1. NEW MILFORD'S NEAR FUTURE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 37 RECONSTRUCTION FROM
ROUTE 39 IN SHERMAN TO ROUTE 7 IN NEW MILFORD
Safety improvements and reconstruction of Route 37 from Route 39 in Sherman Center easterly to Route 7 in New Milford.

Route 37 eastbound entering New Milford from Sherman.

EVALUATION OF RELOCATION OF GROVE STREET FROM MILL
STREET TO REALIGNED INTERSECTION WITH ROUTES 67 AND 202
The recent Grove Street Bypass included Conn DOT projects 95-212 and 95-234. Project 95-212 was for the realignment of the intersection of Bridge Street (Routes 67 and 202), East Street (Route 202) and Grove Street and also curve reduction nearby. Project 95-234 included the relocation of Grove Street from Mill Street northerly to the reconfigured intersection.

Construction was completed in November of 2010. Also note that traffic capacities along Lower Grove Street were upgraded at significant federal expense in recent decades. The origin of this Route 7 bypass circulation concept was the 1959 New Milford Plan of Development.

At upper center is Route 67. At right is the newly relocated Grove
Street, creating a new four way intersection with Routes 67 and 202.

A traffic study should be conducted to evaluate signal timing to maximize the efficiency of this new Downtown New Milford traffic investment. However the study area should also evaluate related signal timing and sufficiency of turning lanes along adjacent Bridge Street to the west and north on Route 202 to New Milford Hospital at Elm Street.

In addition a 1995 origin and destination study should be updated to determine the value of designating newly relocated Grove Street as a Route 202 Bypass, or possibly as Route 202 itself:

After decades of federal investment along Grove Street, is
the suggested signage revision above a viable concept?

ADMINISTER RT 7 AND RT 202 DRIVEWAY
AND CURB CUT MANAGEMENT PLAN
As requested by the New Milford Zoning Commission, during 2008 HVCEO updated the New Milford Routes 7 and 202 Curb Cut and Access Management Overlay Zone. This document has been adopted as a standard for applicants within the New Milford Zoning Regulations.

Example of a map in a curb cut management plan.

This curb cut plan consists of a series of adjacent maps showing all properties, all driveways, and the recommended reorganization of driveways as properties seek permits to develop or redevelop.

Implementation comes thru use of the maps by local planning and zoning commissions and by Conn DOT administrators for state roads when conditions of approval are set. See New Milford's Plan in context on the regional map of completed curb cut plans.

2. NEW MILFORD'S LONGER RANGE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT AT RAILROAD
AVENUE & HOUSATONIC AVENUE & BENNITT STREET
Complete safety improvements specified in 2009 for a Conn DOT Local Road Accident Reduction Program grant.

UTILIZE TRAFFIC DATA BASES
Develop plans for traffic improvements based in part upon traffic information and perspective gathered thus far as shown in 2A thru 2F:

2A. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR DOWNTOWN NEW MILFORD. Continue with implementation of the 1996 Downtown New Milford Study's traffic related recommendations. Update the traffic component of this 1996 Study as necessary, including the detailed traffic and turning movement count.

Monitor Conn DOT whenever any Bridge Street signal changes are made, such that they incorporate the Bridge Street Signal Coordination Plan, thereby reducing travel times by 10%.

2B. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR BOARDMAN ROAD CORRIDOR . Economic growth here will be coordinated with traffic flow improvements.

2C. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR PATRIOTS WAY BYPASS. A proposal to ease traffic flow west of Downtown. Consider proceeding to the preliminary engineering phase for the Patriots Way Bypass Plan, thereby improving the interface between the Boardman Road Corridor and Bridge Street. Coordinate this project with proposed commuter rail parking in the area.

2D. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR EAST - WEST CONNECTOR. History of the connector concept.

2E. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR HOUSATONIC BRIDGES . History of Housatonic River crossing concepts.

Visualization of possible additional Housatonic
River Bridge to the north of Bridge Street.

2F. TRAFFIC DATA BASE FOR GROVE STREET BYPASS . History of this project and its traffic objectives.

