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Branford’s Transit Oriented Design (TOD) study is proposing traffic calming techniques and bicycle awareness signs on street around the Shoreline East Train Station, but residents are asking that those proposals be extended to other areas, including Indian Neck Avenue.
Jonathan Martin, project manager with BFJ Planning of Stamford, outlined plans last week for improved connectivity between the Train Station, the Town Center and the Branford River. “It’s about making connections for pedestrians and bicyclists,” he said.
About 30 people attended the public hearing last week at Fire Headquarters to discuss the draft proposals of the TOD, which is slated to be finalized in November.
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Martin said the roads are not wide enough for dedicated bike lanes, but that bicycle alert arrows could be painted on the traffic lanes to remind motorists to watch out for bicyclists. Martin suggested traffic calming measures, like speed bumps and speed tables; crosswalks, improved lighting and directional signage.
“The pedestrian experience goes all the way down Indian Neck Avenue,” said Maynard Preston, who lives in the area. He expressed concern about traffic and speeding on Indian Neck Avenue and said traffic calming measures are needed there.
Judy Miller, chair of the Shoreline Greenway Trail, asked if the bicycle connections could be extended to other areas. “We have a lot of streets we could make more bicycle-friendly,” she said.
Diana Stricker Photo
Frank Fish (pictured), a founding principal of BFJ Planning, said they will look into those requests before finalizing the TOD study. The consulting firm was hired by the town to conduct a TOD study of a half-mile area near the recently expanded Shoreline East Train Station.
The TOD study has been ongoing for about six months, and has included public workshops, focus groups and surveys.
Town Planner Harry Smith said industries that evolved around transit centers have disappeared and new developments have taken their place — like Anchor Reef, the Stony Creek Brewery and the proposed Atlantic Wharf residential and retail complex.
Smith said the purpose of the TOD study is to determine “what else is possible and what do town residents want to see.”
One of the main ideas is an optional overlay zone in the industrial areas near the train station. Fish said the overlay would allow developers more latitude to build residential, retail or restaurants. In turn, the public would benefit from the developers installing more sidewalks, a riverfront walkway, and streetscape improvements.
Noah Levine, project planner with BFJ Planning, talked about creating a pedestrian loop and a trolley loop. However, he said trolley service doesn’t pay for itself, and would need to be subsidized. “It would bring a lot of service, especially in the summer,” he said.
A potential trolley route could include stops at the Train Station, Stony Creek Brewery, Bruce and Johnson’s Marina, Dockside restaurant, Lenny’s, The Stand, the Town Green, Blackstone Library, Branford Point and Dutch Wharf.
Diana Stricker Photo
First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove (pictured) said the findings of the TOD study will be critical to future development.
“We felt it was important to have a plan in place,” Cosgrove said. “We want to ensure the development will enhance the assets we already have.”
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