Transit Enhancement 2005 South Central Connecticut Opportunities

South Central Regional Council of Governments 127 Washington Avenue North Haven, Connecticut

August, 2005

1 The fifteen-town South Central Connecticut region is composed of Bethany, Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge. Mayors and first selectmen guide areawide planning and programming through the South Central Regional Council of Govern- ments, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor- West, North Haven, Connecticut, 06473-1715, (203) 234-7555, www.scrcog.org.

Transit enhancement proposals were developed and reviewed with municipal staff through the January-April, 2005 period. SCRCOG (chief elected officials) incorporated the four project package in the region’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) on August 24, 2005. Municipalities are now Meriden pursuing project proposals in association with the Greater New Haven Transit District. Wallingford

Bethany This report was prepared in cooperation with North Haven the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the Hamden North Branford U.S. Federal Transit Administration, the Woodbridge Connecticut Department of Transportation and New Haven Guilford the Connecticut Office of Policy and Manage- East Haven Madison Orange Branford ment. The opinions, findings and conclusions West Haven expressed in this report are those of the South

Central Regional Council of Governments and Milford do not necessarily reflect the official views of other government organizations.

2 Contents

Transit Enhancement 1 Enhancement Programming 1 Branford: Railroad Station Access 7 North Haven: 17 West Haven: Bus Shelters 29 Woodbridge: Transit Connections 41 Notes 51

3 4 Transit Enhancement Current Opportunities Rounded

TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) transit Cost ($) enhancement support introduced in 1998 encourages new Municipality Project Total Federal investment initiatives—building on highway-oriented enhancement Branford Railroad Station Access 166,000 132,800 1 experience gained through the 1991-1998 period. Proposed North Haven Complement Montow ese Economic 148,000 118,400 projects in four South Central Connecticut communities suggest Development Program how a $550,000 investment can build on previous enhancement West Haven Bus Shelters 140,000 112,000 programming and improve the region’s transit system (Figure 1 and Woodbridge Transit Access 94,000 75,200 548,000 438,400 Tables 1 thru 3).2 Table 1: Current Opportunities. Proposed projects suggest how a Enhancement Programming $550,000 iinvestment can improve the region’s transit system. Programming: • encourages regional priorities. Funds must spent in • reflects clear Congressional goals. Nine enumerated the urbanized area—affording the Council of Govern- activities ranging from historic preservation to better ments an opportunity to set spending priorities in transit signs guide spending (Table 4). Built in flexibility consultation adjacent regions that comprise the New allows incidental or related improvements; e.g. drainage Haven Urbanized Area (Figure 2). improvements at a rehabilitated historic railroad sta- tion.3 • provides far less support than for highway-oriented enhancement efforts. Annual transit support in the • focuses on large urbanized areas. At least one Bridgeport-Stamford, New Haven-Meriden and percent of Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Hartford urbanized areas, the state’s only large urban- capital assistance annually allocated to areas of ized areas, now totals about $411,000 a year. 200,000 or more people must be spent on enhance- Connecticut’s Federal Highway Administration Surface ment—now about $137,000 of a $13.7 million FFY05 Transportation Program, the base for highway en- Section 5307 New Haven-Meriden Urbanized Area hancement work, supports an annual $7 to $8 million allocation.4 enhancement program.5

1 Woodbridge: Transit Access North Haven: Bus Shelters and Transit Access

West Haven: Bus Shelters

Branford: RR Station Access

Figure 1: Current Opportunities. Four communities have identified new enhancement opportunities in response to January, 2005 SCRCOG outreach.

2 Transit Enhancement Status

Municipality Project Nature Status

April 2001 Programming (After Transfer) New Haven Long Wharf Bus Stop landscaping and curb cuts. complete March, 2002 Programming (Including Transfer from Long Wharf) add shelter/w aiting area at Conn Transit 'F' terminus. funds in place; no design or construction. East Haven Momauguin Bus Stop complement/avoid intrusion into tow n beach parking. District and SCRCOG establishing w hether Tow n w ishes attractive improvement per shore front area. to proceed. expand shelter at high volume location; moving from one to tw o units. new ADA compatible ramp from shelter to Kohl's. Hamden Mart/Kohl's Curbside Facilities new mid-block Skiff Street pedestrian crossing betw een complete Hamden Mart and shelters. new 160' long sidew alk connecting shelters w ith Dixw ell Avenue. supplement recent City-FHWA enhancement improvements including new structural steel track canopies; restore original w ork dropped per budget constraint. funds in place; no design or construction. Meriden Railroad Station Enhancements landscape along both State Street and Railroad Avenue. Meriden likely to proceed; now establishing municipal 20 decorative aluminum fencing to separate pedestrians percent match w ith Greater New Haven Transit District. from tracks. new stamped (decorative) sidew alk along State Street. consolidate adjacent high volume eastbound A,D,F,G,Q and Z Chapel Street stops at new stop immediately w est of Orange Street. establish off-street w aiting area including landscaped arts New Haven Artspace Bus Stop display venue leased to Artspace; 21-year-old non-profit virtually complete corporation linking artists and audiences--often in non-traditional venues. establish limited fund to generate new art w ork for site via juried competition. Table 2: Previous Commitments. Five projects have been programmed through the past four years. Funds flow through the Greater New Haven Transit District—the New Haven Urbanized Area’s only FTA “designated recipient” apart from ConnDOT.

