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Tag: Walking

  • We Need More Walkable Community Projects Like This One in Rocky Hill

    We Need More Walkable Community Projects Like This One in Rocky Hill

    Rocky Hill residents can look forward to new sidewalks in a much-needed part of town. Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) State Project No. 0118-0191 will install new sidewalks to both sides of Route 99 (Silas Deane Highway) from Town Line Road to Marshall Road including under the I-91 overpass in Rocky Hill, CT.  Project Manager Melanie Zimyeski has stated the project will begin in the Spring of 2027.

    A map showing placement for sidewalks and crosswalks.

    If centering this project on active transportation, there is a lot of good news here. The stretch of road in question has three bus stops that promise to be adjacent to truly safe and comfortable crosswalks.  

    Those crosswalks are desperately needed. Back when the Town had a cute gelati shop named “Rita’s” I would pop over for an icy treat, and one day decided that I wanted to go from Rita’s to Orchard Street, en route to Parsonage, and back to Old Main Street. I could manage it, but only after dangerous crossing of highway lanes and ramps. Even with gelato to motivate me, the experience was a demonstration that Big Highway has taken so much away from the lived experience. Manageable fixes like investing in safe infrastructure can restore access to these “no go” zones.

    Providing access to this stretch of road will enable pedestrians to visit more local sites on foot. Duck behind the cavernous Stop & Shop and Walmart structures, and you’ll find a car free fire lane that dumps you onto Orchard Street.  

    From there, take Orchard back to Parsonage and Rocky Hill High School, or, travel west on Water Street to Mill Woods Park, and beyond that, Wolcott Hill Road, and the extraordinary D&D Market. Now I’ve gotten off track, and I’m nowhere near the Silas Deane, but that is part of the point: connectivity between roadways, between residential, and between retail. 

    The Silas Deane Exit 24 project is paid for with federal and state money, and residents are rightly excited for it. In my experience, however, once there is a question of spending local resources on pedestrian infrastructure, the conversation swiftly changes. Inevitably people will argue against investing in the infrastructure, relying on what I call the “not alotta people” theory, which claims that the absence of pedestrians and cyclists on our roads is evidence that those people don’t exist. 

    Be careful questioning “how many people use” something when your observation is traveling by car at 35-40 mph.  To see a road and accurately observe its users, I would recommend standing at the location for 15-20 minutes, and you will see multiple pedestrians and cyclists, and other modes, traveling through this area. If you stop for gas at “Mylz” across from Marshall Rd (and Taco Bell, and the Howard Johnson’s big chair!) keep an eye on the roadway under the 91 bridge. There is definitely a need for non-vehicular road users at this location.  You will see activity there in what’s known as a “desire path,” where the grass is worn down to dirt, by shoes, and bike tires, over the years. When safer, that usage will increase exponentially, and the State’s management of this space will be worth every penny.  

    “Desire lines” or desire paths are formed by walkers essentially voting with their feet. (source)

    But let’s also consider that there is a very, very good reason why not alotta people use it. 

    “It” is dangerous, and if you have the luxury of options, you will avoid “it”.  Any moral decision is based upon how many people would prefer to use “it” not how many people are currently (and reluctantly) using it. “Not alotta people” want to travel along  that dark and dangerous walkway. But add safety elements, infrastructure, (and a tasty taco truck?), and suddenly people will want to go there! This is known as retrofitting a road to suit the changes in society.  CTDOT State Project No. 0118-0191 is doing just that.

    The proposed project is great, but can be greater as a launch point for even more safety, beautification, and a stronger sense of place. As suggested by local advocates including members of Bike Walk Wethersfield, the below recommendations for the State Project are worth mention:

    • 10′ maximum travel lanes & 6′ sidewalks (from 11′ & 5′) on Route 99 between ramps
    • Slow down the Silas Deane and prioritize pedestrian safety over “level of service”
    • Add clear white light under the 91 overpass
    • Add  gateway murals 
    • Add a sign: “Welcome to Historic Rocky Hill: Everyone is Welcome Here”
    • Add pollinator gardens & street trees
    • Reimagine the Silas Deane Highway (which suggests high speed motorists) as the more inclusive Silas Deane Boulevard

    Thank you to the Connecticut Department of Transportation for taking on this project. Our local leadership should follow this example and provide a clear path to develop our sidewalk networks. Rocky Hill’s roads should be for all their users, including pedestrians and cyclists.  If you are excited for the upcoming changes in Silas Deane, consider joining the Walk Bike Rocky Hill community and supporting other changes to benefit our walk/bike infrastructure. 

    Opinion piece: This article reflects the position of the author and not necessarily that of the Democratic Town Committee.

