Torrington workshop flags gaps in EV charging: lighting, ADA access and signage among top concerns

Live Green Connecticut and local partners shared the results of in-person site assessments and resident interviews in Torrington, identifying persistent gaps in the town’s electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and proposing zoning-based fixes to improve safety and usability.

The presentation, led by Live Green staff and the Clean Transportation Coalition, summarized months of site visits and one-on-one interviews. "Our goal today is just to share the information we have gathered in Torrington over the last few months and hear feedback directly from the community," said Lydia Bird of Live Green Connecticut. Surveys and assessments focused on lighting, signage, ADA accessibility, protective curbing and charger types.

Why it matters: attendees and presenters said these issues affect both everyday users and visitors. Stephanie Dixon, executive director of Live Green Connecticut and the Clean Transportation Coalition, said her organization has worked with hundreds of municipalities on EV zoning and emphasized practical experience: "I personally have driven across the country three times in an electric vehicle doing site assessments and gaining knowledge and expertise on how EV zoning regulations actually can help improve the user experience." Participants noted that poorly lit or gated charger sites create safety and usability concerns, particularly for people arriving after dark.

Key findings included: - Lighting: Most assessed stations lacked dedicated overhead lighting for chargers, reducing safety and nighttime usage. Presenters and officials discussed site-specific lighting solutions, including cut-off fixtures and motion-sensor options to balance safety with dark-sky concerns. - ADA accessibility: None of the sites included in the initial assessment met ADA-compliance standards for EV stalls; attendees requested clearly marked ADA parking adjacent to chargers. - Signage and pricing: Residents asked for clear location signage, time-limit and pricing information; presenters observed that many chargers have minimal or inconsistent directional signage. - Public access: Several chargers visited were located at car dealerships and may not be publicly accessible outside business hours; presenters explained federally funded chargers typically must remain open, while privately funded stations can be gated.

Local officials and technical staff said utilities and site power capacity will shape where chargers can be placed. "The electrical requirements—obtaining power from the utility companies—could be challenging in some of these areas," said an attendee with electrical experience. Organizers encouraged direct engagement with utilities (Eversource was named by participants) and noted make-ready and other grant programs can help fund trenching and infrastructure work.

Regulatory and design levers discussed included requiring minimum numbers of EV spaces in large parking lots, establishing photometric thresholds for lighting, setting rules on pedestal advertising (to avoid continuous video ads), standardizing stall dimensions (18 feet was referenced), and specifying cord length/retractable cords so plugs can reach different vehicles.

Torrington’s planning staff indicated they plan to study these issues further over the coming fall and winter, including follow-up meetings specifically with zoning and planning staff. City planner Jeremy Lifford said the town’s regional role makes preparing EV infrastructure important; Northwest Hills Council of Governments transportation director Eric Shortell noted NEVI-related planning experience but confirmed that specific lighting requirements are not always mandated by state NEVI guidance and can be added locally or through grant conditions.

Next steps: hosts said they will perform additional site assessments on recently installed chargers, coordinate with public works to ensure new chargers are registered in national databases, and follow up with residents about draft zoning concepts and possible outreach events such as drive-in rides (test-drive and information events) to increase public familiarity with EV use.

The workshop ended with organizers collecting contact information for follow-up and pledging to return with more detailed recommendations after the next phase of assessments.