Route 8 Design/Build

The Route 8 Design Build project will bring the section of roadway from Exit 13 in Shelton to Exit 22 in Seymour up to modern highway standards and make it safer for motorists. The work is expected to start in the summer of 2023 and finish by the end of 2024.
 
The CTDOT has a public participation plan and people can reach out to project managers through the project’s website
 
Plans for the project include repaving the roadway, putting in new LED lights, and replacing drainage systems that date to the 1950s. The budget is $77.3 million, of which 80 percent is coming from the federal government and the rest from the state. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are administering the project.

 

The project scope is as follows. From Exit 13 to Exit 17 upgraded LED light fixtures will be installed with new light standards and foundations and underground circuitry for an incident management system (IMS). The IMS will be installed at a later date and will warn motorists of issues on the highway.

From Exit 15 to Exit 22 there will be repairs to the concrete base of the north and southbound lanes of the roadway and resurfacing, 11 minor bridge rehabilitations, drainage improvements, and bringing roadway guiderails to current Manual of Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) standards. 

The CTDOT has a public participation plan that included an information session held on Jan. 12. Project managers gave a presentation on the project and the public asked questions about the work.

Empire Paving Inc. was awarded the contract for the Route 8 project through the CTDOT design-build procurement method.

Bristol – Downtown Trail Routing Study

Public Meetings

public meeting was held on Wednesday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at the Bristol Public Library Meeting Room 2. The primary purpose of this public input session was to gather feedback and answer any questions that the public had about the study and the proposed trail alignment under consideration. Additionally, the project team discussed the study process and provided the community with ways to receive future updates on the study status. 

There will be future opportunities for public involvement in the coming months. As future public meetings are scheduled and held for this study, details will be posted here. All public meetings will be recorded and posted to the NVCOG YouTube Page.

Woodbury – Route 6 Corridor Study

Project Advisory Committee Meeting

A first meeting between NVCOG and the Town’s Advisory Committee occurred on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. This meeting focused on ensuring the Scope of Work aligned with the Town’s goals, outlining a timeline and next steps, and preparing materials for release as a Request for Qualifications. 

 

MTP 2050

Introducing NVision50, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the NVCOG Region

About the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)  

As the regional planning agency and a Metropolitan Planning Organization, NVCOG must prepare a long-range transportation plan every four years that lays out the vision for transportation in the future. NVision50: The Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the NVCOG and the Central Naugatuck Valley MPO lays out a comprehensive vision for transportation in our region leading up to 2050. The region’s last MTP update was completed in 2019. View the adopted 2019-2045 plan here.

Updating our Plan

NVCOG staff has dedicated hours of work to NVision50 over the past year, culminating in the draft document presented below. Feedback from residents and stakeholders has been critical as we developed the long-term vision for transportation in our region, and we’re excited to gather feedback on the result! The NVCOG Transportation Technical Advisory Committee will consider NVision50 at the March 1, 2023, meeting, and the CNVMPO board will discuss the plan at their March 17, 2023, meeting. 

We want your feedback!

NVision50 is now available for public review and comment. The formal public comment period will run from February 6, 2023, through March 17, 2023, culminating with public comments at the CNVMPO Board meeting. A hybrid public information session will be on February 16 at 6 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) offices at 49 Leavenworth St., Waterbury, CT, and via Zoom. In addition, a virtual town hall-style meeting will be held on March 9 from 3 to 7 p.m. At that meeting, the public can comment on the MTP and ask questions about the document. The public may also comment by email at contactus@nvcogct.gov or by calling NVCOG’s offices at 203-757-0535. Comments can also be sent in writing to the NVCOG office c/o Rich Donovan, Director of Transportation Planning, 49 Leavenworth St., Waterbury, CT 06702. 

