Traffic Won't Flow Better as Cash Flow Worsens

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Traffic flow is not likely to improve any time soon in Fairfield County – one of the most congested areas in the country – because a lack of money is holding up key road improvements, regional and state officials say.

Some $135 million needed to implement major highway and road projects is not available from the local, state and federal governments, officials in the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) and the State Department of Transportation say.  The goal of both agencies over the next four years is to complete $1.6 billion in projects already underway in Fairfield County.

But many new projects, and even those already designed, are not on the horizon due to a lack of funding, officials said during two public sessions held Wednesday at the Stamford Government Center. A third and final public session is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 10 a.m., also at the government center on Washington Boulevard.

“There are dozens of road projects in the region that are ongoing and should be completed in the coming years that will help to maintain existing road and traffic conditions and improve safety,” said Nicole Davis, a regional planner for SWRPA.

“But there isn’t much hope we can begin new projects or those that are already designed because we don’t have any idea when the funding will be made available,” Davis said.  

A draft version of the South Western Regional Planning Agency's 2012 to 2015 Transportation Improvement Plan that was released in late December was available for viewing at the public sessions. The plan includes dozens of road and transit projects and proposals with a combination of federal, state and local funding earmarked over the next three years. Davis said the agency updates the plan every two years.

Phil Steinberg, executive director of Stamford’s East Side Partnership, a local nonprofit agency, said while his group would like improvements made more quickly, he is impressed by some of the work being carried out under the wide array of transit and roadway projects.

“There are a number of great projects underway and under consideration,” Steinberg said. “Nothing ever moves as quickly as you would like, especially when relying on funding from the city, state and federal governments, and when many of the projects are being carried out by multiple agencies.”

Steinberg told Davis and Kevin Chukwu, a transportation planner for the state Department of Transportation, that he hopes unfunded proposals can eventually be carried out to improve the intersection of Courtland Avenue and East Main Street, and to construct bike and walking paths to make it easier for walkers and bikers who use the city’s train station.

“There needs to be better balancing between vehicular traffic and bicycle use, making sure there is a safe transition as we add bicycle lanes,” said Steinberg.

Steinberg said there also needs to be better integration among agencies working on the various projects.

“The different agencies should work together so that projects are being considered all at once, not separately,” he said. “That would be more efficient and ensure nothing is left out that needs to be done.”

Projects include the state DOT’s repaving highways and inspecting and improving bridges, to local projects. One of those is a $4.5 million project to widen Minivale Road in Stamford.

A major federally funded project in the plan includes replacing two mechanical railroad bridges – the Walk Bridge over the Norwalk River and the Saga Bridge over the Saugatuck River – being made possible with $240 million in state and federal funding over the next three years.

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