Study To Explore Safety Improvements For Black Rock Turnpike In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau announced this week that the town is undertaking a study to explore alternatives to enhance safety for all users of the Black Rock Turnpike commercial corridor, and invites the public to take part. Black Rock Turnpike, a State highway which sees average daily traffic volumes of over 20,000 vehicles per day, has been identified as a trouble spot in need of improvement, most recently by the Fairfield Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan.

The study, funded by a $375,000 State grant, aims to identify strategies to create a safe and attractive pedestrian environment, a robust infrastructure for bicycles, buses and other vehicles, and linkages between nearby residential areas and the shops, businesses and restaurants situated along this vital corridor. The study will focus primarily on the section of Black Rock Turnpike from Tunxis Hill Cut-Off to Tahmore Drive. (To sign up for Fairfield breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

An initial public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, beginning at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place in the All-Purpose Room at Osborn Hill Elementary School, located at 760 Stillson Road. The meeting will include a brief introduction of the project and discussion of project goals followed by small group break-out sessions.

The public has an opportunity to weigh in and provide input in advance of the meeting via an online survey posted at http://bit.ly/blackrocksafetystudy. Preliminary survey results will be reviewed at the June 7 meeting.

The project team includes several other organizations in addition to Town and State agencies. The regional planning agency, MetroCOG, will manage the project. Fitzgerald and Halliday, Inc. (FHI) has been selected as the lead planning consultant, and will be assisted by Tighe & Bond. The study is expected to be completed by spring of next year. For more information about the project, including how to get more involved, visit http://bit.ly/blackrocksafetystudy.

Pictured (from left to right): MetroCOG's Deputy Directors Mike Pavia and Patrick Carleton, First Selectman Mike Tetreau and Community and Economic Development Director Mark Barnhart standing along Black Rock Turnpike. (Contributed photo)

Originally written by Vincent Salzo

(Editor's Note: This story first ran previously but here it is again in case you missed it.)