West Hartford ‘road diet’ trial to begin next week
Aiming for safer streets, study will look at traffic behavior on reduced travel lanes
WEST HARTFORD — The second phase of a study aimed at slowing traffic in West Hartford will begin Monday; the trial will observe how traffic behavior changes when the number of travel lanes is reduced on the road between Albany Avenue (Route 44) and Farmington Avenue.
“The intent of the road diet is to slow traffic, reduce vehicular crashes, and make the corridor more accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists,” according to West Hartford’s website. After six months, the trial’s results will be closely studied to determine whether the road diet is a successful solution.
On Monday, contractors will first remove the existing markings and then temporarily lay out new markings for three travel lanes — one in each direction and with a center two-way left-turn lane — in white spray paint at night.
Assistant Town Engineer Gregory Sommer said outlining the new markings will take several days before they are repainted in permanent yellow and white roadway markings. The changes to North Main Street throughout this week are a combined effort between in-house staff and contractors, according to Sommer.
West Hartford Public Works will soon install new traffic signage and modify traffic signals at the North Main Street intersections with Fern Street and Asylum Avenue to include northbound left-turn arrows, Sommer said.
The project’s design consultant, VHB Inc., will gather data on traffic volumes, average vehicle speeds, and waiting times at intersections along the road throughout the summer and fall. The group will also monitor traffic on nearby streets, specifically Mountain
Road and Trout Brook Drive, to determine whether traffic is diverting away from North Main street because of the road diet.
Sommer explained that the trial was slightly pushed back due to the North Main Street Bridge project, which is now wrapping up. The temporary traffic signal near the intersection of Linbrook Road will be removed by Monday, according to a press release.
“With [the bridge project] nearing completion, it gave us the opportunity to move forward with the road diet,” he said. “Implement
it now over the summer [and] give drivers at least a few weeks to acclimate to it before the start of the school year.”
Planned to run for half a year, the trial should be long enough for West Hartford and VHB to examine the new travel patterns that might emerge.
“In the fall is when we’ll really start looking at the traffic impacts once the volume returns with the start of the new school year,” Sommer said.
A final evaluation of the data results will be shared near the end of the fall. Public outreach will take place throughout the winter and the final recommendation should be ready in spring 2022.
The project’s first phase in 2016, sponsored by the Capitol Region Council of Governments, was to complete a safety study on North Main street between Albany Avenue and Farmington Avenue in response to heavy and fast-going traffic. The evaluation identified a road diet as a possible solution.
The Town of West Hartford will share a public feedback survey this fall to collect the community’s input, in the meantime, residents may go online to learn more about the project at westhartfordct.gov/ roaddiet. People can also share comments or questions with VBH at 860-807-4405 or road diet@westhartfordct.gov.