Draft Executive Summary 

Full Draft Report

Combined Draft Appendices  

Chapter 1 – Regional Profile Draft

Chapter 2 – Federal Planning Factors

Chapter 3 – Transportation Issues and Goals Draft

Chapter 4 – Highway Planning

Chapter 5 – Public Transit Systems

Chapter 6 – Active Transportation

Chapter 7 – Freight

Chapter 8 – Aviation

Chapter 9 – Sustainable Transportation

Chapter 10 – Transit Safety and Security

Chapter 11 – Emerging Technologies

Chapter 12 – Capital Improvement Plan

Draft Project Tables – Appendix A

Survey Responses – Appendix B

Public Comments and Responses – Appendix C

Air Quality Conformity Determination – Appendix D

Bridgeport-Stamford Congestion Management Process – Appendix E

Transportation in our Region:

Public Meeting Schedule: 

CNVMPO Board Meeting: In addition to the standard public comment item on the NVCOG meeting agenda, the CNVMPO will hold individual opportunities for the public to address the board prior to discussion and potential adoption of the plan. The meeting is open to all; details can be found here.

Public Information Session: At 6 PM on Thursday, February 16, a hybrid information session was held. This session’s recording is available on the NVCOG’s YouTube page and includes a detailed presentation of the plan and its expected impacts to transportation in the region.  

Virtual Listening Session: On March 9, 2023, NVCOG staff was available from 3 PM to 7 PM via Zoom to accept comments and answer questions about NVision50. This open session did not receive any comments, so a video for this session will not be posted but can be made available upon request. A short presentation with details about additional feedback opportunities was presented and can be found here

Self Paced Presentation: 

Go to this Sway

Staff Contact

Rich Donovan
Director of Transportation Planning
rdonovan@nvcogct.gov
(203) 489-0361

Waterbury West Main Street Corridor Study

West Main Street going east facing the Green

Final Report

A $23.1 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant the City of Waterbury received includes funding for long-overdue improvements that will revitalize West Main Street West Main Street between the Waterbury Green and Riverside Drive and make it safer for all users. 

The city received the grant in August from the U.S. Department of Transportation and is in the early design stages of the planned improvements. That grant was awarded in part because of a study completed in July 2022 that NVCOG led in collaboration with the city of Waterbury and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) that identified challenges to using West Main Street and opportunities to make it better. 

Project Overview

Map of Project Area

West Main Street is a short but much-used corridor that connects downtown Waterbury with parts of the city that are on the west side of the Naugatuck River. But as important as it is, West Main Street also has issues that make using it a challenge for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users. The road surface is deteriorating, and the width varies significantly between two lanes in some areas to as much as six in others. For pedestrians, crossing West Main Street can be difficult. 

A complete streets approach has guided planning for upcoming work, which will include realigning intersections, narrowing parts of the road, rehabilitating existing sidewalks and building new ones, putting in bicycle lanes, and traffic calming strategies. Eyewitness News Channel 3 covered the story and interviewed NVCOG Director of Planning Josh Lecar.

Project Details

The biggest component of the project is reducing the number of travel lanes on West Main Street and making the road a uniform width. Plans call for eliminating an eastbound vehicle travel lane between Thomaston Avenue and the railroad overpass. More lane reductions are proposed in the eastbound direction east of Willow Street and Meadow Street. The number and width of vehicle travel lanes will also be reduced in the westbound direction between Willow Street and Meadow Street and Church Street. 

Reducing how much street space there is for motor vehicles would free up area along both sides of West Main Street for walkers, cyclists, and other users. New mid-block pedestrian crosswalks are planned, along with other enhancements that will make the road safer for walkers like high visibility treatments, pedestrian activated signal systems, and curb extensions are planned. For cyclists, dedicated bike lanes and a protected shared-used path are part of the plan. There also will be bus lanes, more on-street parking and traffic calming measures. 

Community Input

Community participation was a vital component to the study. Public meetings were held throughout the study and a public advisory committee was formed to help the planners. The PAC met for the third and final time on Sept. 28, 2021, and heard a presentation on the project from Fuss & O’Neill, the firm that helped NVCOG and the city with the study. 

