Stratford greenway committee reshapes 2025 ride schedule amid nearby construction, festival and outreach plans

Harold Watts, chairman of the Stratford Greenway Complete Streets subcommittee, told members on Feb. 5 that construction at the Stratford Army Engine Plant and a nearby sewer plant has started and may disrupt planned rides along Main Street and the waterfront.

The committee discussed several responses: monitoring the developer’s truck schedule, scouting routes in advance, offering alternate routes for rides that might intersect construction access roads and coordinating festival and youth events so the group can still participate in community outreach.

The concern centers on an access road developers will use to bring in topsoil. Watts said, “They’re bringing in soil, but they’re still in the tear down phase of the buildings,” and that the presence of trucks could require changing some routes at short notice. Town planner Smitha (first name used in meeting) said she will check whether the work is subject to coastal site plan review or zoning commission conditions that could limit truck timing; she noted that when projects come before the zoning commission, planners can sometimes secure restrictions on hours for truck movements.

Committee member Michael (who compiled the draft ride calendar) described the spreadsheet and maps he shared, saying the schedule largely mirrors last year’s dates. Members recommended advance scouting of routes—by car or bicycle—the day before a scheduled ride so leaders can alert participants of hazards or reroutes. Watts and others said the subcommittee should arrange volunteers to do those pre‑ride checks rather than rely on a single person.

The group identified Points Track for Renewal LLC (developer) as the primary project contact and discussed a project website that staff members had located. Smitha said she would ask town staff (Mary) and the developer contact, Peter Cabrera, for a posted truck schedule and whether truck movements include weekends; riders typically gather on weekends and weekend truck activity would affect ride planning.

Beyond construction impacts, the committee approved continuing participation in the Stratford Main Street Festival in June, with volunteers to staff a bike corral and a possible bike clinic operated by Trek Bicycles of Fairfield. Watts said he cannot staff the booth all day because of Rotary duties and asked members to commit shifts. Committee members agreed to proceed with festival participation and to try to coordinate promotion through Rotary and other town calendars.

The subcommittee also discussed summer youth programming. The South End Community Center (SECC) bike rodeo is scheduled in July, but this year the SECC will operate from the Bird’s Eye Complex during renovations, which would require different routing and possibly police crossing support. The committee discussed police overtime as a potential line item; a staff member estimated overtime “just over a hundred dollars” per officer per hour, and Watts applied that to two officers for roughly four hours as an example cost of about $800. Watts said he would consider a personal donation to cover police costs if town or grant funds were not available.

On funding, members reviewed recent small active‑transportation grants. The group previously used a $5,000 round to buy reflective gear and has applied for another round; they plan a future application for sheltered bike racks at the train station. Watts and other members encouraged building a volunteer membership model or small dues to sustain events over time rather than relying on one person’s contributions.

Other calendar items discussed included proposals to add three longer rides—Farmington Canal (starting in Hamden), a Fairfield/Greens Farms route and a Milford-to-Long Wharf route—and the Rotary‑sponsored “Day of Service” event in May that would combine a peace pole unveiling with a possible bike clinic and family ride downtown. The committee agreed to pursue Trek’s participation for May or June dates and to seek sponsorships from local bike shops and businesses.

The subcommittee closed the meeting by assigning follow‑up tasks: Smitha will try to confirm truck timings and whether weekend work is planned; Karen Burke and Tom Dillon were asked to develop a plan for a family/kids ride (possible July weekend); Michael will continue to refine the ride spreadsheet and maps and identify which rides could be in conflict with construction; and Watts will coordinate outreach to Trek and Rotary for sponsorship and clinic support.

The subcommittee did not take any formal votes, and no ordinances, grants or contracts were authorized at the Feb. 5 meeting.