3. NEW MILFORD'S OTHER
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS:

HIGH SCHOOL RELATED
PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS
Construction of pedestrian improvements in the vicinity of New Milford High School, with priority for access to nearby businesses patronized by students.

CENTRAL NEW MILFORD PEDESTRIAN LOOP
This recommended pedestrian walkway will run from Bridge Street south to Lanesville Road, east across the Housatonic River and then back north to New Milford Center.

This plan recommends that in order to eliminate the need for pedestrian crossings at the busy “T” intersections of Route 7 with Sunny Valley Road and Pickett District Road, sidewalks be constructed on the east side of Route 7 and north side of Pickett District Road.

Proceed to full Map of Pedestrian Loop (8.4 MB)

STILL RIVER GREENWAY TRAIL PLAN
Continue constructing components of the regional Still River Greenway Trail Plan.

Northern terminus of Still River Greenway
Trail meets southern end of Central New Milford
Pedestrian Loop. See full diagram.

TOWN OF NEW MILFORD BRIDGES WITH SPANS GREATER
THAN 20 FEET PERIODICALLY INSPECTED BY CONN DOT
Cooperate with Conn DOT on proper maintenance of such bridges, located on Cross Road, Merryall Road, Elm Street Extension, Wells Road, Still River Drive, Aspetuck Road, Papermill Road, Aspetuck Road, Housatonic Avenue, West Street, Aspetuck Road, Long Mountain Rd #1, Cedar Hill Road, Upland Road, Old Mill Road, Sand Pit Road, Merryall Road, Chapel Hill Road, Squire Hill Road, Van Car Road, Walker Brook Road, Grove Street, Wheaton Road, Boardman Road, Mill Street, Wellsville Avenue and Sand Road.

ADMINISTER SCENIC ROAD ORDINANCE
New Milford is the regional leader in scenic road designation. Continue to administer the ordinance and consider adding additional roadways as appropriate.

Scenically designated Judd's Bridge Road in New Milford

4. NEW MILFORD'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 New Milford.

Northern extent of HART bus routes
in New Milford. See full system map.

To the extent feasible facilitate New Milford's commuter travel patterns by HART bus and future passenger rail service.

5. NEW MILFORD'S LONGER RANGE
BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

(Excerpts from 2010 Bus Service Improvement Plan)

NEW MILFORD FIXED ROUTE HART BUS:
Add trips between New Milford and Danbury for the 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. pulse times to provide more regular service between the municipalities and facilitate transfers to early trains leaving Danbury Station. Current funding allows for only limited morning peak service between New Milford and Danbury and creates a confusing schedule.

Long term goals for the 7 New Milford Route include expansion of the weekday service span from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., extending the Saturday service span from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., implementation of Sunday service hourly between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., and provide service with 30 minute headways between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

NEW MILFORD TOWN DIAL-A-RIDE:
The town operates two buses in a senior/disabled dial-a-ride, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. New Milford would benefit from an extension of service later in the day until 6 p.m. On weekends, no Saturday service is provided. New Saturday service between 9 and 4 p.m. with a single vehicle, and a similar schedule on Sunday would better serve this population.

For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Danbury and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the existing town by town approach.

6. NEW MILFORD'S LONGER TERM
RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

The current Conn DOT Danbury Branch Line Study will develop recommended options to improve the existing Danbury Branch Line between Danbury and Norwalk. The study also will detail a plan to resume regular passenger service north of Danbury to New Milford, which ceased in 1971.

With resumption of passenger service to New Milford, DOT will develop a recommended location for a New Milford station stop. According to the draft 2010 New Milford Plan of Conservation and Development "The Town should continue to support the re-establishment of passenger rail service and work with the State to determine the best location for the Station."

Photo courtesy of Bob Rush.

Continuing, "A Downtown location would be consistent with smart growth and transit oriented development principles. It would offer many advantages - having an active railroad station in or within walking distance to the Downtown could help support the desired community structure by attracting new housing and businesses to Downtown. Issues such as traffic and parking would need to be addressed during the station planning process."

Conn DOT Study potential station Site 4B, similar
to Site 4A except that parking is located to the east,
at the corner of Railroad Street and Boardman Terrace.

HVCEO plan for re-establishing
rail passenger service to New Milford.