Staff Contact:

Josh Lecar
Assistant Planning Director
jlecar@nvcogct.gov

Route 229 Corridor Study

Final Public Meeting: May 26, 2022

The final public engagement meeting occurred on Thursday, May 26th, with both a virtual option and an in person meeting at the Bristol Public Library. The study team started by presenting recommendations for improvements along the corridor, followed by an opportunity for public comment on those changes. The meeting recording is available on the NVCOG YouTube page and is linked below. Comments will be accepted in writing to contactus@nvcogct.gov through June 27, 2022, and will be incorporated in the final report. 

Meeting Recording

Draft Final Report 

Second Public Meeting: September 29, 2021

A second public engagement session was held on Wednesday, September 29. It began with a guided tour of the corridor, including stops in both Bristol and Southington. More details of the locations visited are in the flyer below. This was followed by a public meeting at the Bristol Library. For those who were unable to attend the meeting there is a recording available on the NVCOG YouTube page that is linked below. Slides from this meeting have also been posted. 

Tour Flyer

See a recording of the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77q3zOrCYm8

Slides for this meeting can be found here

First Public Meeting: April 14, 2021

The Route 229 project team held a virtual public meeting on April 14 between 5 – 7 pm. The goals and objectives of the Route 229 Corridor study were discussed and stakeholders had the opportunity to ask questions and offer public input on this project. 

See a Recording of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/2f0RTZFTNQo

Slides for this meeting are available here

Oxford Route 67 Alternative Transportation Study

The Town of Oxford has been awarded a $3.4 million Congressionally Directed Spending grant that will pay for building a mile-long multi-use path on Route 67 that is integral to making the center of Oxford more walkable and bicycle-friendly. 

Oxford was awarded the grant in December, and the project is in the design phase. The path will run from Dutton Road to Quarry Walk, a mixed-use development with stores, medical and commercial office space and 150 residential units. Plans include three pedestrian bridges to carry the path over water courses, a sidewalk between Oxford Municipal Center/ Town Hall and Academy Road along with lighting, street furniture and crosswalks. 

Building a multi-use path for cyclists and walkers along Route 67 is a key component of the Oxford Route 67 Alternative Transportation Study that the town did with NVCOG and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). The Oxford Board of Selection endorsed the final report in February 2022.

The study investigated the potential for bicycle, pedestrian, and transit improvements along Route 67 in Oxford.  The study was funded by NVCOG with federal transportation planning funds and was conducted with support by TranSystems, a planning and engineering consultant with offices in Meriden, CT.  It was overseen by the Oxford Main Street Committee that was formed in 2017.

A short section of that path opened in 2021 and runs from the Little River Nature Preserve (across from Oxford Town Hall) to Dutton Road.

Route 67

Existing Conditions along Route 67. Note the lack of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.

Unlike many of its neighbors, Oxford does not have a typical walkable New England downtown or Main Street.  Instead, municipal services and commercial areas are dispersed along with residences along State Route 67. Although Route 67 is fundamentally Oxford’s “Main Street,” it had no sidewalks or any safe bicycle or pedestrian access, and traffic speeds are excessive with no visual cues to alert motorists that they are driving through an area where they may encounter walkers or bicyclists.  In addition, no public transit is operated along Route 67 that could provide residents an alternative transportation option.  Transit options by train on Metro North and by bus on CT Transit are available only one mile from the Oxford town line, but there is currently no way for Oxford residents to safely access these services without a personal motor vehicle.

In Oxford’s 2018 Plan of Conservation and Development, the town prioritized creating more of a downtown feel along Route 67, and the Oxford Main Street Committee has been investigating streetscape improvements, sidewalks and trails within the corridor to improve non-motorized access.    The study built on the committee’s prior work to develop a cohesive plan for the entire corridor to better enable the Town to plan, prioritize, and fund future improvements.

