STATE ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD) OVERVIEW

For an understanding of the key traffic safety terms "TASR" and "SLOSSS" that are repeatedly referenced in the discussions below, be sure to review the "Introduction to Danbury, CT Traffic" section.

Danbury’s unsigned State Route 805, the 1.73 miles from White Street northeasterly to White Turkey Road Extension (State Route 840), is designated by Conn DOT as a principal arterial route, the highest of functional classifications. Then from White Turkey Road Extension to the Brookfield Town Line the remaining .74 miles of this roadway is designated as a minor arterial route.

From the Conn DOT perspective, important intersections on Route 805 will be those at other Conn DOT arterial or collector designated roadways interacting with it. There are four such intersections; 1) at the origin of Route 805 at White Street as a principal arterial to the west and a minor arterial to the east, 2) with White Turkey Road (Route 840) as a collector, 3) with the I-84 Exit 7 westbound on ramp as a principal arterials, 4) and finally at Nabby Road as a minor arterial route.

One local road name is applied to the entire 2.47 mile length of Conn DOT Route 805; Federal Road. This road name continues into Brookfield and on into New Milford along the "Old Route 7."

Conn DOT’s 1999 average daily traffic volumes show 13,300 vehicles on Route 805 along the initial segment from White Street to Starr Road. From there to Eagle Road the total climbs to 22,300, then to a high 29,700 for the short segment up to White Turkey Road, 25,800 from White Turkey Road up to Nabby Road, and from there to the Brookfield Town Line 21,100. This is certainly a corridor with significant traffic volumes and much business activity.

The overall policy is to improve Federal Road intersections from White Street to the Brookfield Line in accordance with HVCEO’s Planning Bulletin 80 dated 12/1994 and entitled "Traffic Flow Improvement Plan for Federal Road." That study documents the need for the northern sector of Federal Road, from Starr Road northerly to the Brookfield Town Line, to have a consistent cross section allowing for four thru lanes of travel, complemented by turning lanes as necessary.

A driveway and curb cut management plan for both the Brookfield and Danbury portions of Route 805-Federal Road was completed by HVCEO as part of the 1994 study. It is now a standard in the Brookfield regulations but has not yet been incorporated into the Danbury zoning regulations. Traffic safety and capacity issues on Route 805 are as follows:

1. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD) AT WHITE STREET
Description: (Note that Conn DOT’s "eight hundred series" roads are unsigned by remain state roads nonetheless; number 805 here is the "Old Route 7") At milepost .00, the beginning of Federal Road as the continuation of White Street, the 1995-97 state Traffic Accident Surveillance Report (TASR) hazard rate was 203% with a SLOSSS designation, indicating greater concern.

Generally TASR rates over 100% indicate higher than normal accident rates. When a SLOSSS designation is also given by Conn DOT to TASR locations over 100% then that location is a priority for concern.

This location had TASR rates of 69% for 1992-94 and 94% for 1989-91. Thus for these earlier periods safety conditions here had not yet reached the state of a Conn DOT SLOSSS designation being applied.

It should be stated that these useful Conn DOT hazard rating percentages are not to be considered as factual indicators of hazard but rather as suggestive of safety problem areas. These TASR statistics for every segment of every state roadway in Connecticut can be considered serious when over 100%. Those over 100% that are determined by Conn DOT to be the highest priorities have an additional "SLOSSS" designation (Suggested List of Surveillance Study Sites), as found for 1995-97 on this segment.

The 1994 HVCEO study of Federal Road made recommendations for this intersection. According to that report this intersection accommodates today’s traffic volumes and should continue to do so in the future with the addition of a double left lane eastbound on White Street turning onto Federal Road.

However, it has poor geometry due to the intersection angle and vertical profile of White Street. Driveways directly at the intersection exacerbate this geometric problem. A long term solution would be to realign Federal Road more squarely with White Street.

2. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD)
FROM SWANSON AVENUE TO STARR ROAD
The initial 1.12 miles of Federal Road has no TASR rates of concern. This is likely due to the fact that the track of the Danbury Trunk Railroad paralleling Federal Road on the east so closely along much of Federal Road as to preclude roadside development.

But from mileposts 1.12 to 1.44, Federal Road for about one third of a mile between its intersection with Swanson Avenue northeasterly to its signalized intersection with Starr Road, we find a modest TASR rate of 62% for 1995-97. However, the rate for the earlier period of 1992-1994 was 146% with a SLOSSS designation. The period 1989-91 had a low TASR of 35%. This segment will be monitored by HVCEO to determine what pattern is developing.

