The City Services and Environmental Policy Committee of the New Haven Board of Alders voted on July 17 to accept a $4,000,000 grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, a pass-through allocation of congressionally directed federal funds, to pay for street-safety upgrades around the New Haven Green.

Justin McCarthy, chief administrative officer, told the committee the money is “a resolution request for acceptance of a state grant of $4,000,000 to pass through from the federal government to improve the street safety around the area of the green.” He said the funds aim to improve pedestrian safety, slow vehicle speeds, bring ADA compliance and better connect the north and south sides of the Green with raised intersections and other traffic-calming measures. City staff said the funding would cover work on Church, College, Chapel, Elm and Temple streets, and that construction could begin in 2026 if the federal and state steps proceed on schedule.

The nut of the debate was not the availability of funds but how the money would be used. Designers presented conceptual drawings showing raised crosswalks, a single vehicle lane “road diet” on Temple Street and new planting/parking layouts. City staff emphasized the work shown is preliminary. “This is not a final design,” the acting city engineer said of the renderings. “We’re continuing the conversations with all of those partners… This is strictly roadway safety because it’s earmarked strictly for roadway safety.”

Representatives of downtown churches and preservation groups urged a slower, more inclusive process before final designs are fixed. Carolyn Cohen, an attorney representing two downtown churches, said the congregations supported accepting the grant but asked the committee to either continue the item or condition approval on a consensus between the churches, the proprietors and city staff. “We think this conceptual design is not safe for the churches. It does not provide safe access for emergency vehicles on Sunday,” Cohen said, citing concerns about turning radii, Sunday parking rules and emergency egress.

Landscape consultants and church leaders also provided illustrated comparisons of “before and after” conditions for Temple Street and argued the proposed layout changes could alter historic sight lines and the Green’s character. The New Haven Preservation Trust and Preservation Connecticut submitted written comments urging that changes affecting the National Historic Landmark be reviewed under federal historic-preservation procedures (Section 106) and that the city take steps to avoid damage to significant elm trees.

City presenters said the improvements must coordinate with several related initiatives downtown, including a state-led bus-rapid-transit (BRT) project and other streetscape work. Staff told the panel there will be additional phases of community engagement timed to design milestones; the city’s timeline for the grant requires obligations within a multi-year window and staff told the committee there is political urgency to secure the funds now so design can proceed.

Members of the Committee said they supported accepting the funding but asked staff to return with a clear public-engagement plan and regular updates to the committee. The motion to accept the grant was approved by the committee; the item will proceed through the Board of Alders for first and second readings as part of the city’s legislative process.

Ending: The committee approved acceptance of the $4,000,000 grant on July 17 and asked for more structured community engagement, coordination with emergency services and clearer design details before construction begins. Staff said conceptual designs will be refined and that construction is likely to start in 2026 if design and contracting milestones are met.