1. INTRODUCTION 2. DOWNTOWN 3. GROVE ST 4. BOARDMAN RD
5. E-W CONNECTOR 6. RIVER BRIDGES 7. TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT

INTRODUCTION
The discussion of the Boardman Road Corridor identified how the development of the Western Segment of an East-West Connector in central New Milford could assist with traffic access to the 320,000 square foot Century Enterprise Center. But the concept of this connector has other purposes and deep roots in local planning.

The East-West Connector idea is a combination of two different projects with two different functions. For this reason the terms Western Segment and Eastern Segment are used in this review, with the central demarcation line being Aspetuck Ridge Road.

The overall function of both segments operating together would be to better provide for east-west travel in Central New Milford north of the Downtown Area, such that these traffic movements do not all need to first travel south to the Downtown prior to moving east or west.

The second function involved only the Eastern Segment, which was to be a stand alone terminus to the long planned north - south Route 7 Expressway. The East - West Connector Road was recommended by Conn DOT to be constructed 52 feet wide curb to curb, allowing for four lanes of traffic, for a total length of 1.1 miles.

The traffic function was to bypass New Milford Center and two lane Bridge Street via a new Housatonic River crossing, then distribute its traffic load on to the Eastern Segment of the East - West Connector and then other roads. The state never offered to also build the Western Segment of the East-West Connector.

This high capacity configuration, an Expressway ending as the Eastern Segment, giving Route 202 beyond the Downtown greatly enhanced access, would have as long time Planning Commissioner Oskar Rogg predicted transfer additional development pressure up Route 202.

The Conn DOT plan to include the Eastern Segment of the East - West Connector as part of the Route 7 construction plan would obviously have brought much more traffic to the East - West Connector than if it were just to serve more localized east west New Milford traffic.

But as it was decided in 1991 that a new expressway would never interface with any point on the East - West Connector, the cost benefit of building the Western Segment of the Connector alone fell as fewer trips would be served per fixed unit of construction cost.

According to the Conn DOT statement of 11/26/1991. “Following extensive public discussion and study, state and local officials have agreed on a modified plan for improving highway travel in the Route 7 corridor between Brookfield and New Milford.... As well as focusing upon the upgrading of the existing two lane roadway, this plan was also to “eliminate from consideration the New Milford bypass.”

TRAFFIC STUDIES
AND POLICY POSITIONS
1966. There have been concerns over the years about how much traffic would use a stand alone (without the Route 7 Expressway connecting to it) East - West Connector. One old Conn DOT study documents a 1966 Conn DOT analysis of the traffic crossing Veterans Bridge.

It was found that of the total of 15,000 vehicles, only 360 were originating from Route 202 to the north, crossing the bridge, and then proceeding to or from Route 7 north. Thus the goal of connecting Route 7 to Route 202 north of the Downtown was seen as not cost effective.

1972. After 1972 New Milford was expecting a new bridge crossing as part of the Route 7 Expressway construction plan. This meant that Conn DOT would build the Eastern Segment of the Connector, such that Expressway traffic could continue on to Route 202.

The official plan adopted by Conn DOT showed an Eastern Segment of the East-West Connector construction starting at Aspetuck Ridge Road and running easterly to Route 202. The Western Segment, a one and three quarters mile section from Boardman Road easterly to Aspetuck Ridge Road, was not included in the Conn DOT plan.

1974. Then In 1974, as a result of Public Act 73-157, Conn DOT was pushed to complete a report entitled the “Feasibility Study of A Boardman Road Connector”. New Milford's leaders were attempting to have the 1972 Conn DOT traffic plan for the East Segment be amended to include the West Segment.

The study dutifully examined the feasibility of connecting Route 7 at Boardman Bridge easterly to the Park Lane area of Route 202, the classic full East - West Connector concept, construction of both West and East Segments.

The 1974 report concluded that there was a lack of justification for such a connector, based upon projected traffic volumes served, costs and potential environmental impacts. The Conn DOT projection at that time was that the connector would have an average daily traffic of 1,700 vehicles, of which only approximately 300 vehicles per day would travel between Route 7 and Route 202.

The 1974 report examined the feasibility of making the western terminus of the East - West Connector Boardman Road and not Aspetuck Ridge Road, then to proceed easterly to Route 202. The 1974 report included traffic projections to 1995. These showed average daily traffic (ADT) of 12,800 on the Expressway approaching the Connector, then 10,700 ADT on the east side of the Connector from the Expressway to Route 202 (the part Conn DOT supported), and then 3,500 ADT on the Connector from the Connector to Aspetuck Ridge Road, (the segment Conn DOT did not support).

