Firehouse Plan Invites Gridlock

To the Editor:

For weeks and months I’ve followed the discussions surrounding Newtown Hook & Ladder’s desire to build a firehouse on Sugar Street. Having fully expected that this idea would be shot down a long time ago, I find myself incredulous that it’s still being seriously considered.

If you’ve ever been in the Route 302/Main Street area during any weekday commuting hour, you’ll know the traffic situation is substantial. It would be crazy to introduce rushing fire trucks to the mix of backed up lines of traffic at the traffic light. I see traffic accidents just waiting to happen as drivers try to get out of the way of screaming sirens and flashing lights. Slow-moving fire apparatus is going to create a real logjam on a primary commuter route and one of the few alternatives for Newtowners who work in lower Fairfield County.

Borough officials, please, don’t exacerbate an already bad situation or Newtown will look more and more like the Route 25 gridlock in Monroe every weekday. Especially when there’s a perfectly suitable option and ample of space at Fairfield Hills, not to mention a four-lane roadway much better equipped to handle heavy traffic than Sugar Street.

Dawn Handschuh

36 West Street, Newtown                                           October 30, 2010