The Danbury Traffic Engineer advised in October of 1999 that capacity improvements would be needed at the Starr Road intersection. Additionally, the Regional Transportation Plan recommends that signals along the northern part of the Federal Road corridor eventually be interconnected and managed by the City along with its other interconnected signal systems. Specifications for this work will be prepared as part of a 2001 HVCEO signal coordination study.

The 2000 Conn DOT I-84 Plan makes recommendations that may eventually impact the vicinity of the Starr Road intersection with Federal Road. While the Route 7 Expressway southbound off ramp to I-84 eastbound is not directly visible from Federal Road, due to a relocation someday it may be.

At present that Route 7 Expressway off ramp to I-84 east joins I-84 on its north side. The Conn DOT I-84 Plan proposes to shift this merge point to the south side, constructing a "flyover" or new bridging of I-84 in the process. If this happens, then the new flyover will hug I-84 on its south side, which is the vicinity of the Starr Avenue intersection.

Conn DOT further recommends that there be a new connector road from I-84 eastbound after Exit 7, proceeding easterly along the south side of I-84, to end over at I-84 Exit 8. This will necessitate a new bridge over Federal Road, adding a third to the current two, again in the vicinity of the intersection of Danbury’s Federal Road with Starr Avenue.

This new I-84 related eastbound collector could eventually be modified to include a direct eastbound off ramp to descend and intersect at grade with Federal Road. Such a major new connection would provide traffic flow balance to the I-84 Exit 7 westbound on ramp about four tenths of a mile to the north. There is no such balance now.

The Conn DOT I-84 Plan states that "The connection would be a relatively steep downgrade although within design standards.... In addition, Starr Road would have to be realigned considerably to the south...."

Continuing, "At this time, the connection is not included as part of the long term recommendations at I-84 Exit 7, as the benefits do not appear to off set impacts. However, the feasibility of this connection should be revisited as design and permitting of this alternative are progressed."

3. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD)
FROM STARR ROAD NORTH TO EAGLE ROAD
This segment runs from mileposts 1.46 to 1.64 Federal Road from Starr Road where a wider cross section begins, northerly under the I-84 eastbound and westbound bridges to the intersection with Eagle Road.

This segment cannot be described as truly a four lane cross section, as some lanes become turning lanes to the north. It should be noted that Eagle Road serves as a local road connector over to Commerce Park, the largest employment concentration in Danbury, also to State Route 806 (Newtown Road), just over one mile away via Eagle Road.

As an historical note, the Eagle Road at grade railroad crossing here was a private and restricted crossing before it was upgraded to a public thoroughfare in the early nineties. This City of Danbury planning and implementation provided a much needed connection between roughly parallel Route 805 (Federal Road-Old Route 7) and Route 806 (Newtown Road-Old Route 6).

Along this almost two tenths of a mile segment accident rates have been increasing in recent years, with a TASR of 15% for 1989-91, 82% for 1992-94, and then up to 142% with a SLOSSS designation for 1995-97. Landmarks at the intersection with Eagle Road include Spencer’s and Appellee’s restaurants and a Brake Center of America shop.

The 1994 HVCEO study of Federal Road made recommendations for the intersection with Eagle Road. These include adding onto Federal Road’s southbound approach to Eagle Road a third lane as an exclusive southbound left turn lane into Eagle Road.

Adding one lane to the two already existing on the northbound Federal Road approach to Eagle Road is also justified, to allow for an exclusive right turn only lane into Eagle Road. The Eagle Road approach to Route 805 also needs two right turn lanes, turning to northbound Federal Road, to accommodate the heavy turning traffic in that direction. There it would meet two lanes but just ahead one is used as an exclusive right turn into Route 840, so the cross section of Federal Road also needs expansion.

As noted earlier this HVCEO Regional Transportation Plan recommends that signals along this part of the Federal Road corridor eventually be interconnected. Specifications for this work will be prepared as part of a 2001 HVCEO signal coordination study.

4. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD) FROM
EAGLE ROAD TO WHITE TURKEY ROAD EXTENSION
Between Route 805 mileposts 1.65 to 1.72, about 300 feet of Federal Road from the Eagle Road intersection northerly to the intersection with State Route 840 (also known as White Turkey Road Extension), the 1995-97 accident rate was 191% with a SLOSSS designation, the 1994-96 accident rate was 134% also on the SLOSSS, while the 1989-91 figure was a more modest 86%; a rising rate.

Also note: on the 1995-97 list the specific intersection of White Turkey Road Extension (also known as State Route 840) with Federal Road was rated at 187% with a SLOSSS designation, up from 70% for 1992-94 and 67% for 1989-91. Average daily traffic volume in 1999 was 29,700 on Route 805-Federal Road between Eagle Road and White Turkey Road Extension, the highest volume in the corridor, and 16,200 on Route 840-White Turkey Road Extension.

