PART 4A.

BETHEL, CT

TRAFFIC, BUS AND RAIL

TRANSPORTATION PLAN

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1. BETHEL'S NEAR FUTURE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 6 CURB CUT
AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Bethel's 1997 Route 6 Access Management Plan was updated by the Town to 2008 with a grant from HVCEO. Continue to implement this Plan by making it a standard within the zoning regulations, such that its recommendations are included as permit conditions in site plan and special permit approvals.

The Bethel Planning and Zoning Commission has requested that HVCEO complete access management plans for the remaining state roadways in the municipality, namely Routes 53, 58 and 302.

Excerpt from Bethel's Route 6 curb plan near Old Hawleyville Road. Red
circles highlight letters keyed to curb management recommendations
in map legend, black indicates eventual closure of access.

ROUTE 302 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AT ROUTE 58
Improve the turning radius from Route 58 northbound to Route 302 eastbound, Conn DOT Project No. 0009-0095. This project has not been moved forward by Conn DOT to preliminary engineering as there does not appear to be construction funds available in the near future.

WIDEN PLUMTREES ROAD BRIDGE OVER EAST
SWAMP BROOK AND IMPROVE ADJACENT INTERSECTION
AT WHITTLESEY DRIVE AND WALNUT HILL ROAD
Conn DOT Project 09-88 involves the replacement of the Plumtrees Road Bridge over East Swamp Brook with double precast concrete box culverts and the realignment of the two “T” intersections of Whittlesey Drive and Walnut Hill Road, each with Plumtrees Road, to be directly opposite one another.

The signalization of this intersection will be modified for the new configuration.

The HVCEO 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) indicates federal funds for construction for this critical Bethel project will be obligated in FY2011 and that the upcoming construction cost is $2,530,000. The Conn DOT contact person is Project Manager Robert Rakowski, 860-594-3221, robert.rakowski@ct.gov.

REPLACE WALNUT HILL ROAD BRIDGE OVER LIMEKILN
BROOK AND RECONSTRUCT PART OF WALNUT HILL ROAD
Conn DOT Project 0009-0091 involves the replacement of the Walnut Hill Road Bridge over Limekiln Brook and the reconstruction of Walnut Hill Road from the bridge to Taylor Road.

During 2010 this project returned to the the federally funded TIP at $1,600,000. The Conn DOT contact is Project Manager William Grant at 860.594.3229, william.e.grant@ct.gov.

COMPLETE I-84 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
Cooperate with adjacent municipalities towards the completion of the on-going Conn DOT I-84 Environmental Impact Statement process. Insure that environmental impacts from proposed I-84 widening are acceptable to Bethel. Project cancelled by CT DOT 4/2010.

MAKE USE OF I-84
CLOSURE TRAFFIC DIVERSION PLAN
This emergency management plan serving Bethel was completed by DEMHS 5, COGCNV and HVCEO during 2010.

Eighteen hour expressway closure requiring traffic diversion.

State Police, Conn DOT and Bethel officials may now rely upon one coordinated set of diversion instructions for managing increased traffic due to the temporary closing of expressway lanes and exits during an I-84 emergency.

CONSIDER IMPACTS UPON
BETHEL OF I-84 TOLLING PROPOSALS
The return of tolls to Connecticut's expressways is seriously proposed. If tolls are added to I-84 in or near Bethel in order to raise road improvement funds, then the Town will be heavily impacted by the diversion of traffic avoiding the toll.

These impacts have been identified in HVCEO's research report #141. That report may be utilized by officials and citizens during any future toll plaza planning hearings.

2. BETHEL'S LONGER RANGE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 6 INTERSECTION UPGRADES
Upgrade capacity at the intersections of Route 6 with Garella Road, Benedict Road and Weed Road in accordance with the Bethel Planning and Zoning Commission's 2008 Route 6 Traffic Plan.

A key goal along Bethel's Route 6 is to realign the
currently "offset" intersection of Garella Road with Sand Pit Road.

ROUTE 53 SAFETY
AND CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS
Make safety improvements from Mansfield Street south to Route 302, using as technical background the Route 53 Overview Report.

Develop roundabouts at intersections of Route 53 with Fleetwood Avenue and then Route 53 with Route 302 (Greenwood Avenue).

Capacity and safety advantages of a roundabout at the
intersection of Route 302 with Route 53 in Bethel are detailed at the
end of this web site's discussion of Bethel's Route 53 North Report.
The 2007 Bethel Town Plan endorsed the roundabout concept.

As recommended by the 2007 Bethel Plan of Conservation and Development, identify a future road right of way from Route 53 easterly to Henry Street, this to avoid conflicts between truck traffic and village residential areas to the north.

Concerning Route 53 further south of Bethel Center, the Town will pursue raising the height of the Danbury Branch railroad overpass, currently 11' 4", to allow for the free flow of all legal truck heights, the maximum for which is 13' 9" in Connecticut.

I-84 EXIT 8 UPGRADE
AND MAINLINE WIDENING

Widen I-84 from 2 to 3 lanes in each direction thru Bethel between the Danbury Line and the Brookfield Line in conformance with the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Plan. See map of planned Exit 8 improvements, an excerpt from which is shown below.

At present northbound Payne Road traffic has a circuitous routing to enter I-84 at Exit 8.
Conn DOT will resolve this difficulty by adding a new bridge over I-84 directly
across from Payne Road, also relocating the Exit 8 eastbound on ramp
eastward (present ramp to be removed shown in blue).