Explore Study Findings

The interactive Project Storymap presents the study and potential bicycle and pedestrian improvements to Route 67 

Explore the Project Area

The interactive Project Webmap allows users to explore the project corridor in greater detail by turning on and off various data layers that are informing the study:

 

Upcoming Meetings

There are no upcoming events.

View Full Calendar

Staff Contact:

Aaron Budris
Senior Regional Planner
abudris@nvcogct.gov

Derby-Shelton Bridge Pedestrian and Bicyclist Enhancements

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Derby Shelton Bridge design

Construction Photos

Public Information Meeting

A meeting was held on February 26, 2020, to provide updated project details to residents, commuters, business owners, and other interested individuals. Click here for minutes from the February 26 meeting. 

Bridge Street Proposed Typical Sector Crosssection Drawing
Bridge Street Proposed Typical Sector Crosssection Drawing
Derby-Shelton Bridge Nighttime view from the south.
Proposed Bridge Street Intersection
Proposed Bridge Street Intersection

Route 8 & Waterbury Branch Line Corridor/Alternative Modes Study

A study of options to reduce congestion and increase mobility throughout the Route 8 and Waterbury Branch Rail Line corridors

About the Study

The Route 8 & Waterbury Branch Line Corridor/Alternative Modes Study is assessing the needs and opportunities for improving service on the Waterbury Branch Line and the feasibility of alternatives to single occupancy vehicles. A draft of the final report is available to read, and a hybrid public information session was held on Dec. 15. These alternative modes include commuter rail, express bus and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), walking and biking. The project is being led by AECOM Technical Services, Inc. The study team has completed an overview of existing travel conditions within the corridor, an assessment of transit-oriented development opportunities within rail station areas, and the feasibility of instituting BRT service. A website has been set up to provide project details. Click here to access the Alt Modes Study website.

Transit Rider Input

In support of the study goals and objectives, the NVCOG conducted an on-board count and survey of passengers riding the Waterbury branch line trains. All inbound and outbound trains were counted and surveyed over a three-day period.  The goals of the survey were to gain insight into the key concerns passengers have with quality and frequency of service.

Take a look at what the riders had to say about train service in the Naugatuck Valley: WBL Passenger Count Summary.

Transit-Oriented Development 

Aimportant task of the study was determining the feasibility of Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) in the vicinity of the Waterbury rail line stations. A TOD integrates land use, transportation, and the environment and results in new housing, jobs, and more sustainable and walkable communities. They are characterized by compact, mixed-use land uses that provide a wide range of housing styles and commercial space choices. To guide the assessment, the study team conducted a series of workshops in each community along the rail line and developed a Visual Preference Survey that allowed residents to describe how they would like to see their downtowns in the future. From these preference surveys, model TOD blocks were created. To read more about possible TOD scenarios in the Naugatuck Valley: TOD Scenario Report   

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 

While the primary objective of the study is to improve and enhance service on the Waterbury line, other transiactions were also explored. Regular fixed-route bus services operate in the corridor, but they do not provide travel time efficiencies that commuters find attractive. A BRT operation blends the positive features of rail with the flexibility of bus transit, to make riding the bus a higher-end service alternative. The study team explored the merits of enhancing bus service between Derby and Bridgeport, identifying five possible alternatives. The preferred option included the construction of a dedicated busway within the median of Route 8 with limited stops at newly created transit hubs. Feeder bus services would be implemented to move travelers from the transit hubs to their final destinations. This action is considered a long-term vision for the corridor. To learn more about BRT in Naugatuck Valley:  BRT Scenario Report   

Next Steps 

The study is advancing to the final recommendations with a focus on a capital and operations improvement plan for the Waterbury Rail Line and a long-term vision of developing a Bus Rapid Transit system along Route 8 between Derby and Bridgeport. A visualization of recommended services is being developed and the study team will be meeting with municipal representatives to promote TOD land uses.  

