HVCEO Transportation Planning - NEWTOWN TRAFFIC ROUTE 302

Connecticut's Route 302 in Newtown is a Conn DOT defined minor arterial roadway. From the Conn DOT perspective, important intersections on Route 302 will be those at other Conn DOT arterial or collector designated roadways interacting with it.

There are four such intersections; 1) with Hattertown Road which is a collector, 2) at nearby Key Rock Road also a collector, then 3) at Boggs Hill Road which is again a collector and finally at its terminus at a signalized intersection on Routes 25 which has a higher classification as a principal arterial route.

Average daily traffic volumes in 1999 show 7,500 vehicles on Route 302 from the Bethel-Newtown Town Line easterly to Hattertown Road, then a dip to 4,800 from there to Key Rock Road, then back up to 7,100 from Key Rock Road to Boggs Hill Road, and finally an estimated average of 9,300 vehicles per day on the remaining segment from Boggs Hill Road to the terminus at the traffic signal at Route 25. This route is relatively rural and is an attractive drive throughout.

ROUTE 302 IN NEWTOWN FROM BETHEL LINE TO ROUTE 25
Proceeding easterly from Bethel without TASR rates of concern, Route 302 soon passes thru the small Hamlet of Dodgingtown. Even the highest TASR rate here, an average over four reporting periods of just 30% between the intersections with Karen Boulevard easterly to the traffic signal at Jacklin Road-Taunton Hill Road, is far below the minimum threshold of concern.

Landmarks on the south side between Karen and Jacklin are the Citgo service station, Dodgingtown Market, and then the Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Inc. Note that Taunton Hill Road is a collector in the municipal classification system.

Continuing to proceed easterly, the first location on Newtown�s Route 302 with a history of spiked TASR rates is at the intersection with Hattertown Road; 92% for 1995-97, 152% for 1992-94, 140% for 1989-91 and 146% for 1987-89.

There is a sharp left turn onto an upgrade section of Route 302 here, posted by Conn DOT accordingly with large arrow signs. At this fork in the road, the straight alignment of Route 302 continues on to the right as Hattertown Road. A landmark just south of the sharp left is George�s Pizza and Restaurant.

Route 302 volumes decline after this point, no doubt due to the traffic exiting onto Hattertown Road. Designated by both Conn DOT and Newtown as a collector, the distance along Hattertown Road from Route 302 southeasterly to Route 25 in Monroe is about 5.9 miles. The importance of this intertown connection has some historical roots, for a 1935 state map identifies this back country corridor as a state designated route in that era.

Proceeding easterly, just after the intersection with Rock Ridge Road, Route 302 reaches its high point of elevation 635'. Here it crosses out of the Still River drainage area and into the watershed of the Pootatuck River. Proceeding easterly down from the high point to the intersection with Key Rock Road, 1999 average daily traffic volumes rise from 4,800 to 7,100 after the Key Rock Road intersection.

This increase is due to the traffic entering Route 302 from Key Rock Road and vica versa. A series of local roads running south from this intersection, including Key Rock Road and Poverty Hollow Road on thru the Poverty Hollow section of Newtown, are designated by both Conn DOT and Newtown as collector roadways.

With growing usage as a southwesterly commuter route, this intertown exit from Newtown terminates at Route 58 in Redding, a distance from Route 302 of just under five miles. We again see a corridor with some historical roots, for a 1935 state map identifies this route (using slightly different roadways into Redding) as a state designated and maintained roadway back then.

Key Rock Road enters Route 302 at a sharp angle. But fortunately the TASR history at the intersection indicates a favorable decline: 25% for 1995-97, 53% for 1992-94, 78% for 1989-91 and 88% for 1987-89.

Passing the Sugar Hill Service Center on the right, there are then no TASR issues of concern eastward for one and one half miles until the intersection of Route 302 with Scudder Road.

The TASR rate history of Route 302 at the intersection with Scudder Road and immediately adjacent Sugar Lane (west intersection) has recently hovered at the threshold of concern, with 90% for 1995-97, 117% for 1992-94, 69% for 1989-91 and 80% for 1987-89. Entering Route 302 from Scudder Road there is a poor sight line on Route 302 to the left.

Moving east through a rustic agricultural area, the Borough of Newtown boundary is crossed at the intersection of Route 302 and Sugar Lane (east intersection).

Continuing one fifth mile east, some past rate elevation is found at the intersection with Boggs Hill Road. For the Boggs Hill Road driver attempting to turn left on to Route 302, there is a very limited sight line on Route 302 easterly, towards oncoming westbound traffic.

At this old intersection, with its geometry unchanged from the pre-auto era, the TASR rate history is a somewhat modest 58% for 1995-97, 82% for 1992-94, up to 139% for 1989-91 and then 87% for 1987-89. Also note that Boggs Hill Road is a collector in the municipal classification system.

Moving further east to Elm Drive on the south, just before Route 302, high TASR rates of the past here have fallen in recent reporting periods: 52% for 1995-97, 54% for 1992-94, 226% for 1989-91 and 202% for 1987-89.

TASR rates have also fallen at the signalized terminus of Route 302 at Route 25, with 0% for 1995-97, 69% for 1992-94, 78% for 1989-91 and 130% for 1987-89.

Route 302 in Newtown, truly a country ride, ends at Route 25 in an environment of attractive landscapes on all sides; the greenery and wetland of the historic 1705 Ram Pasture to the south, the flowers on the traffic island in Glover Avenue to the east, and the fountain and walkways of the Plesance Garden adjacent to the north.