West Hartford’s Engineering Division and consultant VHB shared the details of updates planned for New Park Avenue.

Rendering of cross section of New Park Avenue updates, looking north. Courtesy of Town of West Hartford

By Ronni Newton

Although the overall width of New Park Avenue will not change, the stretch of roadway between New Britain Avenue and Oakwood Avenue will soon undergo a transformation that will include a road diet with a two-way center left-turn lane and the installation of a separated two-way bike lane.

West Hartford Assistant Town Engineer Jim Brennan, along with Joe Balskus and Dan Amstutz from consultant VHB, shared details of the Complete Streets plan for the roadway, and answered questions from the roughly 15 members of the public who attended an informational session Tuesday night at the Elmwood Community Center.

The overall project is expected to cost approximately $6 million based on the semi-final design plans, Brennan said. Plans to improve the New Park Avenue streetscape have been in the works for years, with the initial grant funding from the state announced in 2018. He said the town has obtained a total of $3.7 million in grant funds, and will be contributing the remaining estimated $2.3 million through the Capital Improvement Program.

When the initial New Park Avenue Transit Area Complete Streets Study was commissioned in 2017, the resulting recommendations were for a road diet along with other improvements to benefit pedestrians and bicyclists. Due to public input, however, the town stepped back from the initial concept which called for an unprotected bike lane on each side of the road, and brought in VHB as a consultant to assist. Balskus, of VHB, was previously involved with the town’s study and implementation of the North Main Street road diet.

Balskus said Tuesday that the plans are not to completely rip up the roadway. “We will retain most of the curbing,” he said, but while the curb-to-curb width will not change, the road will be milled and repaved before re-striping of the existing four-lane road to include one lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane, as well as separated two-way bike lanes on the west side of New Park Avenue. Traffic signals will be modified, and lighting will be replaced, he said. Sidewalks with a width of at least 5 feet will remain on both sides of the road, and sections will be repaired as necessary.

Details of site plan for a section of New Park Avenue after Complete Streets updates. Courtesy of Town of West Hartford

The bike lanes will be a total of 9 feet wide, and will be separated from the roadway by sections of 2-foot-wide, 6-inch-tall concrete curbs. It’s not a complete barrier, Balskus said, but it does offer some protection. Neon green paint will be used at driveways and road crossings that intersect the bike lane.

Amstutz, who is a senior transportation planner with VHB, said they designed the same type of concrete buffers for a project in Washington, DC. VHB has also worked on separated two-way bike lanes in New Haven and Cambridge, MA, although those have flexible posts as barriers.

Rendering of cross section of New Park Avenue update. Courtesy of Town of West Hartford

The bike lane will also connect to the entrance to the Trout Brook Trail along the north side of Trout Brook, just south of 625 New Park Avenue.

The length of the roadway that will be transformed is roughly 3,800 linear feet, Balskus said, between New Britain Avenue to just past Oakwood Avenue at the entrance to the parking lot for Home Depot.

On the northern end, the separated two-way bike lane will end at Talcott Road, however, and the stretch just north of that will be a multi-use trail for pedestrians and cyclists. There will also be a dedicated left-turn lane for Talcott Road, Balskus said.

The reason for the transition to a multi-use path: “We ran out of pavement,” said Balskus.

Rendering of cross section of New Park Avenue update. Courtesy of Town of West Hartford

The southern terminus of the separated two-way bike lane is at the corner of New Britain Avenue, Balskus said. The sidewalk area at that corner (in front of the former Corner Pug, soon-to-be Laurel restaurant) will be expanded and cyclists will be able to use the pedestrian signal if they want to turn left onto New Britain Avenue. The drive lanes headed southbound will be modified so that one lane is for turning left and the other is for turning right. Currently a left turn can be made from either lane but according to VHB this will improve safety and traffic flow.

Several new crosswalks will be added along New Park Avenue, including near GastroPark and at Oakwood Avenue, which will have rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) for added pedestrian safety, and raised medians with landscaping will be added in certain areas. Bus stops will be enhanced as well, and in the bus stop areas the bike lanes will be raised to sidewalk height.

Jpe Balskus (left) and Dan Amstutz from VHB share details of the planned Complete Streets update for New Park Avenue at a public information session on Sept. 17, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Members of the public who attended the meeting offered comments and asked questions, and were overall supportive of the project. One resident, who is originally from Montreal, said this type of design is very common there. Amstutz said the use of separated bike lanes in this part of the country is “evolving,” but still not common.

Erik Castiglione, owner of Viking Athletics and an officer with the Elmwood Business Association, expressed his thanks for the plans to change the turn lanes at New Britain Avenue, and asked if there is coordination with the state which just added bike lanes and a road diet to a portion of New Britain Avenue – east of this project. Brennan said he hopes there will be the opportunity for improved coordination with the state in the future. There are some plans for Hartford’s bike trail system to connect to West Hartford in the Piper Brook area, and also a study about connecting to the busway trail in Newington, he added.

Castiglione will be moving his business from 635 New Park to a building at 433 New Park which is north of the project area, and also asked about the second phase of Complete Streets on New Park Avenue, which Brennan said is not in the works yet.

One resident asked if a roundabout had been considered for this stretch of roadway. Balskus noted that this is actually “National Roundabout Week,” and said while it was considered, “it wouldn’t work here,” particularly at the intersection with Oakwood Avenue where there is a railroad crossing nearby. Roundabouts are uncommon in this area, but he said VHB does consider them where it’s feasible.

Several attendees expressed concern about tractor trailers, but the center left-turn lane actually helps southbound traffic, and northbound the turning radius is unchanged, Balskus said. In response to a specific concern raised, Balskus said they will take a further look possible modifications at the driveway near Holland Kitchen where a utility pole already makes it difficult for large trucks to negotiate.

Ethan Frankel of Bike West Hartford asked how vehicles would be prevented from entering the separated two-way bike lane, and Amstutz said concrete barriers would be used.

One resident expressed concern about safety in areas where bicyclists cross driveways. The neon green markings are intended to enhance safety, Balskus said, but having the bike lane “does add some complication in your decision making” for drivers.

“This is a complete street improvement project. It’s for everyone,” Balskus said, for all users of roadways.

One resident, an urban planner, said he doesn’t think “serious bicyclists” are going to use the separated two-way bike lane because it’s too narrow and not safe enough. He said he would only expect people who can’t afford any other means of transportation to use the lanes.

“I hope to prove you wrong,” Balskus said. While it would be great to have wider bike lanes, there is only so much pavement available. “We’re right-sizing this project tow work with the limitations we have here.”

Brennan said widening the roadway to add another foot or two could add another $1 million or more to the project. “The sis the best balance, best solution,” he said.

Rendering of cross section of New Park Avenue update. Courtesy of Town of West Hartford

After incorporating public feedback and finalizing the designs, the intent is to bid the project this winter, Brennan said, and to have a contractor hired by the spring of 2025 so the majority of the project can be completed next summer, beginning with modifying a few driveway aprons at a time. Some work may stretch into 2026, he said.

“Thank you for this. You’re knocking it out of the park,” Frankel said.

A PDF of the entire design is attached below.

Anyone interested in obtaining more information or providing input may also contact the West Hartford Engineering Division at 860-561-7540. Additional details will also be posted on the project Facebook page.

New Park Avenue Complete Streets Public Information Session. Sept. 17, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab