The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Corridor study: Residents say traffic’s a problem
TORRINGTON — Many people agree: traffic on East Main Street is no joke.
Issues ranging from getting out of a parking lot unscathed to finding shortcuts to avoid the road altogether were raised during this week’s public workshops, part of the city’s East Main Street/Route 202 corridor study.
Residents and business owners had a chance to share what they perceive as problems navigating the road, which is home to car dealerships, Target, Walmart and Petco, Home Depot, numerous restaurants, salons and retail stores as well as office buildings. The corridor runs from downtown Torrington to
the New Hartford line. This section of road is not only the city’s western gateway but also the economic center for the entire region, according to Economic Development Director Rista Malanca.
Commercial growth on what was once a country road has had many effects on the
businesses and residents who live and work along the corridor. Val Ferro from Good Earth Advisors joined Malanca to lead Zoom discussions with business owners in the morning and residents in the evening.
“My main concern is the traffic up on my end,” Phil Kozlak, owner of Koslak’s Nursery at 1377 E. Main St.. said Thursday. He is in the midst of a busy section of the roadway and Durand Street, near a shopping plaza.
Kozlak said his customers use Durand Street to get to his business to avoid the traffic light on Torringford West. “It’s worrisome for people living on Dibble and Durand streets, because it’s a residential area,” he said. “It’s very hard to turn, for people traveling east.”
Alfred DeMasi, owner of Smart Set Hair Design at 31 Durand St., also spoke up. “I can agree with what Phil said,” he said. “We’re 50 feet away from each other. ... East Main at (one) time was a dirt road, that’s how long I’ve been there.
“From Buena Vista
Avenue up, past Jimmy’s Store, Cumberland Farms, all the way up to Moscarillo’s and the car dealerships, the traffic has increased,” DeMasi said. “I’ve warned customers if they want to turn east out of Durand Street, it’s very hazardous.”
Ferro asked whether the growth of businesses on the corridor had helped or hurt their businesses. “It’s remained constant,” DeMasi said. “Our patrons are local.”
Ferro also wondered whether people “bundled” their trips to that area of town, meaning a person would go to the grocery store, buy gas and shop at Walmart, in one visit, for example.
“They make other stops,” DeMasi said. “Most of our customers are within 10 miles of us, so they’re going to go to BJ’s, Stop & Shop, get gas. So it’s easy to bundle things.”
“My elderly customers won’t even go on East Main Street,” Kozlak said. “They’ll drive any which way to avoid East Main Street. They’re fearful about driving on it.”
The city and the Northwest Hills Council of Governments obtained a grant from the state Department of Transportation as part of its National Highway Performance Program to do the study, to analyze and evaluate traffic congestion, development opportunities and pedestrian and bicycle safety.
A major part of this study includes hearing from the users of this corridor. Before any recommendations can be made, a thorough analysis of traffic, circulation, pedestrian facilities and development, along with significant public outreach, must be conducted. The results of these analyses, along with information received from the public, will provide a foundation upon which specific recommendations will be made, according to the city.
Jim Rokas, a longtime resident who owns several properties in the city, said traffic was a problem. “In the years I’ve lived here, traffic has increased tremendously, he said.
Rokas also brought up parking on the eastern end of the corridor, closer to downtown. “There are at least 100 spaces downtown, but people don’t like to walk. If they can’t see the store where they want to go, they don’t want to park further away,” he said.
Rokas said he was against parking meters. “Especially for downtown Torrington,” he said. “Downtown is suffering for reasons we don’t even understand, and then someone stops and runs in for a Subway and they come out and get a $10 ticket.”
Ferro, who is collecting the comments for the study, pointed to West Hartford as an example of a good parking plan. “You can park in front of a store for 15 minutes, and if you’re there less than 15 minutes, it’s free,” she said. “
City Planner Marty Connor said the recently completed Franklin Square Plaza has plenty of free parking. “If you park a little further in the public lots, it’s free. If you’re willing to walk a little ways, then it keeps spaces (open) in front of the stores,” he said.
City Council member Sharon Waagner said she was joining the discussion as a town resident. “We create drivearounds to avoid certain areas of town,” she said. “Some sidewalk areas on East Main are very narrow, with telephone poles in the middle of them, and that’s a main concern, to see people walking in the road.
“Also, traffic flow at Torringford West and East Main is a hazard, pulling in and out,” Waagner said. “It’s hard to get in and out of our commercial businesses, especially when you get closer to town.”
Resident Tom Kandefer, a member of the Torrington Trails Committee, said his main interest was the ability to walk from Burger King at the Elm Street intersection to downtown. “Traffic engineers are aware of the need to improve the sidewalks there,” he said. He advised the study committee to discuss those issues with Planning and Zoning Commission members as well as Connor.
Regarding Torringtford West Street and East Main Street, “Too much is happening in too little space,” he said.
Marie Soliani, who recently was named Italian Mayor of the Day, said, “East Main Street needs to be done, badly.”
“The road needs to be resurfaced,” she said. “It’s like a washboard. When people come to our city, it doesn’t show a very pretty front door. I thought the road was going to be paved this year, but that’s not happening.”
Another resident who identified herself as Marcy said she moved to the city three years ago. “I avoid East Main Street at all costs because of the congestion,” she said. “The road is bad, and the traffic is very frustrating.”
Ferro and Malanca found everyone’s comments “extremely helpful.”
“We are planning some more of these groups, so hopefully more people will join,” Ferro said. “Once we (end) this call, if you have other thoughts, please reach out to us.”
Ferro said the study committee will introduce recommendations to help resolve parking and traffic issues in December.
For more information, visit the City of Torrington’s Economic Development webpage at www.torringtonct.org/ economic-development/pages/e-main-streetcorridor-study or contact Economic Development Director Rista Malanca at 860-496-5920 or Rista_Malanca@torringtonct.org.