But the 1974 report concluded that there was a lack of justification for such a connector, based upon projected traffic volumes served, costs and potential environmental impacts. Conn DOT stated in the 1974 report that "The Department cannot justify the impact on the environment or the expenditure of at least $3.0 million for constructing a connector that would have an average daily traffic of approximately 1,700 vehicles with only approximately 300 vehicles per day traveling between Route 7 and Route 202."

Also that "A connector between the vicinity of the proposed Route 202 Connector near Aspetuck Ridge Road and Route 7 near the intersection with Boardman Road would essentially take over the function of the existing town roads, and would not qualify for inclusion in the State highway system.... Since the problem is local in nature and requires local road improvements, it is recommended that the town consider methods of improving local roads in the study area."

But local interest in the concept remained. While this low volume verified Conn DOT's earlier 1966 study, in 1975 the New Milford Board of Selectmen issued a resolution declaring the construction of an East - West Connector between Routes 7 and 202 to be very much a need of the Town. The resolution also asked that the proposed new Route 7 not end on the west side of the Housatonic River, a big cut back in the extent of the construction plan then being considered, but cross it and merge with the East Segment of the Connector.

This resolution was a collective answer to Conn DOT’s 1/1974 decision to reevaluate the extension of the new Route 7 north of Veterans Bridge, Conn DOT regarding the Connector as not cost effective at that time.

1984. HVCEO’s 1984 Planning Bulletin No. 30 entitled “Projection of Traffic Flow Improvements Needed For The Boardman Road Area In New Milford” briefly assessed the value of developing an east-west roadway. This was just the West Segment, which would connect Boardman Road with Aspetuck Ridge Road, across from Wells Road, about one half of the distance from Route 7 at Boardman Bridge to Route 202.

The 1984 report concluded that the total traffic volume that would use the West Segment in 1995 would be less than 3,000 vehicles daily, and that "this volume is significantly below that which could be expected to be carried by a new two lane facility." However, the report also advised that a further extension beyond Wells Road to Route 202, adding the West Segment, would improve the viability of the roadway.

1990. In 1990 the idea of an east-west connector roadway to link Route 7 at Boardman Bridge with Route 202 in the vicinity of Route 109 was again explored by Town officials. Town staff prepared a plan with five alternate routes. Again the hope was that such a crosstown roadway would act as a Downtown bypass for cross town traffic.

Here as in earlier cases, if the proposed Route 7 North Expressway had been constructed with a terminus north of the Housatonic River, it could possibly have intersected with the proposed east-west connector and made the whole concept more viable. But citizen comment in 1990 opposed the introduction of truck and other traffic into a low density residential area.

1991. The Route 7 Expressway plan was formally dropped by Conn DOT in 1991, eliminating planned state funding for the East Segment of the Connector, and at the same time reducing the cost benefit of the West Segment to link with it near ASpetuck Ridge Road.

1997. Then according to the 1997 New Milford Plan of Conservation and Development, “While it is recognized that there is a need to access industrial areas in the vicinity of the Boardman Bridge, absent the limited access Route 7 proposal, the need for the connection with Route 202 is not a priority circulation need...."

Continuing, "Based upon 1990 Census data there are only about 1,600 persons living in the area west of the Housatonic River and north of Candlewood Lake Road. The demand for east-west local access generated by this population does not support a major connector as envisioned in the 1986 Plan.”

2003. But opposition to the negative position of the Town Plan as to the Connector was considerable after the 1997 Plan was adopted. In 2003 the Town Plan was amended to reverse this position. The 1997 text was removed and the following inserted in its place:

“Increased population growth, combined with traffic congestion, the need for access to industrial land and changing traffic patterns have made it a priority for the Town to develop a connector between Routes 7 and 202 in the Boardman Bridge Area.”

Continuing, “The Town should move rapidly to develop and implement plans to create this connector initially to open the industrial area and ultimately to provide a through connection between Route 7 and 202.”

Also in 2003 the staff of the New Milford Public Works Department provided a concept plan of how the entire East-West Connector, both West and East Segments, might be laid out. This initial plan balances concerns over topography, wetlands, river crossings and population density. A generalized version of this 2003 Plan is reproduced below:

The Connector would be about three miles in total length. Two phases of construction would be utilized. The first or West Segment would be from the vicinity of Boardman Bridge easterly over the hilltop to Aspetuck Ridge Road.

This first segment standing by itself could 1) avoid the approximately $ investment of bypassing the low railroad overpass on Boardman Road to its south, 2) provide access into the 350 acre vacant industrially zoned tract to its north, and provide the traffic access needed for the Century Enterprise Center on Aspetuck Ridge Road.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. DOWNTOWN 3. GROVE ST 4. BOARDMAN RD
5. E-W CONNECTOR 6. RIVER BRIDGES 7. TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT