Complete Streets & Bikeway Committee

City of Middletown Complete Streets Committee Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, December 11, 2023, 7 PM Location: WebEx Attendees: Lisa Liesener, John Hall, Laura Baum, Howard Weissberg, Dennis Law, Zoemma Warshafsky, Ayhan Assadourian, Beth Emery 1. Current/ongoing projects: ● Air Line Trail – Farmington Canal Trail (ALT-FCT) Connector Study Update ○ Consultants were there at Holiday on Main. Lots of great feedback and energy. ○ Study is off and running ○ Lisa asked about Newfield Corridor piece of it. Newfield hasn't been examined yet. ○ City has reached out to RiverCOG re: Safe Routes 4 All to see how they can have a stronger application for corridor study for Newfield. John thought a corridor study was funded but it's not part of the VHB scope of work. ● Saybrook Road (East Main to Tryon)Water Dept is finishing up their portion ○ Meeting with Cardinal this week to discuss status. Public information meeting probably in January. ● Saybrook Road - Randolph to Aircraft ○ More work in the spring ○ Hope to have funding available to cap the concrete base with a membrane and then and overlay ● Bike Friendly Middletown application ○ John Yarmolovich has been reviewing the materials. ○ No updates. ● Route 9 ○ City has an internal meeting with DOT last week ○ DOT is looking to hold a public presentation in February or March ● Ridgewood Road ○ Lane separators didn't stay for more than a few days ○ Howard's wanting to get some more permanent markers that will stay on better ○ There's been discussion of paving of Ridgewood for next year. ○ City would like to go with 10' lane and 5' shoulders ○ Want to hear from Police Dept to hear their recs ● Events 2. Reports from other pertinent regular meetings/events: ● ECOIN ○ Spectra development - block behind police station. Would not preserve the old center street viewscape from Main Street to the river. ● Sustainable Middletown / CT 1  ○ No updates 3. New Business: ● Traffic calming toolbox ○ Challenge with Complete Streets policy is that it doesn't have tools/design suggestions ○ Dennis is working on the toolbox document ○ Vision Zero and Safety Cameras ■ John talked about an idea he's wanting to pursue through the Jonah Center ■ He can reach out to the police and other groups to talk about level of interest. ■ John will email Howard and he can send it to the police hierarchy. ○ Crosswalk lighting ■ Howard is pursuing more funding to maybe put up lighting at another intersection ● Complete Streets programs/opportunities ○ DOT Complete Streets Controlling Design Criteria (PDF link) ○ Discussion of S Main St ● Crosswalk needs ○ Near Aldi - there's a sidewalk on one side but seems like a good place to put one in ● Spring Street ○ Lisa asked about whether there are plans for the future. Was it successful? ○ Evaluation criteria ○ Maybe add to the agenda next time? Or further down the line? ○ Goals, according to John ■ Reduce cut-through traffic through North End ■ Reduce volume and speed of traffic in front of Macdonough School (led it to be one-way) ■ Provide bike connection (because it's a major route for connector trail) from bridge west ● Recreational mulit-use trail along the river ○ John has been trying to get city action on this for at least five years ○ Potential grant opportunity ○ How do we create this in an area that is a bit scary and abandoned and lots of visual cues that tell people to stay out. ● Butternut Park trail ○ Howard said there was an active LOTCIP project for this ● 2024 meeting calendar ○ Draft calendar presented Notes: - Next meeting: Monday, January 8, 2024, 7 PM (WebEx) - Next quarterly Public Works/Planning depts. Meeting: TBD 2