3 Transit Enhancement (FTA) Eligible Activity Activities that Improve the Transit System Commitments 1 historic preservation, rehabilitation and operation Dollars of historic mass transportation buildings and facilities 2 bus shelters Municipality Project Total Federal 3 landscaping and scenic beautification 4public art April 2001 Programming (After Transfer) 5 pedestrian access and w alkw ays New Haven Long Wharf Bus Stop 21,250 17,000 6 bicycle access, storage facilities and accommodating March, 2002 Programming (Including Transfer from Long Wharf) (1) bicycles on mass transportation vehicles East Haven Momauguin 29,000 23,200 7 transit connections to parks Hamden Mart/Kohl's Curbside Facilities 81,000 64,800 8 signage Meriden Railroad Station Enhancements 209,000 167,200 9 enhance access to mass transportation New Hav en A rtspace Bus Stop (1) 313,750 251,000 for people w ith disabilities Total 632,750 523,200 Transportation Enhancement (FHWA) Eligible Activity (1) including $63,000 federal) transferred from earlier Long Wharf (New Haven) w ork Activities that "Have a Connection to the Transportation System" per a Transportation Improvement Program amendment. Table 3: Previous Programming. Long Wharf and Hamden work is complete and Original ISTEA Activities (1991) Artspace improvements are nearly complete. East Haven and Meriden are 1 pedestrian facilities 2 bicycle facilities determining whether to proceed with programmed work. 3 scenic easements or acquisition 4 scenic or historic highw ay programs 5 landscaping and scenic beautification 6 preserve, rehabilitate and/or operate historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities 7 preserve and/or reuse abandoned railroads Table 4: Eligible Activity. Nine 8 control and remove outdoor advertising Congressionally-defined activities 9 archaeological planning and research ranging from historic preservation to 10 offset pollution due to highw ay runoff better signs guide transit enhancement New TEA21 Activities (1998) spending. A significant transit-highway 11 tourist and w elcome centers enhancement eligibility overlap exists. 12 reduce vehicle-induced w ildlife mortality (connectivity)

4 Cent. Naug. Valley Midstate

South Central CT CT. River Estuary Valley

Gr. Bridgeport

2000 New Haven-M eriden Urbanized Area

Figure 2: New Haven Urbanized Area. A September, 2002 memorandum of understanding addresses highway and transit planning/ programming relationships among the four regions comprising the New Haven-Meriden Urbanized Area—Central Naugatuck, Mid-State, Connecticut Estuary and SCRCOG. January, 2005 SCRCOG transit enhancement outreach extended to the three adjacent regions—none identified potential work.

5 Transit Enhancement Support • makes about $413,000 (federal) available for new New Haven-M eriden Urbanized Area Haven Urbanized Area programming now (Table Federal Funds

5). TEA-21’s successor (reauthorization) is likely to One Percent continue the one percent enhancement set-aside. Federal Enhancement Total Available At Fiscal Year Set AsideAvailableCommittedYear's End (1)

1998 79,836 79,836 79,836 1999 93,962 173,798 173,798 2000 109,799 283,597 283,597 2001 115,082 398,679 80,000 318,679 2002 124,508 523,187 443,000 351 2003 132,776 655,963 133,127 2004 143,597 799,560 276,724 2005 136,897 936,457 413,621 Total 936,457 523,000 Committed

(1) reflecting both commitments and a four year fedeal funds availability period; i.e. year of apportionment plus three.

Table 5: New Haven-Meriden Urbanized Area Transit Enhancement Funding Summary. Funds must be committed (subject to a Federal Transit Administration agreement) no later than four years after being appropriated; e.g. FFY03 funds must be committed by the end of FF06. FTA projects a $137,000 FFY05 New Haven area earmark if current funding continues through the fiscal year; i.e. is sustained at current levels by TEA-21’s successor.

6 Branford: Railroad Station Access

A $166,000 investment can improve pedestrian access to Branford’s new Shore Line East station—widening a minimal Maple Street sidewalk and installing stairs that provide direct station access from Maple Street (Figure 1). Design anticipates a close working relationship with ConnDOT (the station owner) and Amtrak (rail right-of-way owner and Shore Line East operator).

I-95 The Environment

Proposals reflect (Figure 2): Branford town center • a new Shore Line East Station scheduled to open in mid-2005 (Figure 3). Operations will move from a new rr current rr temporary south side (eastbound) low-level platform station st a t i o n east of Kirkham Street in the mid-summer when work on the new $5.2 million high-level single (eastbound) platform station is completed.1 Parking adjacent to the temporary south side platform will similarly relocate to the new 199 space lot (187 daily non ADA spaces)— adding about 45 spaces to the station’s parking supply.

• adjacent Anchor Reef redevelopment (Figure 4). Privately-initiated redevelopment on the 16 acre former MIF (Malleable Iron Foundry) riverfront site will realign Indian Neck Road to improve sight distance at a Figure 1: Branford—Location. A $166,000 investment can improve new Indian Neck Road-Maple Street intersection— pedestrian access to Branford’s Shore Line East station. facilitating both pedestrian and vehicular movement.

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4 6 7 Figure 3: Branford Station. Operations will move from a temporary south side (eastbound) low-level platform east of Kirkham Street in mid-2005 when work on the new $5.2 million high-level single (eastbound) platform station is completed. (1) Interim parking on the MIF site, (2) thru (4) the current eastbound (south side) station and (5) thru (7) ConnDOT’s new high platform station with 199 parking spaces. (Plan courtesy of ConnDOT and Baker Engineering, Rocky Hill, Connecticut). 9 The Project • introduce concrete stairs to provide new direct Maple Key elements of a $166,000 transit enhancement project (Figure Street-station access near Kirkham Street—saving 5 and Table1): pedestrians a three minute-600 foot circular walk south on Maple Street and then north to the station platform • widen a narrow (3.8 to 4.8 feet wide) bituminous (Figure 8). sidewalk (curb-to-slope) between the Amtrak bridge and the new (relocated) Maple Street-Shore Line East Station intersection subject to increasing pedestrian traffic (Figures 6 and 7). Slope requires a 230 foot long interlocked retaining wall (5’ average height) and backfill to provide a circa eight foot wide sidewalk/ utility/planter shelf.

Figure 4: Anchor Reef (MIF). Mixed use redevelopment of the old Maleable Iron Foundry will eventually introduce 120 condominium units and a 110 room hotel. Realignment/extension of Indian Neck Road (below) is under way. (Site plans courtesy of Iron Works Development of Branford and Buchanan Associates Architects, New Haven.)