  • The Draft of Rocky Hill’s new Plan of Conservation and Development is Now Live

    The Draft of Rocky Hill’s new Plan of Conservation and Development is Now Live

    The Town of Rocky Hill has released a draft Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD). This document outlines the town’s development priorities, and will be a nonbinding but influential text shaping town decision-making for the next decade.

    Read the Draft POCD

    The 184 page document is wide-reaching, and Rocky Hill Democrats plan to provide feedback on the document in an upcoming post. I provide initial summaries below.

    Survey Responses

    Over 200 residents responded to the town survey asking for input on the POCD. A overview by the town begins on page 11:

    Environment – things to protect and preserve – through many Plan Implementation Meetings and the online survey, sustainability is very important to the residents of Rocky Hill. Also, open space preservation and enjoyment was top on most lists

    Economic Development – a majority of those surveyed agreed that there needs to be a good mix of business and residential development. They prefer High Tech, Manufacturing and Medical as businesses to come to or stay in town. Those surveyed also agree that Restaurants and Specialty Businesses should be supported in Rocky Hill

    Transportation/Infrastructure – A high percentage strongly agreed that walkability and a bike friendly community was important to them. This included a public trail system. This surveyed also agree that transportation is key to attract new residents and businesses to town.

    Development – over half surveyed believe that housing choice in town is important to them. Many saw these top points to have a mix of housing for current and future residents. A high percentage were Agreeable/Neutral on Mixed Uses on the Silas Deane.

    Community – Many who were surveyed agreed that expanding public spaces for public uses and expanding the arts was important to them. The promotion of the history of the town was also well represented with most of those surveyed agreeing to embrace the past. There was more of a neutral response to community health programs.

    Implementation – Many residents agreed that the POCD should be a living document and that it can be spoken about and changed at any time during the duration of the document

    Town Center Details

    The draft POCD expands upon a concept raised in the 2015 document: “a mixed‐use, pedestrian‐friendly Town Center in Rocky Hill with a “sense of place”. Notably, the document emphasizes that the plan will require shifts in zoning policy to realize.

    While the predominant development approach over the past 50 years has been automobile‐oriented patterns with single‐use sites, there is growing interest and demand for more walkable development patterns with a diversity of uses within individual buildings and in small areas. With the current development of the Town Center along the Silas Deane Highway and with the residential neighborhoods nearby, the area to the North of the current Town Center has good potential to support the expansion of a mixed-use development approach. However, to turn this potential into reality will require a major shift in terms of how Rocky Hill has historically approached land use and zoning. (pg 41)

    a diagram showing two sketkes of a potential town center. one of the features pictures a roundabout in the town center.
    A 2006 case study illustrating what a town center in Rocky Hill might look like (page 44)

    Non-car-based transit is a frequent topic of the POC as measured by the number of times terms  are mentioned: “Walk” (77), Bike”/”Bicycle” (42), “Pedestrian” (37), and “Bus” (9). The town references a website, newurbanism.org, as a guidance resource. The plan also references the Complete Streets policy, which was adopted by the Town Council in 2023, as an important mechanism to achieve these goals (pg 68).

    Open Space Conservation

    The POCD also places significant focus on Open Space Conservation (the term “Open Space” is refernced 95 times in the document). Methods of preserving open space discussed include:

    • Creating an “Open Space System” to increase the accessibility of the entire pen space system to the town’s residents and greatly add to its potential recreation use.” (pg 21)
    • Encourage Open Space Development Patterns: “to help ensure that important natural resources and features are protected, open spaces are preserved for public use and enjoyment, and community character is preserved.” (pg 24)
    A visual of open space residental planning, which show increasing density for houses and preservation of green space and common areas
    A visual of open space residental planning, which show increasing density for houses and preservation of green space and common areas

    Next Steps

    The published document is a draft document. It will be discussed in more detail in an upcoming planning and zoning meeting. The POCD must be approved by the Town Council by the third Monday in May.

    A reminder: the POCD is an advisory document. The authors state that to achieve what is laid out, active steps must be taken by the town. (pg 1).

    While a vision can be a powerful thing, it is important to note that a Plan of Conservation and Development is primarily an advisory document. It is intended to guide local residents, developers, businesses, suggest desirable future directions and outcomes, and provide a framework for consistent decision‐making with regard to conservation and development activities in Rocky Hill over the next decade or so. The Plan should also be a living document over its life span.

    Read the Draft POCD

    What do you think?

    What are your reactions to the Plan of Conservation and Development? What elements within the plan are you happy about? In your opinion, what is missing? Please comment below to share your thoughts.