feet — and that broader changes to parking rules will be considered as part of upcoming zoning revisions.

The team asked the committee for feedback and said they plan to submit their formal application in late June or early July, with construction likely beginning in early next year if approved. The presentation drew detailed questions about curb setbacks, the presence of utility poles, sidewalk continuity, crosswalk locations and whether the inset parking would reduce pedestrian space; committee members asked the development team to continue coordination with engineering, the tree warden and the town zoning office.

The discussion was procedural feedback only; no formal approvals by the committee were recorded at the meeting.

The committee requested follow-up materials and noted it expects further review as the team proceeds to formal application.","A development team presented proposed changes to the public right-of-way at the Commerce Drive/Kings Highway intersection, including a plaza for public art, a 10-foot setback with inset parallel parking and new sidewalks; committee members asked about sidewalks, power poles, street trees and parking ratios.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Safe Streets grant moves forward; Local Traffic Authority approves short-term demonstration projects on Mill Plain and Sturges

Committee asks town to seek DOT road safety audit for Post Road segment

Bike & ped committee endorses north–south Greenway master plan and seeks conservation buy-in

Developer outlines Commerce Drive project with plaza, inset street parking and public art plan