The most current draft of the Complete Streets Policy is available for viewing on the Town of West Hartford’s website, and additional comments are welcome.

Several years ago the Town of West Hartford painted bike lanes on Mountain Road so it would be safer when shared by vehicles and bicyclists. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (file photo)

By Ronni Newton

The Town of West Hartford has nearly completed the process of finalizing its Complete Streets policy, but there is still an opportunity for the public to add their comments.

According to Town Planner Todd Dumais, a final draft of the policy was originally set to be voted on by the Town Council during its May 12, 2015 meeting, but that document has been referred back to the Community Planning Subcommittee due to proposed changes recommended by the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

The Community Planning Subcommittee will discuss the changes at its May 18 meeting, and at that point it will likely be placed on the agenda for consideration by the Town Council, Dumais said.

Those who would like to comment in advance of the meeting can address their comments to the Town Council in care of Essie Labrot, Town Clerk/Council Clerk by email at [email protected] or by mail to the following address: Town of West Hartford Town Council, Attn: Essie Labrot, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107.

To review the most current draft, click here.

According to a news release from the Town of West Hartford, the Complete Streets policy was created using best practices from the American Planning Association and from peer communities. The Complete Streets Policy includes rights-of-ways (roads, sidewalks, etc.) that are planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained in such a way as to enable safe, comfortable and convenient access by users of all ages and abilities, including but not limited to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and drivers.

The Town actively promotes safe streets through engineering, education and enforcement of all of its rights-of-ways and the Complete Streets Policy will be a tool used to ensure that road construction and reconstruction projects are planned, funded, designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the Complete Streets principles.