1. BETHEL'S NEAR FUTURE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 6 CURB CUT
AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN
Bethel's 1997 Route 6 Access Management Plan has been updated by the Town to 2008. 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.

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

ROUTE 302 INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AT RT 58
Improve the turning radius from Route 58 northbound to Route 302 eastbound, Conn DOT Project No. 0009-0095. As of 1/2010 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. The Project Manager is Hugh Hayward at 860-594-3279, hugh.hayward@ct.gov.

EXPAND PLUMTREES ROAD BRIDGE OVER EAST
SWAMP BROOK AND IMPROVE ADJACENT INTERSECTION
AT WHITTLESEY DRIVE AND WALNUT HILL ROAD
Conn DOT Project 0009-0088 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.

Conn DOT reported 1/2010 that semi-final design was in review, that the right of way schedule and draft property maps have been submitted. "Town to confirm they are taking care of mitigation measures requested by DEP Fisheries. A new public informational meeting will be held."

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.

Conn DOT reported 1/2010 that "as of 11/2009 this project is no longer on the federally funded TIP. Rather, the Conn DOT financing plan is for this improvement to be all state funded with no federal participation.

However, the state share may be decreased due to budget shortfalls. Right of way activities are complete and final design status is expected in 2010. Permitting activities moving forward, Town's consultant addressing previous design comments." 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.

COMPLETE I-84
CLOSURE TRAFFIC DIVERSION PLAN
This emergency management action plan will be completed by DEMHS 5, COGCNV and HVCEO during 2010.

Eighteen hour expressway closure requiring traffic diversion.

State Police, Conn DOT and Bethel officials will then 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 in Hartford. If tolls are added to I-84 in or near Bethel in order to raise road improvement funds, then the Town would be heavily impacted by the diversion of traffic.

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.

In April of 2009 the Town of Bethel forwarded an application to Conn DOT for improvement funding for the intersection with Garella Road. The request was for the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to determine its eligibility for the FHWA STP-O funding program.

A key goal along Bethel's Route 6 is to redesign the
"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.

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.
The 2007 Bethel Town Plan endorsed the roundabout concept.

As recommended by the 2007 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
Cooperate with adjacent municipalities towards the completion of the on-going Conn DOT I-84 Environmental Impact Statement process.

After completion of the EIS, 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 solve 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 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 southbound
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.

Conn DOT commented 1/2010 that the "Town is designing in-house. Project plans are at Preliminary Design stage (30%). Plans are currently being reviewed by the Department for conformance with Fed/State criteria.

Anticipated Design Completion Date (DCD) is currently 6/2/2010, however there may be rights of way required from several properties based on Town's preliminary design submission, therefore this schedule may change. Design is being analyzed to determine if private property impacts can be avoided, otherwise Town will be required to acquire any necessary property rights. Schedule could also change based on Town's progress with Final Design."

The Project Manager at Conn DOT is Scott Roberts, 860-594-3232, scott.roberts@ct.gov.

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 TOD 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 is preparing 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.

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 ConnDOT study will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will develop a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Bethel to New Milford which ceased in 1971. 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 severely 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.

Provide shuttle bus service to Bethel station from remote park and ride lots after phase two Danbury Branch Line expansion.

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