The 1994 HVCEO traffic study of Federal Road made recommendations for this intersection, calling for an expansion of the Federal Road northbound approach to Route 840 to three lanes. One of the two here now becomes an exclusive right turn lane on to White Turkey Road Extension, and continuity with the four thru lane cross section that starts north of White Turkey Road Extension to the north is needed.

At the White Turkey Road Extension westbound approach to Federal Road-Route 805, one right turn lane should be added such that two right turn lanes are provided to accommodate the right turn on to northbound Federal Road. The turn from White Turkey Road Extension southbound on to Federal Road already has two lanes marked exclusively for left turns.

North of White Turkey Road Extension Federal Road for the first time has a consistent four thru lane cross section that extends into Brookfield. Just to the north of the intersection with White Turkey Road Extension, the two bridges carrying the Route 7 Expressway cross over Federal Road.

An earlier HVCEO Regional Transportation Plan stated that in order to properly plan for this section of Federal Road "the feasibility of widening the Route 7 Expressway bridge overpass abutments to achieve a wider Federal Road cross section will need to be explored," an expensive proposition. A minimal cost restriping for narrow lanes was also seen as a possibility.

Fortunately minor widening was approved here via a State Traffic Commission permit, such that Federal Road’s northbound left turns into the I-84 Exit 7 westbound on ramp for the first time have a separate turn and storage lane. Also, that the nearby intersection of Old Brookfield Road with Federal Road is now signalized as required by the STC permit. These improvements were completed in September of 2000.

This new signal was funded by the developer of the proposed Lexington Mews residential complex on Old Brookfield Road, with 317 parking spaces qualifying as a major traffic generator subject to Conn DOT review. To facilitate this signalization, the driveway to the existing Conn DOT commuter parking lot on the east side of Federal Road, just beyond the Route 7 Expressway bridge, was relocated slightly so that it is opposite Old Brookfield Road and its driveway makes use of the new signal.

From the commuter parking lot northward to the signalized intersection with Nabby Road, the TASR for 1989-91 was 93%, then for 1992-94 up to 102% with a SLOSSS designation, and then for 1995-97 down to 47%. landmarks are the large Borders, Home Depot and Bob’s stores.

5. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD) FROM
NABBY ROAD TO STEW LEONARD’S NORTH DRIVEWAY
This segment is from mileposts 2.12 to 2.36, Federal Road from its intersection with Nabby Road northerly to the Stew Leonard’s store signalized north driveway. The Stew Leonard’s store south driveway serves as a fourth leg to the Federal Road and Nabby Road intersection.

On this one quarter mile segment the 1995-97 Conn DOT TASR accident rate was 236% with a SLOSSS designation. The hazard rate is rising here, as 1992-94 was 99% and 1989-91 was 76%.

The recommendation in the 1994 HVCEO study for Federal Road at its intersection with Nabby Road and Stew Leonard’s main driveway was that "In the future a southbound right turn lane into Nabby Road should be provided.... Since there are few left turns, the left turn lane could be eliminated to lessen the widening for the right turn lane." An Arby’s restaurant is on this corner. This recommendation remains to be implemented.

Moving further north, the recommendation in the 1994 HVCEO study for Federal Road at its intersection with the Stew Leonard’s north driveway was that "because of the number of left turns into the site a left turn lane would be very useful."

Regarding this proposal, a Conn DOT memo dated 7/24/1999 stated that "the exclusive left turn lane originally proposed on State Route 805 westbound into the Stew Leonard’s northern driveway has been eliminated from this project. The additional width necessary to construct this turn lane would result in the loss of parking and property from adjacent businesses...."Other alternatives were considered to incorporate the turn lanes; however, the Department has been unable to find a solution mutually agreeable to all effected property owners."

6. ROUTE 805 IN DANBURY (FEDERAL ROAD) FROM
STEW LEONARD’S TO ROUTE 202 IN BROOKFIELD
This section runs from mileposts 2.38 to 2.75, and is from the Stew Leonard’s store north driveway northerly across the town line to the intersection with Route 202 in Brookfield.

This segment had a SLOSSS designation and TASR rate of 112% for 1995-97, preceded by a SLOSSS and TASR of 120% for 1992-94. The period 1989-91 recorded a TASR of 122%.

This segment was widened through the HVCEO’s STP-O federal funding program from 2 to 4 thru lanes in the mid-1990's. The widening linked existing four thru lane cross sections on either side. Accident rates on this final segment of Federal Road in Danbury and into Brookfield will be monitored to determine the impact of that investment.