10 Figure 4: Anchor Reef (MIF) )(Continued). The first of three new three-story condominium structures is under construction (above left and above right). Residential conversion of a former industrial building (lower right) is similarly in progress. (Elevation courtesy of Iron Works Development of Branford and Buchanan Associates Architects, New Haven.)

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Figure 5: Project Improvements. Improvements widen a narrow bituminous sidewalk (introduce a new five foot wide concrete sidewalk) along Maple Street and add new concrete stairs providing direct access to the new station from Maple Street.

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4 5 Figure 6: Maple Street Sidewalk. A new Maple Street sidewalk can offer more width (a five foot wide walkway versus a current 3.5 foot width), a new two foot wide utility strip, guardrail and a two foot wide planting shelf between the sidewalk and the guardrail—complementing newer Kirkham Street sidewalk to the north. A 230 foot long (approximate) retaining wall is necessary to overcome adjacent slope. (1) Looking north on Maple Street, (2) looking south on Maple Street, (3) new concrete sidewalk north of Meadow Street and on the Amtrak Bridge, (4) slope just south of the Amtrak right-of- way and (5) slope approximately 300 feet east of Meadow Street.

13 Figure 7: New Sidewalk. A retaining wall and backfill can provide an eight foot wide shelf— accommodating a utility strip, a five foot wide concrete sidewalk and a shoulder. More pedestrian traffic will make the current four foot wide bituminous sidewalk difficult.

Figure 8: Stairs to the Station. Concrete stairs can save commuters approaching the station from the north a 600 foot walk (about three minutes) —avoiding a 300 foot walk south on Maple Street and then another 300 foot walk north to the platform. Stairs would leave Maple Street just south of the Amtrak Bridge (at left) and connect to the station sidewalk—overcoming a 50 percent grade adjacent to Maple Street.

14 Table 1 Cost. A $166,000 Railroad Station Access investment can improve Rounded to Nearest $000 station access. All work Quantity Unit Cost ($) Cost ($) occurs beyond the rail/ catenary envelope— Construction Items 120,000 avoiding significant interlocking retaining w all, square feet 920 40 37,000 Amtrak flagging and average 4' high, 230' x 4' protection costs. (Cost retaining w all backfill, 350 lf @ cubic yards 130 14 2,000 estimate by Department of 10' w idth and 1' average Engineering, Town of depth Branford.) topsoil cubic yards 50 22 2,000 concrete stairs riser 175 100 18,000 $100/riser per foot w idth 35 risers, 5 foot w idth railings lump sum 1 15000 15,000 landscaping lump sum 1 15,000 15,000 new concrete sidew alk, 5' w ide x 480' square feet 2,400 6 15,000 contingency (15% of above) 16,000 Other Costs design (15% of Construction Items) 18,000 inspection (15% of Construction Items) 18,000 Cost 156,000 Inflation (3% at two years) 10,000 Total Cost 166,000

15 16 North Haven: Complement Montowese Economic Development Program

A $148,000 transit investment can complement “Montowese Economic Enhancement Project” improvements—installing new sidewalk and adding bus shelters about one quarter mile north of the New Haven City Line (Figure 1). Proposals begin to fill major

sidewalk gaps along state routes (Quinnipiac Avenue and e v

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n t n r generators and Connecticut Transit ‘C’ (New Haven-Meriden) i ( e v u a q n w service. o ) t 7 e 1 1 l t 9 d - d (r I i The Environment m the project (montowese) n have Enhancement proposals: north

e aven v ast h a e n w ) to 7 e 1 aven l t • complement Connecticut Transit Service (Route C ). north h d r id ( ven m Local service from Downtown New Haven over Grand new ha

e Avenue and north along Quinnipiac Avenue provides 15 v a

c ) a i 3 p 0 minute headways in the peak and 60 minute directional 1 n n t i r ( u service in the off-peak—complementing limited I-91 q peak period express operations between Route 22 rt 80 (North Haven Center) and the core (Figure 2).

• improve access to the adjacent 220 acre Peter’s Rock open space (Figure 3). A 182 acre open space Figure 1: North Haven—Location. A $148,000 transit investment can purchase in 1996 and a 24 acre purchase in 2000 complement “Montowese Economic Enhancement Project” extended a 14 acre park originally established in improvements—installing new sidewalk and adding bus shelters about one quarter mile north of the New Haven City Line . 1874—creating North Haven’s foremost open space. The 363 foot summit, North Haven’s highest point, provides views of Downtown New Haven, New

17 Figure 2: Connecticut Transit Route C Service. Local service from Downtown New Haven over Grand Avenue and north along

Quinnipiac Avenue provides 15 minute e v a headways in the peak and 60 minute c a i directional service in the off-peak—following ip n in the path of a trolley line that reached North u q Haven in 1895.

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18 • respect an historic Montowese legacy. Period Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound while an exten- streetscape and transit enhancement design elements sive trail system follows historic farm roads—several reflect a 350 year development legacy including signifi- crossing seasonal streams. A newly established Peter’s cant 19th century growth (Figure 8). Rock Association, a non-profit corporation, helps with planning, maintenance and promotion. Fall, 2005 construction will establish a major Middletown Avenue trail head-parking area about 500 feet north of Quinnpiac Avenue (Figure 4).

• extend the Town’s “Montowese Economic Develop- ment Program”. A $100,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development “Economic Develop- 2 ment Initiative” commitment supports a major streetscape program within about 400 feet of the Quinnipiac Avenue-Middletown Avenue intersection (the “Four Corners”) (Figure 5).1 Key elements to be added in mid-to-late 2005 provide period lighting, benches, trees, planters, landscaping and Montowese “gateway” signs. “Economic Development Program” design guidelines establish direction for further Four 1 Corners improvements, including proposed transit enhancement work, that rejuvenate the southerly Figure 3: Peter’s Rock A 3 area—one of four historic retail centers in the Town 182 acre open space (Figure 6).2 A year-old Steering Committee that brings purchase in 1996 and a 24 acre purchase in 2000 extended a 14 acre park the business community together facilitates a Town- originally established in 1874—creating North Haven’s foremost open private sector development dialogue. Steering Commit- space. (1) Old farm roads provide several miles of hiking trails. (2) The tee members include United States Surgical—producer “Rock”—site of the “Hermitage” between 1889 and 1908—a private clubhouse and observation tower providing views of New Haven and of wound closure and surgical devices employing 2,200 New Haven Harbor. (3) A Middletown Avenue trailhead approximately 500 people at its North Haven facility (Figure 7). feet north of the “Four Corners” to be developed as a major open space access point—immediately adjacent to ConnDOT’s 21 mile-long New Haven-Middletown Route 17 (Middletown Avenue) bicycle lane.

19 Figure 4: Peter’s Rock Trail Head. Fall, 2005 construction will establish a major Middletown Avenue trail head-parking area about 500 feet north of Quinnpiac Avenue—creating 33 parking spaces and building an information center with lines similar to those of the “Hermitage” formerly situated atop Peter’s Rock (right).

20 Figure 5: Montowese Enhancement Program. A multi-phased plan establishes a mid-range improvement program. Current $100,000 streetscape commitments and proposed transit enhancement improvements begin the process. (Plan courtesy of Mark J. Pappa & Associates, LLC, New Haven and Anthony Pileggi and Associates, LLC, New Haven.)

21 Figure 5: Montowese Enhancement Program (Continued). Plans provide a unified design theme—addressing functional elements in detail. Mid-2005 improvements extend recent Cherry tree plantings installed per a joint U.S. Surgical-North Haven Garden Club effort (below left). (Plans courtesy of Mark J. Pappa & Associates, LLC, New Haven and Anthony Pileggi and Associates, LLC, New Haven.)

Trash Receptacle Gateway Sign

Bench

Lighting Pole with Double Banners Street Sign Post

22 Figure 6: Rejuvenating the Four Corners. HUD-financed streetscape commitments and proposed transit enhancement improvements begin a multi-phased “Montowese Economic Enhancement Project”. (1) Looking north along Quinnpiac Avenue south of Middletown Avenue. (2) Looking north along Quinnpiac Avenue and Middletown Avenue (at right) at the Four Corners. (3) Looking north along Middletown Avenue north of Quinnpiac Avenue. (4) Looking south along 1 2 Quinnpiac Avenue north of Middletown Avenue. (5) Looking east on Quinnpiac Avenue south of Middletown Avenue and (6) retail stores at the Four Corners.

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23 Figure 7: Major Generators. Transit generators include U.S. Surgical’s 2,200 employee North Haven plant (1) and a proposed Peter’s Rock trail head approximately 500 feet north of the the Four Corners (4).

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24 Figure 8: A Rich Historic Legacy. Montowese Economic Enhancement Project design elements reflect a rich legacy. (1) The Culver-Brockett Museum, about one-half mile north of the project on Quinnipiac Avenue. Now operated by the North Haven Historic Society— formerly the Culver family home and then one of North Haven’s two libaries in the 1 period 1928-1979. (2) The Montowese Cemetery, just south of the Culver Museum, where three stones date from 1710-1711. (3) A Queen Anne Victorian built in the 1890’s—on Quinnpiac Avenue 1 1 immediately south of Cindy Lane.

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25 The Enhancement Project A $148,000 improvement program (Figures 9 and 10 and Table 1): Town. Adjacent major generators, including U.S. Surgical, suggest relatively large units while • adds about 1,200 linear feet of sidewalk along Montowese Economic Development Program Middletown Avenue and Quinnipiac Avenue—integrat- streetscape design goals dictate custom, perhaps ing existing sidewalk, extending the range of bus access Victorian, shelters in contrast to the basic Columbia and creating a new pedestrian link between Route ‘C’ Equipment Company 8000 series units commonly used and Peter’s Rock Park. All improvements occur within in the New Haven area. the public right-of-way, offer ADA-compatible curb cuts and complement basic streetscape design.

• introduces two bus shelters at the “Four Corners”. Work replaces a now aging (15-year-old), undersized “inbound” (west side) shelter and installs a new out- bound unit—reusing the existing unit elsewhere in

Figure 9: Bus Shelters. Customized bus shelters that move beyond the basic Columbia Equipment Company 8000 series units reflect long- term Montowese Economic Development Project design guidelines. Design may seek to place units beyond the state right-of-way to minimize possible vehicular impacts.

26 Figure 10: The Transit Enhancement Project. Improvements install about 1,200 q

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shelters. New sidewalk extends: (1) d ( t r r ot t ) rm 7 de 1 1 northeast along Middletown Avenue to mc 0 t 3 (r ) e the new Peter’s Rock Trail Head; and (2) v a n north on Quinnipiac Avenue to w to le McDermott Road—a significant d id manufacturing and commercial m employment site.

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27 Table 1: Cost. Montowese Economic Development Program Transit Enhancement Elements 4.5 Feet Wide Sidewalk Rounded to Nearest $000 Unit Quantity Cost ($) Cost ($)

Construction Items 75,000 Sidewalk base and new sidew alk (1,210 lf) square yard 605 65 40,000 ada curb cuts 7 800 6,000 reset mailboxes each 8 200 2,000 trim trees/brush lump sum 0 5,000 0 reestablish turf square yard 200 2.50 500 adjust bitimunimous drivew ays lump sum 1 3,000 3,000 maintenance and protection of traffic hours 80 50 4,000 minor items (20 percent of above) 12,000 contingencies (10 percent of 7,000 above including minor items) Bus Shelters 40,000 remove existing pad (if each 1 1,800 2,000 necessary) remove/dispose existing shelter each 1 1,000 1,000 new pad each 2 3,000 6,000 furnish shelter (custom design) each 2 14,000 28,000 install shelter and signs each 2 1,000 2,000 reestablish turf square yard 22 2.50 100 maintenance and protection of w ith above 0 0 0 traffic Other Costs design (12% of Construction Items) 12,000 inspection (12% of Construction Items) 12,000 Cost 139,000 Inflation (3% at two years) 9,000 Total Cost 148,000

28 West Haven: Bus Shelters

A $140,000 transit enhancement commitment can introduce seven bus shelters—four in the context of an Orange Avenue improvement program and three at selected high density bus stops

(Figure 1). Associated Connecticut Transit routes provide six to 10 New Haven minute peak period directonal service and 10 to 15 minute service in the off-peak (Figure 2).

Orange Avenue Improvement Program orange avenue E A $78,000-four shelter package complements an emerging $2.7 improvement program million City-financed Orange Avenue upgrade focusing on a one prete housing mile long segment between Allingtown and the West River (Figure West Haven 3 and Table 1). The Environment

Basic Orange Avenue improvements: burger king • advance “US1 Revitalization Plan” proposals (Figure 4). New commitments begin to advance Plan guidelines and proposals framed over a two year period.

• complement emerging Connecticut Department of Transportation US1-Forest Road design plans. ConnDOT’s planned 2009-2010 $5.7 million improve- Figure 1: West Haven—Location. A $140,000 transit enhancement ment addresses a long-term congestion hotspot— commitment can introduce seven bus shelters—four (4) in the context of realigning a difficult Route 122 (Forest Road) offset, an Orange Avenue Improvement Program, two (2) at the John Prete Senior Housing complex and one (1) at a high volume Main Street- easing grade on the westerly US1 approach and Campbell Avenue Burger King stop. incorporating important landscaping and pedestrian elements (Figure 5).

29 from/to Figure 2: Connecticut Orange Avenue Improvement Program new haven Transit Headways. Cost (Dollars) 'O' Sylvan 'B' Congress Connecticut Transit provides 6 min peak/10 min off peak almost five minute directional West River Memorial Parking Lot 1,875,000 service along US1 east of property acquisition 1,265,000 Allingtown in peak periods. remediation/demolition 240,000 from/to parking lot construction 200,000 conn post center architectural fees 170,000 via US1 allingtown 'O' Sylvan West River Memorial Park 15 min peak/30 min off peak landscaping 300,000 Orange Avenue Streetscape (Gateway) 520,000 from/to 2,695,000 west haven center via campbell ave Table 1: The Orange Avenue Improvement 'B' Congress 10 min peak/15 min off peak Program. (Source: West Haven Economic Development Corporation and Charles Georgie Associates, West Haven.)

Figure 4: US1 Revitalization Plan. New commitments begin to advance Plan guidelines and proposals framed over a two year period. See Technical Planning Design Group, Revitalization Plan: Orange Avenue/Front Avenue Corridors, prepared for the City of West Haven (New Haven: TPA, 2003)

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Figure 3: Orange Avenue Improvement Program. US1 bus shelters at Marginal Drive (2), Front Avenue and Taft Avenue complement a $2.7 million City of West Haven investment between Allingtown and the West River—the New Haven City Line.

31 Figure 5: ConnDOT’s planned 2009-2010 $5.7 million improvement (156-0170) addresses a long-term congestion hotspot— realigning a difficult Route 122 (Forest Road) offset, easing grade on the westerly US1 approach and incorporating important landscaping and pedestrian elements. (Cost per South Central Regional Council of Governments, Fiscal Year 2005-Fiscal Year 2009 Transportation Improvement Program, as amended through March, 2005 (North Haven: SCRCOG, 2005). Plan courtesy of Diversified Technology Consultants (North Haven) and ConnDOT. 32 • upgrade the West River Park “gateway” to the City. • complements proposed Gilbert Street-Marginal Drive A $300,000 West Haven commitment allows the City of parking improvements (Figure 10). New Haven, the Park’s owner, to landscape a largely neglected three acre strip in West Haven between • extends almost 800 feet east of the Web Shop Marginal Drive and the West River (Figure 6). (Elliptipar Building) to the West River—replacing a mix of broken and missing sidewalk (Figure 11). • add off-street parking between Gilbert Street and Marginal Drive. Proposed acquisition allows the City Transit enhancement financed shelters at Taft Avenue, Front to add 40 (approximate) off street spaces immediately Avenue, Marginal Drive and immediately east of the Elliptipar adjacent to the Park via an estimated $1.9 million Building would complement basic City-financed streetscape work. package that moves to the City Council this spring. Budgeting permits the City to contemplate custom units during The Orange Avenue Streetscape Project design—moving beyond the basic Columbia 8000 series common in the New Haven area (Figure 12). Proposed transit enhancement improvements are integral to a $520,000 Allingtown-to-West River streetscape program that Other Shelters provides approximately 1,600 linear feet of new stamped (brick A separate three unit shelter package (Table 3): patterned) concrete sidewalk, concrete curb, trees and period street illumination (Figure 7 and Table 2). The streetscape project: • provides new shelters at the West Haven Housing Authority’s 104 unit John Prete Senior Housing com- • complements 20 years of Allingtown streetscape plex on Campbell Avenue—replacing a long demolished improvements including original work adjacent to the north side shelter and a failing south side unit immedi- “Web Shop” (Elliptipar Building) at Front Avenue ately in front of the complex (Figure 13). Both units (Figure 8). may “sit” on existing pads though budgets provide for possible new pads pending siting decisions. • replaces Celini Place streetscape elements where stamped sidewalk has shifted over time (Figure 9). • installs a new unit at the high volume “Burger King” (Campbell Avenue-Main Street)—complementing a bus • improves a short 110 foot Orange Avenue section at turn out installed during construction (Figure 14). Front Avenue while adjusting the curb radius to facili- tate truck movement.

33 Figure 6: West River Park. A $300,000 West Haven landscaping commitment stems from a six-year-old Conceptual Master Plan and recent New Haven design efforts (upper right). Plan courtesy of New Haven City Plan Department and New Haven Looking east along US1 west of the Boulevard (left) and looking north along the West River (right). Department of Parks.

34 Cellini Place Front Avenue

Marginal Drive to West River

Gilbert Street

Figure 7: Orange Avenue Streetscape. Proposed transit enhancement improvements are integral to a $520,000 Allingtown-to-West River streetscape program that provides approximately 1,600 linear feet of new stamped (brick patterned) concrete sidewalk, concrete curb, trees and period street illumination. Cellini Place work may be accomplished by ConnDOT per US1-Route 122 improvements. Plan courtesy of West Haven Economic Development Corporation and Charles Georgie Associates, West Haven. 35 Orange Avenue Streetscape (Gateway) Table 2: Orange Avenue Streetscape. A $78,000 Rounded to Nearest $000 transit enhancment investment complements City- $78,000 Attributable to Shelters Including Overhead/Profit and Contingencies financed streetscape work. (Source: West Haven Economic Development Commission and Georgie Quantity Unit Cost ($) Cost ($) Associates, West Haven, Connecticut).

Construction Items 400,000 remove existing sidew alk square yards 2,223 6 13,338 remove existing curbs and construct new concrete curbs linear feet 2,000 12 24,000 construct new stamped concrete sidew alk square feet 20,000 12 240,000 install new decorative lamps each 40 1,200 48,000 plant new fruit trees, 50' on center each 40 350 14,000 bus shelter, 2 benches, trash receptacle, pad each 4 15,000 60,000 General Contractor Overhead/Profit (15% of Construction Items) 60,000 Contingency (15% of Construction Items) 60,000 520,000

Figure 8: Allingtown Streetscape. Proposed Orange Avenue Streetscape work complements 20 years of Alllingtown improvements including original work adjacent to the “Web Shop” at Front Avenue (left) and later work on the Allingtown Green (right).

36 Figure 9: Cellini Place. Work replaces Cellini Place sidewalk which has shifted over time. Work may be accomplished by ConnDOT within the context of US1-Route 122 improvements. (Looking west along Cellini Place toward Forest Road at left.)

Figure 10: West River Memorial Parking Lot. Streetscape improvements between Gilbert Street and Marginal Drive complement adjacent off-street parking. (Looking west from Marginal Drive at left and looking east from Gilbert Street at right).

37 Figure 11: Extending East from Front Avenue. Easterly streetscape Three Bus Shelters improvements (along the south curb Columbia 8005 For Budgeting Purposes line) begin near Marginal Drive and Cost in Dollars (Rounded to Nearest $000) extend to the West River—they replace Prete Housing Burger a mix of broken and missing sidewalk. Westbound Eastbound King Cost ($) Improvements in front of the Web Shop’s (Elliptipar Building) new parking Construction Items 46,000 lot will be accomplished by the owner. remove existing pad (if necessary) 1,800 1,800 3,600 remove/dispose existing shelter 1,000 1,000 new pad 3,000 3,000 3,000 9,000 ADA Ramp (curb) and pavement markings 3,200 landscaping 500 500 1,000 2,000 furnish shelter 5,000 5,000 5,000 15,000 install shelter and signs 1,000 1,000 1,000 3,000 minor items (20% of above) 7,000 contingency (10% of above including minor items) 5,000 Table 3: Other Shelters. Three new Other Costs 12,000 units provide shelters at the West design (12% of Construction Items) 6,000 Haven Housing Authority’s 104 unit inspection (12% of Construction Items) 6,000 John Prete Senior Housing complex Cost 58,000 on Campbell Avenue (two units) and Inflation (3% at two years) 4000 at the high volume Campbell Avenue- Total Cost 62,000 Main Street Burger Street stop.

38 Figure 12: Bus Shelters. Budgets permit the City to contemplate custom units during design— moving beyond the basic Columbia 8000 series (1) common in the New Haven area.

1

39 Figure 13: John Prete Senior Housing—Campbell Avenue. A new “inbound” unit (south side, upper right and lower left) replaces a failing 20 year-old- shelter while an “outbound” shelter (lower right in front of the University of New Haven’s Dodds Hall) replaces a long demolished north side unit. Connecticut Transit’s “B Congress” route offers 10 peak- and 15-minute off-peak directional service.

Figure 14: Campbell Avenue-Main Street (Burger King). A new shelter at the high volume “Burger King” (Campbell Avenue-Main Street) stop complements an existing bus turn out installed during construction and an “inbound” unit directly across Campbell Avenue.

40 Woodbridge: Transit Access

A $94,000 near-term enhancement investment can improve )

9

6

t

pedestrian-transit links along important Woodbridge arterials (Figure r

(

e 1). Proposals fill major sidewalk gaps along Amity Road and Lucy k p

t

d l ) Street (state routes) that limit pedestrian movement between major e 5 i 1 f rt y ( h wa c k t p generators and Connecticut Transit ‘B’ (Whalley Avenue) service. i s l s cro ur ilb Litchfield Road improvements await state reactions to SCRCOG- a w m

i t Woodbridge-New Haven Route 69 improvement proposals— y

r d 1 ( proposals now being assessed by ConnDOT. r t

6 3 )

The Environment the project Near-term enhancement proposals reflect:

• Whalley Avenue (B route) Connecticut Transit service (Figure 2). Twenty (20) minute peak hour directional ‘B’ service and 30 minute off-peak service e g d over Litchfield Turnpike, Lucy Street Amity Road i w r n ha b e lle d v y a o a ve offers a strong transit presence. Hourly service to the o ( h rt 6 w w 3) e northerly Jewish Community Center through most of n the day complements more frequent arrivals at the traditional Amity Shopping Center terminus. Northbound buses to the Jewish Community Center move west over Lucy Street and turn right on to Amity Road. Basic “outbound” service (from New Haven) to the Amity phase 1 (near-term) Road Shopping Center terminus turns left at the Amity phase 2 (mid-term) Road-Lucy Street intersection and makes a far side stop (west side of Amity Road) just south of Lucy Figure 1: Woodbridge—Location. A $94,000 near-term enhancement investment can improve pedestrian-transit links along Lucy Street and Amity Road.

41 Street.

• increasing density (Figure 3). Residential growth includes the 30 unit William H. Warner Apartments to/from

new haven (Woodbridge Elderly Housing). The 10-year-old Lucy

) jewish center

3 Street subsidized elderly rental complex offers an

6

(60 minute mid-day service)

t

r

(

d

u important transit target—complementing Harborside r

y

t i l

it m Health Care (nursing home), the Amity Shopping

c a y h a f i w e k l Center, Laurel Gardens (an assisted living center), the d p t s p s ) o 5 k r 1 Woodbridge Office Park, the Woodbridge Corporate u e c t r r ( ( r u t b il u 6 Park and Bradley Road-Lunar commercial develop- 9 w t ) s lucy ment. A below market rate Connecticut Housing

u Finance Agency mortgage helped a private developer

u build the low-rise Warner apartments in 1992. A mix of original CHFA assistance and federal tax credits keep

amity rental costs relatively low and ensure that 40 percent of shopping center the units are rented to residents with household incomes that do not exceed 60 percent of the area’s U.S. u to/from

downtown u Department of Housing and Urban Development- new haven (30 minute established median. mid-day service) w h a l le y • a six-year-old $230,000 Amity Road streetscape u a v e ( rt investment. U.S. Federal Highway Administration 6 3 ) “enhancement” support helped Woodbridge create a Figure 2: Connecticut Transit ‘B’ Service. Twenty (20) minute Route 63 “Gateway” between the New Haven City peak hour directional ‘B’ service and 30 minute off-peak service Line and Lucy Street—employing relatively low mainte- over Litchfield Turnpike, Lucy Street Amity Road offers a strong nance planting materials, establishing a westbound Lucy transit presence. Street right hand turn at Amity Road and installing

42 Major Generators 10 l i t 1 Woodbridge Corporate Park c h dr f ar 2 Woodbridge Office Park i n e lu l 3 Laurel Gardens (assisted living 1 d

t residence) p k e 4 Proposed 55+ Housing ( r t

5 Proposed 55+ Housing 6 9 6 Proposed Office Park 4 ) 2 7 Harborside Health Care (nursing home) a m 3 rd i ey 8 Warner Apartments t dl y bra

r 9 Amity Shopping Center d ( 10 Commerical/Industrial Development r t bra 6 dley rd 3 ) Figure 3: Major Generators. 6 5 7

st din lan

t er s ettl m 8

st cy lu ) 5 1 rt ( y a w rk a p s s ro c r u b il w

9

43 Figure 3: Major Generators (Continued). Development through the past 10 years has introduced Woodbridge Office Park (1 and 2), Laurel Gardens (3), Harborside Health Care (4) and Woodbridge Corporate Park (5). 1

1 2

3 4 5 Figure 4: Route 63 “Gateway”. U.S. Federal Highway Administration “enhancement” support helped Woodbridge create a Route 63 “Gateway” between the New Haven City Line and Lucy Street in 1999.

44 limited new sidewalk immediately adjacent to the Lucy t nce s Street-Amity Road intersection (Figure 4). lawre

• “Village District” zoning proposals advanced by the Town’s newly adopted Plan of Conservation and Development (Figure 5).2 Connecticut’s seven-year-old

l i “Village Districts Act” provides an aggressive zoning t c h f i tool to help municipalities protect and preserve commu- e l d

t p a k nity character—establishing an architectural review m e

i ( t r y t

process relative to both new construction and rehabili- r 6 d 9 ( ) r t tation consistent with Connecticut Historic Commission 6 3 guidelines.3 Complementary Village District Plan goals ) include a “…pedestrian friendly…sidewalk net- t work…”, streetscape enhancements and “…traffic in s land control initiatives…”4 st tler met

t y s • intermittent and uneven sidewalk. Significant side- luc walk gaps and uneven bituminous sidewalk leave pedestrians unable to reach ‘B’ route stops along Litchfield Turnpike, Lucy Street and Amity Road

) (Figure 6). 5 1 rt ( y a w k p • five-year-old improvements that eliminated difficult s s ro c r Bradley Road grade (Figure 7). A $650,000 Federal u b il Highway Administration-ConnDOT aided realignment w at Amity Road in 2000-01 eased movement at the heretofore difficult intersection—in particular facilitat- Figure 5: The Village District. Woodbridge’s new Plan of Conservation and Development proposes “Village District” zoning near the Parkway. (A generalization reflecting both “possible” (extensive) and “potential” (more limited proposals) is illustrated.)

45 Litchfield Turnpike (Route 69) No sidewalk south of Landin Street (left), limited sidewalk in front of The Mother Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (center) and bituminous sidewalk immediately north of Lucy Street.

Lucy Street (Route 749) Ten-year-old sidewalk in front of the Warner Apartments (left) terminating immediately to the west (center). Limted, uneven bituminous paving further east along Lucy Street.

Amity Road (Route 63) New sidewalk in front the the recently completed NewAlliance Bank at Mettler Street (left) and major voids east of Bradley Road (center and right).

Figure 6: Limited Sidewalk .

46 ing westbound turns from Bradley Road to northbound Amity Road.5

The Enhancement Project A $94,000 near-term improvement program (Figure 8 and Tables 1 and 2):

• installs 640 linear feet of new sidewalk along Amity Road between Lucy Street and Bradley Road—linking Lucy Street and Amity Road-Lucy Street bus stops with major generators to the north. Work replaces another 100 linear feet of uneven bituminous sidewalk.

