Draft Traffic Report Recommends Town Center Improvements

By Andrew Gorosko

In a draft report, a traffic consulting firm makes a wide range of recommendations on how the town can best manage the growing traffic volume in the town center during the coming 20 years, focusing on the reconfiguration of several major intersections, including the Main Street flagpole intersection.

The 29-page Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan was produced by Vollmer Associates, LLP, of Hamden for the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO), on behalf of the town. The $49,000 study’s cost was split between the town and HVCEO, which is the regional transportation planning agency. A local advisory panel guided the course of the traffic study.

The consultants investigated traffic problems in order to recommend various improvement options for Queen Street, Glover Avenue, Church Hill Road (Route 6), Main Street (Route 25), Mile Hill Road (Route 860), and Commerce Road.

The town will hold an as-yet unscheduled meeting or meetings to present the report to the public.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal on August 23 said, “I haven’t bought into any of these [recommendations] yet. I’m still studying it.” The recommendations raise many issues, he said.

Following the upcoming public session on the traffic report, town officials would set priorities and make some decisions regarding which of the many recommendations should be pursued, the first selectman said.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley said the town should take a “symbiotic” approach to the traffic problem, in which multiple improvements are made at different locations to improve overall traffic flow, rather than focusing on improving the traffic flow on just one street.

Excluding a proposed extension of Commerce Road to Wasserman Way, the total estimated cost of the proposed road improvements is $1.89 million. Funding would come from local, state, federal, and private sources. Funding estimates are based on 2006 information.

After the town and borough decide which improvements to pursue, a comprehensive funding request would be submitted to the state Department of Transportation (DOT). More than half of the improvement costs may be available from state and federal sources.

In the draft report, Vollmer recommends that the triangular intersection of Queen Street and Glover Avenue be reconstructed as a modified “T” intersection, with a southbound right-turn bypass lane provided on Queen Street, plus the installation of associated crosswalks and traffic signs. Each leg of the three-way intersection would have a stop sign. Motorists that are entering westbound Glover Avenue on the bypass lane from southbound Queen Street would have to yield.

Also, crosswalks would be painted on the western and northern legs of the “T” intersection. A landscaping buffer to shield automotive headlamp glare would be planted in front of a house on the eastern side of the intersection.

To make way for a safer “T” intersection, an existing triangular traffic island with mature trees and ornamental shrubs would need to be removed.

Flagpole Intersection

The difficulty in navigating the Main Street flagpole intersection results in motorists using Queen Street and Glover Avenue to avoid the flagpole intersection, according to the consultants. The flagpole intersection is formed by the junction of Main Street, Church Hill Road, and the two legs of West Street.

“Because the flagpole sits unprotected in the middle of a busy intersection with five roadway legs, it has been the site of many accidents, which tragically include fatalities,” the draft report states.

“Over the years, proposals to improve safety and traffic flow at this intersection, such as moving the flagpole out of the roadway or signalizing the intersection, have met with resistance from the community because of their adverse effects on the visual character of this historic intersection,” according to the report.

During the traffic study, the consultants considered creating a roundabout or traffic rotary at the flagpole, or alternately installing a set of traffic signals there. The roundabout concept was dropped due to its potential adverse effects on the intersection and the surrounding historic properties.

Installing a set of traffic signals and reconfiguring traffic flow at the flagpole intersection would improve the movement of traffic and pedestrians, according to Vollmer.

Under the concept, the 100-foot-tall flagpole would remain at its current location and become part of a small center traffic island. No signal lights or wiring would be attached to or hung from the flagpole.

Under the proposal, the current eastbound section of West Street near the Newtown Meeting House would be converted to two-way traffic flow, and the current westbound section of West Street there would be closed to through traffic and be used for parallel parking accessible via a driveway from Main Street.

The study notes there would be a loss of parking spaces in front of the Meeting House, but the visual appeal of the landmark would be enhanced by the addition of a front lawn.

The traffic report recommends that town officials discuss with the Borough Historic District Commission the need to improve the flagpole intersection, while preserving the historic character and beauty of the area.

The traffic report also suggests the extension of Commerce Road to Wasserman Way to create another north-south connector road in town.

