Engineer outlines $300,000 Safe Streets demonstration project for Route 1 corridors
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Summary
Town engineering staff said a $300,000 Safe Streets for All demonstration grant will test temporary traffic-calming measures on cut-through streets near Route 1 and I-95; a public workshop is scheduled for April 22 to gather resident input that will shape the final plan.
An engineering representative told the PED Committee on April 9 that Fairfield has been awarded a $300,000 demonstration grant under the Safe Streets for All program to test temporary traffic-calming on cut-through streets near Route 1 and I-95.
The representative said the town’s Safe Streets work has two parts: a townwide safety action plan and the demonstration grant that will pilot physical and low-cost treatments. "We've already submitted the application. It's been accepted and awarded," the Engineer said, adding that implementation will follow consultant-led study and permitting.
Why it matters: the demonstration will allow the town to collect before-and-after data on speeds, traffic volumes and pedestrian crossings to prioritize locations for design and potential future construction funding. The consultant team is expected to complete the townwide report by September, after which agreements and permits would be arranged before demonstrations are staged.
Key details provided to the committee include a draft list of streets under consideration — Stevens Lane, Rogers Lane, Elm Street, Paper Mill Lane, Kings Drive/Kings Lane/Kings Highway West, Mill Hill Terrace, Mill Hill School area, and on the south side Old Post Road, South Pine Creek and Old Field Road — and an emphasis on roads that act as cut-throughs when I-95 or Route 95 are congested. The Engineer noted the list is not final and may be adjusted before agreements are complete.
The demonstration is expected to use temporary measures that are allowed by the program: "Maybe we get a temporary speed hump. Maybe we get a bunch of bollards to replicate a bulb out or narrowing of an intersection… We can get signs," the Engineer said, and added that concrete curbing and sidewalks are likely not allowed in the demonstration phase.
The consultant reported being roughly one-third complete on the safety action plan, having aligned goals, drafted a schedule and produced case-study summaries from four municipalities. The consultant conducted a multi-hour site tour with staff and photographed conditions across downtown, residential neighborhoods and other corridors to supplement map and crash data review.
Public participation: the committee was told the consultant will host a public workshop on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Penfield Pavilion as an open-house style event with stations for neighborhoods. Members urged broad turnout, noting that strong public participation strengthens future grant competitiveness.
Next steps: the consultant will finish the report and prioritize locations; the town administration (public works, capital planning and engineering) will decide investments if and when construction funding becomes available. The committee did not take any legislative action at the meeting.
