A great deal of construction activity and change is underway in the Trumbull Center area. The new plaza at 965 White Plains Road, which houses CVS and Starbucks, has opened, and installation of the missing leg of the Pequonnock River Trail is under construction. As a result of both developments, traffic flow has changed in the area. We are advising all residents and visitors to remain alert and to proceed with caution when traveling through the area while construction is underway and safety measures are being installed.
Construction of the Pequonnock River Trail connection is expected to continue through December 2020. The final phase of the connection in this area is underway from Tait Road to Daniels Farm Road. As a part of the trail connection project, a number of safety improvements are planned for the area. The Daniels Farm Road and White Plains Road crosswalks will be improved. New ADA-compliant signals will be installed at each crosswalk, which will have push button activator arrows and visual countdowns for pedestrian safety. The mid-block crosswalk on Church Hill Road near the Helen Plumb building will be discontinued immediately. Barricades will be placed on each side of the crosswalk to deter pedestrians from crossing in that area. All pedestrian and bicycle traffic should utilize the Daniels Farm Road and White Plains Road crosswalks.
The intersection of Daniels Farm Road and White Plains Road presents challenges due to the grade and topography of the area, the changes noted above, and high traffic volume. Town staff are requesting the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation (State DOT) to approve temporary improvements to the roadway, including painted striping and directional arrows and additional directional signage to better advise drivers as they approach the intersection. In the long term, town staff are recommending the State DOT consider modernization of all signalization at the intersection in order to allow for turn arrows that will improve the function of the intersection in all directions. This project would likely cost in excess of one million dollars and would take time to implement. These improvements will be discussed further at the December 8 Police Commission meeting.
The new plaza at 965 White Plains Road has proven extremely popular. As a result of the high volume of customers, the property owner has made some on-site improvements to help customers navigate the parking lot and drive through more effectively. The lane has been clearly striped in order to make clear that it is a designated drive-through lane so that other vehicles can pass by and circulate through the parking lot. The owner has also added signage stating that the lane is designated for the drive-through.
Town staff continue to meet regularly to monitor construction and other improvements to the area. The town has issued a “Request for Qualifications” to hire a consultant to prepare a planning study of the entire Trumbull Center corridor from Tait Road to Reservoir Avenue. The community and property owners will be engaged in the planning study process in order to develop a set of recommendations and improvements to invigorate the Trumbull Center area. A similar plan was developed for the Long Hill Green Village District and has guided improvements in that area and aided in accessing grant funds to improve the area.
For more information, please contact Town Engineer William Maurer at 203-452-5050.