45°
DARIEN, Conn. While Darien is still deciding whether to add sidewalks to Hoyt Street, town officials are working on a new policy that would determine when and where sidewalks would be added around town.
Most pedestrians who have been asking for the sidewalk want it so they can walk to the Talmadge Hill train station just over the New Canaan border. However, New Canaan has said it does not want to pay to install a sidewalk on its side of the border. The question now is whether Darien wants to proceed with a sidewalk to nowhere, as some selectmen have called it.
First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said she spoke with New Canaan First Selectman Rob Mallozzi III, who indicated he would be interested in pursuing state grant funding to pay for the sidewalk. Stevenson said that, before voting on the project, she wants to wait for something in writing that indicates New Canaan will pursue state funding with Darien.
Darien should proceed with the engineering for its side of the project, Selectmen David Bayne and John Lundeen said at Monday nights Board of Selectmen meeting. Waiting for state funding could take a long time, they said.
Darien should wait so it is not building a sidewalk that ends and forces people to continue walking on a dangerous road, Selectman Jerry Nielsen said. But people are walking there anyway, Bayne and Lundeen said. They also pointed out that many sidewalks in town end, such as on Christie Hill Road and Hollow Tree Ridge Road.
No decision was made Monday night, but the board introduced a draft of a new townwide sidewalk policy. It would have potential sidewalks evaluated on a point scale by the Public Works Department. Points would be awarded based on factors such as connectivity; proximity to dense housing, senior housing or schools; length of the project; obstructions; petitions by residents; and cost.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Darien and receive free news updates.
