Workshop this Thursday on Proposed Bike & Pedestrian Lanes

As residents, visitors and commuters already know, North High Street in East Haven is a busy road. 

There was a recent head-on accident, there's ongoing utility projects and construction, and recently, a vehicle drove right into a house on the street. 

A major connector between the town center and the north side of East Haven, North High Street, also known as Route 100, serves thousands of travelers a day, including several schools, businesses, neighborhoods and churches. With few sidewalks, no formal bicycle facilities and heavy road traffic, safety for non‐motorists is a growing issue. 

The Town of East Haven is working with the engineering firm of CDM Smith to develop proposed bicycle and pedestrian safety and access improvements.  The area of study right now focuses on North High Street between Main Street and Foxon Road.

Patch spoke with Mayor Joseph Maturo, Jr. about the project -- one he is both excited about and is important to him for a variety of reasons.  

"North High Street is the main thoroughfare that connects the south and north parts of town," said the Mayor. "It is the second busiest road in the community and is not very complementary to cyclists or walkers." 

He's been working on a plan to improve the road since 1997, he said. 

"It didn't seem to be on anyone's agenda and there's always reasons why there's no money for a state road," said the Mayor.

The other north-south corridor in town, Laurel Street, is also without sidewalks, making it very difficult for residents and visitors to travel either street via foot or bike, he noted.

"North High Street is a state road so money for any improvements will need to come from the state," said the Mayor.

He felt funding for the project is "promising" and has a much better chance of fruition coming through the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), which is the track it is on at present. 

Proposals created by CDM Smith include plans for possible new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and a multi‐use trail. Options were determined following a detailed study with input from local schools, public safety officers and others. 

Members of the East Haven community and others are invited to participate in a public workshop to discuss these improvement alternatives on Thursday, June 6 at 6 p.m. at the East Haven Senior Center (91 Taylor Avenue).

Town Engineer Kevin White urges residents to attend the workshop.

"This corridor lacks movement of any kind except for cars," said White. "People living off this road or near this road know better than anyone else what works and what doesn't work."

Attending the workshop will help residents understand and ask questions about what goals are feasible for this type of project, what the costs could be and what is proposed for the construction schedule. 

The workshop is sponsored by the Town of East Haven with funding from the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG).

--information in this article provided by CDM Smith.