ROUTE 302 IMPROVEMENTS
Complete second and final phase of the Downtown Bethel Streetscape Plan. First phase construction was completed with federal funds thru the FHWA Enhancement Program.

Develop additional improvement projects from the Route 302 Overview Report as needed.

INTERSECTION REALIGNMENT
OF WALNUT HILL ROAD WITH HOYT ROAD
Realign the intersection of Walnut Hill Road with Hoyt Road to reduce the accident rate on the slope and at the intersection.

In June of 2009 the Town of Bethel applied to CT DOT's Local Road Accident Reduction Program for funds to improve this intersection. The application for funds was approved by CT DOT in May of 2010.

Note that a 2003 CT DOT grant to Bethel thru the same program had been previously approved, but that bids received exceeded the grant maximums in place at that time.

Conceptual plan for realigning north - south
Walnut Hill Road with east-west Hoyt Road.

3. BETHEL'S OTHER
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS:

IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN
ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL PARK
Expend recently awarded federal "Safe Routes to School" grant for sidewalk improvements serving the Berry, Rockwell, Johnson and Middle Schools, Conn DOT Project Number 0009-0096. The improvements are on Maple Avenue and Plumtrees Road. The Project Manager at Conn DOT is Scott Roberts, 860-594-3232.

TRANSIT ORIENTED
DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY
The 2007 Bethel Town Plan recommends identifying locations for compact, transit accessible, pedestrian oriented, mixed use development, referred to as "transit oriented development" (TOD), near the Bethel Railroad Station.

As requested by Bethel in 2010 HVCEO completed a Transit Oriented Development Feasibility Study for this location, indicating positive potential.

Concerning CT DOT planning for the Bethel Station Area, the Town requests that in the future if private TOD investors seek west side access to the passenger platform, that CT station planning not preclude such privately funded access.

HVCEO prepared the needed feasibility study of
transit oriented development potential at Bethel Station.

TOWN OF BETHEL BRIDGES WITH SPANS GREATER
THAN 20 FEET PERIODICALLY INSPECTED BY CONN DOT
Cooperate with Conn DOT on proper maintenance of such bridges on Plumtrees Road, Rockwell Road, Shelter Rock Road and Walnut Hill Road.

SCENIC ROADS ORDINANCE
As recommended by the 2007 Town Plan, adopt a scenic road ordinance similar to those of nearby communities.

BACKGROUND ON BETHEL TRAFFIC
As a traffic planning resource, access as needed the 2005 HVCEO report entitled Bethel, CT Traffic Issues.

4. BETHEL'S SHORT RANGE
BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

The HVCEO 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) indicates federal funds are reserved for modernizing the fleet of HART vehicles serving Bethel.

5. BETHEL'S LONGER RANGE
BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

(Excerpts from 2010 Bus Service Improvement Plan)

BETHEL FIXED ROUTE HART BUS
Add bus shelters along Route 302 and in the central business district where appropriate and justified by ridership.

Extend the weekday service span for the 5 Bethel Center and 2 Stony Hill Routes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and implement service on Sunday between 8 am and 7 pm. Improve headways from 60 minutes to 30 minutes weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Split the 2 Stony Hill Route into two routes to allow for bi-directional service to major employment on Newtown Road in Danbury, and expansion of service to Newtown.

Excerpt from HART regional bus route map.

BETHEL SWEETHART BUS
Provide Bethel’s seniors and disabled with additional weekday SweetHART service by extending the service day from the current 4:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Add a second bus in the morning peak period between 8 and 10 a.m. to reduce competition for appointment times when demand is strongest.

Long term, establish new regional SweetHART service that would serve all towns in a more efficient manner than the current town by town approach.

6. BETHEL'S NEAR TERM
RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

CENTRAILIZED TRAIN CONTROL THRU BETHEL
For better passenger train safety and management, outdated manually operated train signals will be replaced by an electronic system. The project is fully funded.

Conn DOT's Centralized Train Control (CTC) signal modernization project will allow for remote control of Danbury Branch passenger trains directly from Grand Central Terminal.

Centralized train control viewing screen.

Communication cables will be mounted on poles from Norwalk to Wilton and then buried in the ground along the tracks further north thru Bethel and on to the system terminus in Danbury.

Current sidings are in Norwalk, Wilton, Branchville and Danbury. This project includes the addition of a passenger siding in Bethel to be constructed south of Taylor Avenue.

7. BETHEL'S LONGER TERM
RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

BETHEL RAIL STATION PARKING PLAN
An ongoing Conn DOT study of the Danbury Branch Line will make recommendations for additional service and in some cases parking improvements at each station, including at Bethel Station.

Insufficient parking at Bethel Station.

Preliminary CT DOT plan for expanding
Bethel Station parking to the north.

BETHEL COMMUTER RAIL
The current Conn DOT study will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. Improvements will increase service frequency on the Branch Line from the current eleven round trips per week day/six per Sunday; expand peak period, through train and reverse commute rail service.

Expand parking supply at the Conn DOT owned Bethel Station, which is overcrowded. Study the feasibility of a second platform at the station to facilitate boarding access. Implementation of transit oriented development on Durant Avenue is an additional area of study.

Downtown Stamford, CT is about 25 aerial miles
south of Downtown Bethel. It is a significant
draw by rail for Bethel's commuters.