Discussion On Proposed 'Road Diet' For Route 1 Pulled From Upcoming Selectmen Meeting

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Board of Selectmen was originally slated to hold further discussion on a proposed pedestrian safety improvement plan for Route 1 in Byram on Thursday, but the item will be pulled from the meeting agenda, according to an announcement from First Selectman Fred Camillo.

"The item will be removed from the agenda and no vote will occur at this meeting. I will instead discuss at the meeting some possible alternatives to improve pedestrian safety that we can explore with the State and we will continue to get public feedback on all ideas," Camillo said. "Public safety remains my top priority and we will work with the public to do what makes sense to help keep pedestrians safe."

The proposal, which first came before the selectmen on July 24, called for the installation of temporary materials for a "road diet" where Route 1 would be reduced to a single through lane in each direction at potential crosswalk locations at Byram and Pemberwick Roads.

Read also: Residents Push Back On 'Road Diet' Trial Proposed For Tricky Greenwich Roadway

Michael Kiselak from the Greenwich Department of Public Works said the trial project, scheduled to run from August through October, would help inform officials on a future, more permanent pedestrian safety improvement plan in the area.

Crash data from a Safe Streets Analysis shows there were 92 crashes in the area from 2019 to 2023.
Of those crashes, 60 of them were at Byram Road, seven at Pemberwick Road and 25 in the circle toward the Port Chester border, Kiselak noted to the selectmen on July 24.

Ten of the crashes caused injuries, including to one pedestrian, Kiselak said. A pedestrian was killed in the area around 15 years ago.

"It's definitely somewhere that's been noted as worthy of a little attention," Kiselak added.

Several residents pushed back on the proposal when it was first presented in late July, saying the trial project would actually reduce safety. Some also said the plans were devised without public input.

Al Shehadi, an officer with the Byram Neighborhood Association, said he appreciated the focus on the area, but he urged DPW to go back to the drawing board and get input from residents first.

A $450,000 grant was provided to Greenwich through the Urban Action Grant Program to make improvements on Route 1.