1. NEWTOWN'S NEAR FUTURE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 6 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
FROM RAILROAD OVERPASS EAST TO I-84 EXIT 10
Conn DOT Project 0096-0192 calls for Edmond Road to be realigned to meet Commerce Road on Route 6 (Church Hill Road). And Newtown's Town Plan calls for this project to further coordinate with a potential new access road from Church Hill Road easterly to Wasserman Way via an extension of Commerce Road.

An important improvement in Newtown is the
reduction of accident rates on Route 6 from Commerce
Road, shown at right, easterly to I-84 Exit 10.

Conn DOT has identified this busy segment of Newtown's Route 6 as a high frequency accident location. Recent federal transportation legislation contained two Congressional Earmarks to fund the implementation of the project. One totals $1,600,000 to fund the Edmond Road relocation and the second totals $2,000,000 to fund safety improvements on adjacent Route 6.

For this project to proceed it was necessary for Edmond Road to first become a public road. This was accomplished by the Town in January of 2006.

Route 6 accident reduction will be accomplished in part by the relocation of
unsignalized Edmond Road (light green at right) westerly to align as a new road
(with yellow center line) with Route 6 across from the intersection with Commerce
Drive, coupled with incorporation of a median divider (green).

As shown above, a newly installed variable width median divider will be constructed along Route 6 from Commerce Road to I-84 Exit 10. The median includes a "vehicle turning gap" break near the existing intersection with Edmond Road.

The southern end of Edmond Road will be shifted west and signalized at Route 6. The existing southern end of Edmond Road will be removed.

This project is on the HVCEO 2010-2013 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The contact person at Conn DOT is Hugh Hayward at 860-594-3279 and hugh.hayward@ct.gov.

ROUTE 25 INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENT AT PECKS LANE NORTH
This project was submitted by Newtown and reviewed by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit. The preliminary review was completed in September of 2006 yielding a cost estimate of $1,890,000, with the improvement concept involving separation of Prospect Drive from Pecks Lane.

The project had its public information meeting in Newtown on 12/19/2007 and has been approved by Conn DOT for its engineering phase. But as of 12/2009 Conn DOT is waiting for engineering funds to become available thru the FHWA STP-O funding source before proceeding. As such, the Department has not started preliminary design on this project yet. The Department anticipates the funds may become available in 2011.

The Conn DOT Project Manager is Timothy Gaffey at 860.594.3287, timothy.gaffey @ct.gov, and the Project Engineer is Susan Libatique, 860.594.3179, susan.libatique@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. Newtown officials will need to monitor this process to insure that environmental impacts from the proposed widening are acceptable to Newtown.

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 I-84 expressway closure
requiring traffic diversion thru Newtown.

State Police, Conn DOT and Newtown 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
NEWTOWN 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 Newtown 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.

STATE ROADWAY DRIVEWAY
AND CURB CUT MANAGEMENT PLANS
These curb cut plans consist of a series of adjacent maps showing all properties, all driveways, and the recommended reorganization of driveways as properties 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.

Legend from Newtown's 2010
Driveway and Curb Cut Management Plan

A text supplements the maps, giving traffic engineering advice for each property where there is a recommendation for a change of driveway. These mapped driveway standards appear in the zoning regulations of Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding and Ridgefield, all prepared by HVCEO.

The Newtown Curb Plan has recently been brought up to date. See the Newtown 2010 Access Management Plan. See also a regional map of completed plans.

2. NEWTOWN'S LONGER
RANGE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

FUTURE ROUTE 6 IN HAWLEYVILLE:
In accordance with HVCEO's 1997 Exit 9 Hawleyville Transportation Study, increase the number of lanes and add turning lanes on Route 6 in the Hawleyville Area as adjacent development warrants.

FUTURE ROUTE 25 IMPROVEMENTS AT EXIT 9
In accordance with the HVCEO's 1997 Exit 9 Hawleyville Transportation Study, provide progressive signalization, coupled with widening of Route 25 to four lanes with turning lanes in the vicinity of Exit 9.

Route 25 looking north just past I-84
"before" and "after" views of widening proposed
by the Exit 9 Hawleyville Transportation Study.

FUTURE ROUTE 25 INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENT AT COLD SPRING ROAD
Improvements to the intersection of Route 25 at Cold Spring Road, including a traffic signal. This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 as the fourth of four priorities and is inactive due to lack of federal and state funds.

FUTURE ROUTE 34 INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENT WITH POLE BRIDGE ROAD
This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 for review by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding. Conn DOT informed Town staff in September of 2006 that the cost to benefit ration for this potential project appeared low in comparison to other needs such as the northern intersection of Route 25 with Peck's Lane.

FUTURE I-84 EXIT 11 REDESIGN
Conn DOT project 34-308 calls for rebuilding I-84 Exit 11 into a four way diamond interchange with an access road that will intersect with Route 34 across from Wasserman Way. This project evolved from the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Improvement Plan. The reconfiguration of I-84 Exit 11 is intended to improve roadway safety and traffic flow during peak periods.

The elaborate high speed Exit 11 was constructed in the early 1970s in preparation for a linkage between I-84 and the planned Route 25 Expressway. But the Route 25 Expressway plan was abandoned, leaving Exit 11 as an overbuilt set of ramps, as shown below:

See full details of Conn DOT 2007 Plan for Exit 11.

The existing J ramp configuration, intended to be temporary in the 1970s plan, will be removed and on and off ramps will be reconstructed to intersect directly with Route 34 (historical note: as they did originally when I-84 first opened).

