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PART 4H.
REDDING, CT
TRAFFIC, BUS AND RAIL
TRANSPORTATION PLAN

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DRAFT UPDATED TO 5/8/2010


1. REDDING'S NEAR FUTURE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

ROUTE 7 CORRIDOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Redding, in cooperation with HVCEO, SWRPA and Conn DOT, will participate in a needs assessment of the Route 7 corridor between Olmstead Hill Road in Wilton and Route 35 in Ridgefield to establish an implementation program for operational, intersection, safety, access management, multimodal and streetscaping enhancements, all within a framework of sensitive design.


UPDATE 1996 ROUTE 7 DRIVEWAY
AND CURB CUT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Continue to administer the Redding Route 7 Curb Cut Management Plan. Update the Plan as part of the above mentioned needs assessment for the Route 7 corridor.

This curb cut plan consists 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 planning and zoning commissions and by CT DOT administrators for state roads when conditions of approval are set.

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 not only in Redding's zoning regulations but also in those of Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, Newtown and Ridgefield, all prepared by HVCEO. See regional map of completed curb cut plans.


Implement the recommendations of the 2001 HVCEO Bulletin 104, the Georgetown Beautification and Traffic Plan, as modified by later Town studies.

Intersection improvements and signalization of Routes 107 and Route 57, and also Route 107 at Main Street, to facilitate the adjacent mixed use development.

In 2005 the Town of Redding was presented with a
prestigious National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
in the Small Communities category by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for the above Georgetown Redevelopment Project,
which will make use of both Route 7 and the Danbury Branch Rail Line.


2. REDDING'S LONGER RANGE
TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS:

The Redding Town Plan of 2008 states that "In order to preserve the residential and low-density character of Redding, especially its frontages along Routes 53, 57, 58 and 107, the 2008 Town Plan strongly endorses major widening and capacity improvements in existing Routes 7 and 25, the principal arteries immediately west and east of Redding."

Continuing, "Maximizing the capacity of existing Route 7, in particular, will benefit the redevelopment of the center at Georgetown and alleviate traffic pressures on such secondary roads as Routes 107, 57 and 53. Permanent abandonment of once-proposed plans for a "Super Seven" Expressway is strongly endorsed by this Town Plan, consistent with similar recommendations by HVCEO."


This policy is compatible with regional policy as contained in the Route 7 South Policy for Redding, Ridgefield and Danbury within the HVCEO Regional Transportation Plan.

Concerning truck traffic along the Route 53 corridor shared by Redding and Bethel, it was agreed in 2000 by Redding, Bethel and HVCEO that no increase in the height of the clearance of the railroad bridge over Route 53 in Bethel should be permitted.

Looking north at the railroad bridge
over Bethel's portion of Route 53. This railroad
bridge is 1.5 miles north of the Bethel - Redding Town Line.

The goal was and remains to avoid an increase in use of Route 53 by large trucks. The overhead detection warning device installed by Conn DOT at this location has been successful in protecting public safety. Future modifications to this bridge should continue to respect the 2000 regional agreement.


3. REDDING'S OTHER
TRANSPORTATION
IMPROVEMENTS:

SCENIC ROADS ORDINANCE
Continue to administer the municipal scenic road ordinance, which well complements those of nearby communities.

Scenically designated
Poverty Hollow Road in Redding

Redding works to maintain the attractive appearance
of its state roadways. Shown here is Route 53 northbound by
the Saugatuck Reservoir, designated by Conn DOT in 1992 as a
scenic roadway and still the only such state designated road in the Region.


TOWN OF REDDING BRIDGES WITH SPANS GREATER
THAN 20 FEET PERIODICALLY INSPECTED BY CONN DOT

Cooperate with Conn DOT on proper maintenance of such bridges on North Main Street, Poverty Hollow Road, Simpaug Turnpike, Church Hill Road #1 and Diamond Hill Road.


SUGAR HOLLOW GREENWAY
Part of the right of way owned by Conn DOT for a future Route 7 Expressway should be made available for a multi-use pathway to be known as the Sugar Hollow Greenway.


4. REDDING'S BUS
SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:
(Excerpts from 2010 Bus Service Improvement Plan)

REDDING FIXED ROUTE HART BUS
Redding is served by the Danbury-Norwalk Route 7 LINK bus, which travels the length of the Route 7 corridor between Danbury and Norwalk. The current service provides 4 morning and 4 evening round trips with a significant gap in the midday. The goal is to provide buses hourly throughout the weekday.

With the redevelopment of the Georgetown wire mill, add a deviation to this Danbury - Norwalk Bus Route to directly serve the new multimodal transportation center planned there.

REDDING TOWN DIAL-A-RIDE
Redding provides a Town operated dial-a-ride service for seniors and persons with disabilities with a single bus Monday through Thursday. Adjacent communities receive comparable SweetHART dial-a-ride service in addition to HART fixed route service. The goal is to integrate the Redding dial-a-ride to the extent possible with the regional transportation services provided by HART.

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


5 REDDING'S NEAR TERM
RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS:

CENTRAILIZED TRAIN CONTROL THRU REDDING
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 Redding and on to the system terminus in Danbury.

NEW GEORGETOWN RAIL STATION AND
INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER

Publically fund the Georgetown Intermodal Transportation Center and Rail Station. Towards this end CT DOT has applied for $28 million of federal funds for a 570 vehicle parking garage.



Proposed Georgetown Transportation Center

This facility is part of a U.S. EPA award winning “Smart Growth” and “transit oriented development” project, and is a public investment of interregional transit benefit in conformance with the Danbury Branch Line improvement plan.


7. REDDING'S LONGER TERM
RAIL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

West Redding, CT Railroad Station


WEST REDDING 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 West Redding Station.

Potential parking expansion at West Redding Station.

REDDING COMMUTER RAIL
Expand peak period, through train and reverse-commute rail service and extend rail service north from Georgetown and West Redding Stations past Danbury to New Milford.

Downtown Stamford, CT is a significant
draw by rail for Redding's commuters.

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HVCEO, Old Town Hall, Routes 25 & 133, Brookfield, CT 06804 Tel: 203-775-6256  |  Fax: 203-740-9167  |  E-mail: info@hvceo.org