For a transportation project in Ridgefield to obtain a commitment of federal transportation funds, it must first appear on the HVCEO maintained list below.

This listing also assists local officials in tracking the progress of current improvements, and planning and advocating for future improvements as well.

CURRENT ROUTE 7 WIDENING: RIDGEFIELD TO DANBURY
--- Conn DOT project 34-315 is widening Route 7 from north of Route 35 in Ridgefield northerly to 1.2 miles north of Starrs Plain Road in Danbury. Widening has been completed, bringing the two lane cross section to four lanes. This is a substitute for the old and parallel Route 7 Expressway construction plan (see full Route 7 corridor policy).

--- Conn DOT Project 34-260 then continues widening northward thru Danbury to Wooster Heights Road. As of 5/162008 the design completion date is 7/16/2008, advertising for construction 8/13/2008 and then the bid award on 11/12/2008. Construction costs for this project are estimated at near $40,000,000. As of early June 2008 Governor Rell has assured the area that this funding will be available. Conn DOT contact: John Trovato (860) 595-3294.

Leaders kick off the widening of Route 7 between Danbury and Ridgefield on
August 15, 2005. From left are Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi, Ridgefield
State Representative John Frey, Governor Jodi Rell, Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton,
and Conn DOT Commissioner Stephen Korta. Photo courtesy of the News Times.

As for upcoming planning activities, in cooperation with HVCEO, SWRPA and Conn DOT, Ridgefield 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.

---The right of way owned by Conn DOT for a future Route 7 Expressway should instead be used for a pedestrian path to be known as the Sugar Hollow Greenway.

FUTURE ROUTE 7 IN BRANCHVILLE:
— From the Wilton Town Line northerly to Route 102, initiate only those Route 7 capacity improvements sanctioned by Ridgefield’s 2002 Branchville Village Plan as incorporated into the 1999 Town Plan by the Ridgefield Planning and Zoning Commission.

Before and after views from Ridgefield's Route 7
oriented 2002 Branchville Village Plan.

FUTURE ROUTE 35:
— Advance to design and implementation those priority traffic improvement projects endorsed by Ridgefield as part of HVCEO's 2005 Route 35 Traffic Study.

Looking south in Ridgefield Center at proposed
median to separate parking from Route 35 travel lane

The priority project area for improvement as agreed by state and town officials in January of 2006 is the section of Route 35 from the vicinity of the intersection with Route 102 northerly to the vicinity of Prospect Street.

A view of Route 35 as it will appear after the
proposed landscaping and enhancement process.

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

State Police, Conn DOT and Ridgefield 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
IDGEFIELD 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 Danbury in order to raise road improvement funds, then adjacent Ridgefield could be impacted economically, socially, and 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.

FUTURE LOCAL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS:
Study the feasibility of a new connector between Bailey Avenue and Governor Street. Undertake a traffic study to identify possible diversion of traffic from Route 35 and other roadways.

FUTURE TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS:

RIDGEFIELD FIXED ROUTE HART BUS:
• Operate fixed route services hourly between the Danbury Pulse Point and the Ridgefield central business district.

• Determine if there is a market for expanding the Ridgefield to Katonah, NY commuter shuttle service to the midday hours, as no service is provided at present between 8:30 am to 5 pm.

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

RIDGEFIELD COMMUTER RAIL:
• Expand peak period, through train and reverse commute rail service from Branchville Station and extend rail service north to New Milford.

• As proposed in the Ridgefield Town Plan, construct a decked parking structure at the Branchville Station.

• Implement a subscription shuttle bus to the Branchville Station after the Phase Two Danbury Branch expansion.