Conn DOT held a public information meeting on this project in June of 2007. As of 12/2009 the project design is at about the 80% completion level, but the project will not advance into construction as funding levels are not sufficient.

This vicinity was cited by a 2001 Conn DOT study as a possible new I-84 truck stop and rest area location. However it was not included in the final 2007 Conn DOT Statewide Rest Area Study.

FUTURE I-84 MAJOR WIDENING
AND INTERCHANGES 9 AND 10 REDESIGN
Rebuild I-84 Exit 9 (see future Exit 9 map) and Exit 10 (see future Exit 10 map) in accordance with the Conn DOT 2000 I-84 Plan.

FUTURE ROUTE 302 INTERSECTION
IMPROVEMENT AT HATTERTOWN ROAD
This project was submitted by Newtown to Conn DOT in July of 2004 as the third of four priorities and was reviewed by the Conn DOT Project Development Unit to assess potential for federal funding. But the cost to benefit ration for this potential project appeared low in comparison to other municipal needs such as the northern intersection of Route 25 with Peck's Lane.

FUTURE SANDY HOOK CENTER IMPROVEMENT:
Complete the Sandy Hook Center streetscaping plan, including possible geometric revisions to the intersection of Glen Road with Washington Street and Riverside Drive.

Streetscape on the western side of the intersection below was completed in 2006, while that on the eastern and northern segments remains to be completed. The enhancement of existing sidewalks and the construction of new ones in this area enhances overall pedestrian circulation and safety.

Partially completed beautification
and sidewalk plan for Sandy Hook Center.

FUTURE NEW LOCAL ROAD FROM
ROUTE 6 TO WASSERMAN WAY (ROUTE 860)
The Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan was completed by HVCEO in August of 2006. It included traffic projections for a nearby proposed link from Commerce Road southeasterly to Wasserman Way which may divert some Queen Street traffic.Both the 1992 and 2004 Newtown Plans of Conservation and Development recommended consideration of this new roadway.

This proposed connecting roadway would link Church Hill Road (Route 6) at its western terminus with Wasserman Way (Route 860) at the eastern terminus. This new collector road will connect with Route 6 at Commerce Road directly across from where an upcoming major federal investment is to realign Edmond Road with Route 6 at Commerce Road. The new roadway will provide a link between I-84 Exits 10 and 11.

According to a 2006 HVCEO traffic study the addition of this important link would help alleviate traffic pressures on the nearby central areas of Newtown.

From a broader geographic perspective and over time, the introduction of this new collector roadway could increase travel choices and better distribute both local and thru traffic in central Newtown. It is also to provide access to major economic development initiatives.

But the environmental impacts of this proposal, including its affect upon Deep Brook, will need careful scrutiny.

3. NEWTOWN'S OTHER
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS:

FUTURE LOCAL PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS:
Continue to implement the 2003 Queen Street Pedestrian Safety Plan.

That 2003 report summarizes pedestrian improvements for three distinct segments of the Queen Street Corridor between Route 6 (Church Hill Road) and Glover Avenue in Newtown;
1) Intersection of Route 6 and Queen Street,
2) Queen Street from Route 6 southerly to Glover Avenue, and
3) Intersection of Queen Street and Glover Avenue.

Facilitate pedestrial access to the Monroe regional trail during Batchelder Property site redevelopment.

TOWN OF NEWTOWN BRIDGES WITH SPANS GREATER
THAN 20 FEET PERIODICALLY INSPECTED BY CONN DOT
Cooperate with Conn DOT on proper maintenance of such bridges on Pond Brook Road, Currituck Road, Georges Hill Road, Hanover Road, Walnut Tree Hill Road, Covered Bridge Road and Old Hawleyville Road.

4. NEWTOWN'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 Newtown's elderly and disabled.

5. NEWTOWN'S LONGER RANGE
BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:
(Excerpts from 2010 Bus Service Improvement Plan)

NEWTOWN FIXED ROUTE HART BUS
Create a new Danbury - Bridgeport link serving Newtown via route 6 and 25. The Bridgeport to Danbury service would provide trips for people working and living on either end of the route and provide local service to points along the corridor at retail, office and manufacturing locations. The service could also act as a shuttle from the park and ride lot at the junction with Route 111 in Trumbull to the MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line station in Bridgeport.

Current proposals are for a three bus service during the weekday peak travel period. The service would be operated jointly by the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority and the HART system. Bus fares would be integrated with the two systems.

Make enhancements to the existing Peter Pan bus schedule that would provide three additional a.m. round trips and four additional p.m. round trips between Danbury and Waterbury Monday through Friday. An additional route stop in the exit 10 area of Newtown (the location of an historic intercity bus stop) would be added on these trips. This location would also serve as a transfer point to the
planned Danbury-Bridgeport service.

As part of the resumption of passenger service to New Milford, a second Danbury station stop near the Brookfield line is planned. Locations for this stop are being evaluated as part of the current DOT study, with suggested locations within the Berkshire Industrial park, or opposite the existing White Turkey park and ride lot.

Rail user demographics suggest a peak period rail feeder shuttle from the exit 10 or 11 of I-84 areas of Newtown to this new station may be an appropriate option.

NEWTOWN SWEETHART BUS
For the long term, reduce costs by establishing a new regional SweetHART service that would serve Newtown and nearby towns in a more efficient manner than the town by town approach at present.

• To the extent feasible facilitate Newtown's commuter travel patterns by bus services.