Waterbury West Main Street Corridor Study

West Main Street is a short corridor in an urbanized area that sees significant use. The block-by-block street character varies significantly. It ranges between two and six lanes, includes a variety of land uses, a railroad bridge, an incomplete sidewalk network, some street parking, several signalized intersections and some difficult pedestrian crossings. It’s an important corridor that serves as a primary surface street connection across the Naugatuck River into downtown Waterbury.

West Main Street also connects several regionally significant employers and destinations, including UConn Waterbury, Waterbury Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital, the Basilica and several other large religious establishments, as well as the Waterbury YMCA, the Mattatuck Museum, several state offices and the seat of local government.

This study will develop a conceptual plan and recommendations for the corridor that will address safety and traffic flow concerns and provide for improved pedestrian, bicycle, and transit-user accessibility. We will also examine the impacts of reducing lane widths in certain sections of this corridor, also known as a “road diet” to accommodate increased pedestrian space, safe crossings, and appropriate transit stops and flows including the potential for a bus-only lane or a shared bus lane.  

The final product will be a full study of our findings along with several conceptual drawings detailing what improvements are needed to create a safer environment, better traffic flow and encourage economic development.

Project Announcements:

Check out the West Main Street Study website for project updates and opportunities for input. We have an interactive map feature on the website that lets you add pin point areas of concern. 

Fuss and O’Neill is the primary consultant  leading the study. Currently, we are in “Existing Conditions” phase of the project, collecting data and input to learn as much as we can about the challenges and opportunities of this corridor.

Public Meeting Dates:

We held our first virtual public meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 from 5-7 pm. Our next public meeting will be in Spring 2021.

Download a PDF version of our first public meeting flyer here: WestMainFlyer