• eliminates Lucy Street sidewalk gaps—installing a short section of new sidewalk and replacing approxi- mately 300 linear feet of poor bituminous sidewalk.

• accomplishes work within the state right-of-way along the east side of Amity Road and the north side of Lucy Street to avoid utility pole conflicts and take advantage of existing concrete pavement. Neither existing curb nor drainage are disturbed.

Mid-term proposals pursued within the context of a proposed Route 69 improvement program can add 570 feet of new sidewalk along Litchfield Turnpike and replace another 520 feet of bitumi- nous sidewalk—bringing residents and workers within range of ‘B’ stops.

47 a m bradley rd i t y

r d

( r t

6 3 )

l i t c h f i e l d t s t din p lan k e

( r t

6 9 )

r st ttle me existing sidewalk exsidewalk new sidewalk only relocate planting remove bituminous, new sidewalk t area y s luc remove bituminous, grade, new sidewalk ada corner curb cut

Figure 7: The Project. About 1,100 feet of new and improved sidewalk along Lucy Street (Route ) and Amity Road (Route 63) can connect major generators with Route C service now. 48 Pedestrian Transit Links Rounded to Nearest $000 4.5 Foot Wide Sidewalk

Phase 1 Phase 2 Amity Road and Lucy Street Litchfield Turnpike Total Cost Uni t Cos t ($) QuantityCost ($) QuantityCost ($) Quantity Cost ($)

Construction Items 72,000 122,000 188,000 mobilization lump sum 1 2,000 1 2,000 4,000 base and new sidew alk (1,246 lf) 65 square yard 339 23,000 285 19,000 623 42,000 remove existing bituminous, base and 75 square yard 161 13,000 36 3,000 197 16,000 new sidew alk (393 lf) remove existing bituminous, grade, base 85 linear foot 38 4,000 223 19,000 261 23,000 and new sidew alk (521 lf) ada sidew alk ramps (approx 50 sq feet each) 800 each 1 1,000 6 5,000 7 6,000 reset mailboxes 200 each 5 1,000 5 1,000 10 2,000 trim trees/brush lump sum 1 3,000 1 3,000 reestablish turf 2.50 square yard 350 1,000 350 1,000 700 2,000 adjust bitimunimous drivew ays lump sum 1 3,000 3,000 6,000 maintenance and protection of traffic lump sum 1 3,000 3,000 6,000 install pedestrian signals (Lucy St/Litchfield Tpke). lump sum 40,000 40,000 minor items (20 percent of above) 11,000 12,000 23,000 contingencies (10 percent of above including minor items) 7,000 11,000 18,000 Other Costs design (12% of Construction Items) 8,000 13,000 21,000 inspection (12% of Construction Items) 8,000 13,000 21,000 Cost 88,000 148,000 236,000 Inflation (3% at two years) 6,000 9,000 15,000 Total Cost 94,000 157,000 251,000 Table 1: Cost. A $94,000 investment can improve access to Route C service now. Mid-term (Phase 2) costs will change if pursued in the context of a major Route 69 Amity Road-Bradley Road improvement program.

49 Sidewalk Improvements Table 2: Sidewalk. Work can Linear Feet eventually extend along about 0.4 Phase One Phase Two miles of state highway. Amity Road Lucy Street Litchfield Tpke (Route 63) (Route 749) (Route 69) Total

Base and new sidew alk 638 39 569 1,246 Remove bituminous, base and new sidew alk 98 224 71 393 Remove bituminous, grade, base and new sidew alk 0 75 446 521 736 338 1,086 2,160

50 Notes parking expansion opportunity.

Transit Enhancement 1 The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of North Haven 1991, TEA-21’s predecessor, provided six-year FHWA and FTA 1 With support earmarked in the Consolidated Appropriations spending authority between 1991 and 1997. Act of 2004 (PL 108-199) and the accompanying Conference 2 Described in South Central Regional Council of Governments, Report (HR 108-401). Transit Enhancement: 2002-2003 South Central Connecticut 2 North Haven Center, Clintonville, Four Corners and Summerdale Opportunities (North Haven: SCRCOG, October, 2001). (on Quinnpiac Avenue at Montowese Avenue). See Lucy McTeer 3 Per enhancement activity guidelines in U.S. Federal Highway Brusic, Amidst Cultivated and Pleasant Fields (Canton, NH: Administration, Final Guidance: Transportation Activities, 23 Phoenix Publishing, 1986). USC and TEA-21 (Washington: FHWA, 1999) as revised by http:// www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/guidance.htm. Woodbridge 4 A 21 town federally-designated area including Cheshire, 1 Route 69 Amity Road-Bradley Road improvement proposals excluding Milford and extendng east along the shore to the framed late in 2004 and now subject to ConnDOT Project Concept Connecticut River. unit “scoping” review. The scoping process refines early concepts, 5 10 percent of the statewide Surface Transportation identifies design/construction issues and suggests likely costs. apportionment after adjusting for a typical 88 percent federal-aid 2 Woodbridge Planning & Zoning Commission, Woodbridge Plan highway program obligation ceiling. Final years of ISTEA supported of Conservation and Development (Woodbridge: P&Z, 2005), STP and enhancement at about twice the current level. adopted on April 4, 2005. 3Summarized in Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Branford Legislative Research, Kevin McCarthy, “Comparing Historic and Village District Laws”, 98-R-0945 (Hartford: OLR, August 27, 1 Single platform construction at new Branford, Clinton and 1998). Madison Shore Line East stations became possible when Amtrak 4 Woodbridge Planning & Zoning Commission, page 33. decided to continue “threading” (operating one directional service on 5 With U.S. Federal Highway Administration “Surface both east- and westbound tracks) in the foreseeable future. Station Transportation Program-Urban” assistance allocated to the New design permits conversion to “up and over” (two platform) opera- Haven-Meriden Urbanized Area by formula. tions. Two platform construction in Guilford reflected a north side

51