In the meantime, the NVCOG is working with its mayors, first selectmen, and its state legislative delegation to support funding for needed short-term Waterbury rail line improvements.  In January 2020, NVCOG held the Naugatuck Valley Rail Conference to engage stakeholders in a dialog about the region’s rail needs.   

Watch statewide news coverage of the event here.

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Route 67 Seymour – Spot Improvements

Project Status

The design of the project has been underway to improve Route 67 from the west end of the Klarides Village retail development extending easterly along Bank Street to the eastern side of the bridge over the Naugatuck River based on the information provided in the 2016 study.

The design is being performed by SLR Consulting. It is anticipated that the design work will be completed in Spring 2023 and the project will proceed to construction in Summer 2023. Semi-Final Design Plans are currently under review. The Semi-Final Design Report is available for viewing.

crosswalk on street

The following improvements are anticipated:

1. Johnson Street at Bank Street (unsignalized)

– Close the southerly portion of Johnson Street at Bank Street to traffic while maintaining access only for emergency and maintenance vehicles.  Maintain Johnson Street as a two-way street; provisions for vehicles to turn around will be needed.

2. Klarides Village and Bank Street (unsignalized)

– Construct a new raised island within the existing driveway to physically restrict and reinforce the left-turn prohibition for vehicles exiting the development and to revise the pavement markings on Bank Street to provide the required width for Route 67 westbound traffic to bypass vehicles turning left into the development.

3. Bank Street at Church Street/Beecher Street (unsignalized)

– Reconstruct and realign Church Street to create a T-intersection with Beecher Street separated from the intersection with Bank Street and provide a right-turn lane for northbound vehicles at Bank Street.

4. Route 67 (Bank Street) from Old Drive to Franklin Street/River Street (SR 313)

– Extend the westbound right-turn lane to Old Drive East between Old Drive East and the Walgreens Plaza driveway.

– Extend dual westbound through lanes from Franklin Street to Martha Street to lengthen the vehicle merge distance.

– Widen Route 67 to provide adequate turn-lane lengths and 5′ shoulders on both the north and south sides of the road and reconstruct sidewalks.

– Replace traffic signal equipment at the Franklin Street/River Street intersection, improve traffic signal operations and efficiency, and adjust signal timings within the project limits.

– Improve intersection geometrics, pedestrian accommodations, and accessible crosswalks.

– Widen River Street to provide for the required lane-queue lengths and modify the Little River bridge to accommodate the continuation of sidewalks along River Street on the upstream side of the existing bridge.

The project will also include two feasibility analyses which will investigate the following:

1. Construction of a multi-use trail along the Naugatuck River from Bank Street, along River Street to the Broad Street green.

2. Improvements to the existing sidewalk widths on the Route 67 bridge over the Naugatuck River to determine the feasibility of providing a handicapped-accessible pedestrian route from the improvements proposed under this project at the Bank Street/River Street intersection to the recently constructed Naugatuck River Greenway Trail east of the river.

Background:

In 1991 a study was conducted to assess traffic conditions along the Route 67 corridor through Southbury, Oxford, and Seymour. In 2011 the Valley Council of Governments (VCOG) hired design engineers Milone & MacBroom, Inc. to expand upon the 1991 report and to conduct additional analyses to further refine the information provided in the earlier report. Milone & MacBroom’s report focused on the segment of Route 67 in Seymour from Klarides Village to the River Street/Franklin Street Intersection.

An updated preliminary engineering study was conducted by  Milone & MacBroom and completed in March of 2016. The study and the subsequent recommended improvements are designed to address heavy congestion and safety concerns through this segment of Route 67. Accident history, traffic volumes and level of service at both signalized and un-signalized intersections were among the items studied. Pedestrian patterns were also reviewed. The report offers design alternatives and preliminary cost estimates to improve traffic and safety along the corridor while considering the impacts to and the needs of the adjacent residences and businesses, future redevelopment, and other interested or affected stakeholders.

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