Thomas Breen Photo
After a months-long debate and impasse over whether to fully reopen the road up to the summit of East Rock Park, the Board of Park Commissioners may have stumbled upon a solution: a magic bus.
Mia Cortés Castro file photo
Agosta implores commissioners to make summit accessible to all.
The commissioners heard, then, debated, that proposed solution at their monthly meeting held Wednesday night at parks HQ at 720 Edgewood Ave.
Disability Advocate David Agosta presented the board with a letter detailing a proposed plan to put an end to the debate and allow both sides to enjoy the path up to the Sailors and Soldiers Monument. Right now, the city opens the road for cars to travel up East Rock only one day a week; hikers and cyclists have cheered the pandemic-spawned move, while others have argued that limits park use to those who don’t rely on motorized access.
Agosta suggested hiring a professional, pre-screened driver to drive a bus up and down the mountain, making it accessible for people who cannot walk the 1.3 miles up to the summit. This bus would be the only motorized vehicle on the road six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Sunday policies would remain in place, with the road open to public motor vehicles.
“I would like to offer a solution to the problem at East Rock Park that can serve everyone,” read Agosta’s letter to the commissioners. “People have a right to be safe seven days a week, and people have a right to access this program [the road up to the summit] seven days a week.”
Agosta’s letter noted that the city applied for a grant to purchase “Uber Buses”, or additional buses that don’t follow the traditional CT Bus lines, but has not specified which paths these buses will follow. Agosta proposed that one of these buses be authorized to drive on the East Rock Park road, with one bus and driver being authorized to do so.
He argued that the plan would address concerns of both sides. Illegal dumping and speeding, both of which were problems on that road before it was closed off, would both be prevented if access is available yet limited.
The debate over whether or not to reopen the road leading up to the Sailors and Soldiers Monument was first brought to the Board of Park Commissioners a couple of months ago. Commissioners have pushed off voting on whether or not to reopen it until receiving more information.
The road up to the summit of East Rock Park, among other internal roads in the park, has been closed since the start of the pandemic, an effort on behalf of the Elicker administration to incentivize safe outdoor activity in East Rock during quarantine. In September 2022, the city reopened the road to cars strictly on Sundays, with it remaining only for pedestrian use the other six days of the week.
Thomas Breen File Photo
Soldiers and Sailor Monument at the summit: A road there for all?
Because of this schedule and usage change, pedestrians and cyclists have become accustomed to the road being a safe place to walk and bike. Some have argued that reintroducing motor vehicles would obstruct this peace and possibly cause accidents.
Others who are unable to make the hike up to the summit have argued that it’s their right to have the road reopened for the enjoyment and usage of all.
Rebecca Bombero at Wednesday's meeting.
“The use pattern for the road up to the summit has changed a lot since it was closed to cars,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rebecca Bombero. “More foot traffic means we need a way to ensure pedestrian safety.”
One potential problem with the plan: the cost.
The commissioners agreed to table the question again until at least another meeting so they can meet with city officials to figure out details like the finances before voting.
Sal DeCola: We have work to do first.
“The Board of Park Commissioners is going to have to collab with the mayoral staff, the police department, and the Board of Alders in order to do this correctly,” said Commissioner and Morris Cove Alder Sal DeCola. “I know this is a hurdle, but we need to do this right.”
Gwendolyn Bush Williams at the parks commissioners' meeting.
“The only problem I’ll pose is we have a deficit for staff,” said Gwendolyn B. Williams, director of the city’s Youth and Recreation Department. “We want to appease everyone, but sometimes it’s simply not possible for us. We’re gonna get pushback either way.”
Dennis Serfilippi.
And pushback they got. Dennis Serfilippi (pictured above), who lives in Westville and attended the meeting as a neighbor, expressed frustration over the continuing debate.
“Oh great, just in time for [the road] to close for the winter,” he said while recording the meeting. “Isn’t that convenient?”
With the plan, the parks department would have to include the costs of the limited reopening in its next budget cycle. That means, even if the commissioners eventually vote to adopt this bus plan, it potentially might not be put into action until the next fiscal year, unless money were found early.
The summit of East Rock should be open to all of the people like it always was before the pandemic.
Walkers, joggers, bikers, and people in cars have gone up and down that winding road for over 100 years without serious conflict or incident. Most people are cooperative and considerate.
The idea of a shuttle bus is a costly and totally unnecessary expense that will restrict access and be a major inconvenience to residents and visitors.
Most people go to the summit, enjoy the views, take pictures and leave in less than an hour. A shuttle will delay movement up and down the summit, create a more serious parking problem, and cause a monumental congestion problem.
Residents who drive support pedestrian and biker safety, but they do not want to be deprived of full access to the summit, they do not want to be discriminated against.
One day a week for drivers is not acceptable. The common sense compromise is alternative days of access for cars and pedestrians/ bikers.
Common sense.
A shuttle is not common sense.
One day a week for drivers is unacceptable, unfair, and discriminatory.
The pandemic is over. Let's return to the pre-pandemic policy and open the gates to everybody!
If not then have alternative days. But the idea of having a shuttle bus drive up and down East Rock all day, pivmcking up and dropping off park visitors is impractical, costly, wasteful, and silly.