Although such a connector road may not significantly cut traffic flow in the center of town, it would help alleviate traffic pressure on Queen Street and Glover Avenue, according to Vollmer. The consultants caution that the adverse environmental effects of such a road extension on the Pootatuck River and Deep Brook be considered and that remedial steps be taken, if required.

Church Hill/Queen

At the intersection of Queen Street and Church Hill Road, Vollmer recommends that upgraded pedestrian control signals be installed; that stamped pavement crosswalks be installed on Queen Street and also on Church Hill Road both east and west of its intersection with Queen Street, and that a sidewalk be installed on the east side of Queen Street extending southward from Church Hill Road to the existing Queen Street sidewalk system.

For the intersection of Queen Street, Mile Hill Road, and Tinkerfield Road the consultants recommend that the state evaluate the feasibility of installing a set of traffic signals. If the state deems such a set of signals feasible, signals could be installed provided that travel lanes are appropriately configured there. But if the state deems such signalization as infeasible, geometric improvements could be made to the intersection and a deceleration lane could be created on westbound Mile Hill Road for those making right turns onto northbound Queen Street.

At the intersection of Glover Avenue and Main Street, Vollmer recommends making geometric improvements to the intersection and addressing pedestrian crossing issues there.

Vollmer recommends that the town construct a raised “speed reducing table” containing a crosswalk with appropriate warning signs for motorists on Glover Avenue, to the east of Meadow Road. It also recommends that Glover Avenue be reconstructed to a uniform pavement width.

 

Other Recommendations

Vollmer recommends that sidewalks continue to be developed along Church Hill Road; that crosswalks be painted across the driveways of all commercial and institutional properties on Church Hill Road; that crosswalks be painted across the streets intersecting with Church Hill Road; and that the sidewalk connections be completed along Church Hill Road between Queen Street and Main Street.

Along Queen Street, the traffic consultants recommend that crosswalks be painted across the driveways of all commercial properties, and also across all streets at their intersections with Queen Street.

Also recommended is that the bakery, paint store, and shopping center located on the east side of Queen Street, near its intersection with Church Hill Road, consolidate their access to Queen Street via a single driveway. Alternately, the throat widths of the existing driveways could be narrowed as a pedestrian safety feature.

Along the commercial northern section of Queen Street, the consultants recommend a variety of sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, as well as enhancements to the traffic signal at the main entrance to Newtown Shopping Village, which would include an exclusive pedestrian crossing phase controlled by push buttons on all corners of the intersection.

The consultants recommend a series of safety measures for the section of Queen Street near Newtown Middle School. Those include constructing a new diagonal sidewalk extending from the middle school entrance to the Queen Street sidewalk near the school’s northernmost driveway entrance.

Also recommended is installing a “speed reducing table” containing a crosswalk, plus appropriate warning signs for motorists. Such a speed table would be located on the north side of the rebuilt southernmost driveway entrance to the school. Vollmer suggests that the town consider installing flashing signs activated by push buttons at the crosswalk that would warn approaching motorists of the presence of a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

Vollmer also recommends constructing three “speed reducing tables” on Queen Street between Glover Avenue and Mile Hill Road. Also, recommended is reconstructing Queen Street between Glover Avenue and Mile Hill Road to a uniform pavement width.

Vollmer recommends that a new four-foot-wide sidewalk be built on the west side of Queen Street between Glover Avenue and Mile Hill Road. Vollmer also suggests that trees be planted along both sides of Queen Street. The consultants recommend that that “School Zone” warning signs be improved along Queen Street.

Also, the consultants recommend heightened traffic law enforcement by police in the traffic study area and eventually the whole town.

Vollmer also suggests the creation of a new school bus and parent pickup/drop-off route between the north parking at Newtown Middle School and Church Hill Road via the Eton Center parking lot.

Detailed information stemming from the traffic study is posted on the town’s website, www.newtown-ct.gov/home.

During the past several years, Queen Street area residents often have attended Police Commission meetings in seeking to resolve concerns about the volume, speed, and noise of traffic along that congested road. The Police Commission is the local traffic authority.

The ensuing Queen Street Area Traffic Study stemmed from those residents’ interest in improving traffic conditions along that street.