Stamford's transitway gets final touches amid delays, congestion
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
October 26, 2017
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stamford-urban-transitway-completes-second-phase-12306689.php
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
October 26, 2017
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Stamford-urban-transitway-completes-second-phase-12306689.php
STAMFORD — As workers scurried to finish the last bit of paving on Myrtle Avenue at East Main Street, Mayor David Martin stood at the opposite end of the corridor snipping a bright red ribbon with gold-colored scissors, marking the overall completion of the urban transitway’s second phase following two years of delays.
The $52 million project was approved in July 2013 to create a four-lane roadway on Myrtle Avenue between Elm and East Main streets, which would allow for easier passage between the Stamford Transportation Center and U.S. Route 1 on the east side.
“This is a crucial project that we have in the City of Stamford,” Martin said during the ceremony. “It connects our train station all the way through the east side, and I’m just so happy that we’re finally getting it done and getting it open. Quite frankly, I didn’t think we would actually get it done at this point in time, but we were able to work things out and get it done.”
Despite Thursday’s celebration, the project is not yet 100 percent complete, according to the mayor’s office.
The last of the paving will be finished Friday, the mayor’s office said, while landscaping, the marking of crosswalks and other checklist items are slated for completion in the coming months.
Originally expected to take two years to complete, the project has faced multiple delays due to weather and the discovery of old buried infrastructure such as trolley tracks, train tracks and water lines.
Kathryn Emmett, director of legal affairs, in July had attributed much of the delay to the relocation of utility poles and underground equipment taking longer than anticipated. Design changes made by the state during the course of the project were also a factor, she said.
The delays occurred despite efforts to avoid problems that arose during the first phase of the project under former Mayor Michael Pavia’s administration.
That first phase, which cost $65 million, was completed in 2012 and created a commuter pathway between Elm and Atlantic streets. It came in $5.3 million over budget and more that a year behind schedule.
Throughout this phase, the project faced some pushback from businesses along Myrtle Avenue and a portion of East Main Street. The main complaint stemmed from the city’s controversial decision to eliminate street parking along Myrtle Avenue and the affected section of East Main Street due to a lack of space.
Martin said Thursday that the city is working to resolve the parking concerns.
”(Parking) is a constant issue around the city, but in this particular case ... there were a couple of lots that were used for staging during construction and what we’re trying to figure out is if we can keep those lots and turn them into public parking lots," he told the Stamford Advocate. “But those details haven’t been 100 percent resolved.”
Martin said he is “about 95 percent certain” regarding one of the lots, but it would most likely not be ready until next spring or summer. The other lot is still up in the air.
”You want to get parking off the street, particularly on a major street,” he said, adding that street parking on major roads can disrupt traffic flow and pose a safety threat to drivers and those entering and exiting their vehicles.
Other complaints centered around traffic congestion on Myrtle Avenue causing significant delays and deterring patrons from venturing into the area.
Now that the transitway is open, Martin said he expects to see improved traffic flow through the area.
Ultimately, Martin said he believes businesses along the corridor will see increased patronage as a result of the transitway, “because people are now able to get to them.”
The mayor’s office said the third phase of the transitway project, which will widen East Main Street between Courtland and Lincoln avenues, is currently in the ”concept and environmental assessment” phase.
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
The $52 million project was approved in July 2013 to create a four-lane roadway on Myrtle Avenue between Elm and East Main streets, which would allow for easier passage between the Stamford Transportation Center and U.S. Route 1 on the east side.
“This is a crucial project that we have in the City of Stamford,” Martin said during the ceremony. “It connects our train station all the way through the east side, and I’m just so happy that we’re finally getting it done and getting it open. Quite frankly, I didn’t think we would actually get it done at this point in time, but we were able to work things out and get it done.”
Despite Thursday’s celebration, the project is not yet 100 percent complete, according to the mayor’s office.
The last of the paving will be finished Friday, the mayor’s office said, while landscaping, the marking of crosswalks and other checklist items are slated for completion in the coming months.
Originally expected to take two years to complete, the project has faced multiple delays due to weather and the discovery of old buried infrastructure such as trolley tracks, train tracks and water lines.
Kathryn Emmett, director of legal affairs, in July had attributed much of the delay to the relocation of utility poles and underground equipment taking longer than anticipated. Design changes made by the state during the course of the project were also a factor, she said.
The delays occurred despite efforts to avoid problems that arose during the first phase of the project under former Mayor Michael Pavia’s administration.
That first phase, which cost $65 million, was completed in 2012 and created a commuter pathway between Elm and Atlantic streets. It came in $5.3 million over budget and more that a year behind schedule.
Throughout this phase, the project faced some pushback from businesses along Myrtle Avenue and a portion of East Main Street. The main complaint stemmed from the city’s controversial decision to eliminate street parking along Myrtle Avenue and the affected section of East Main Street due to a lack of space.
Martin said Thursday that the city is working to resolve the parking concerns.
”(Parking) is a constant issue around the city, but in this particular case ... there were a couple of lots that were used for staging during construction and what we’re trying to figure out is if we can keep those lots and turn them into public parking lots," he told the Stamford Advocate. “But those details haven’t been 100 percent resolved.”
Martin said he is “about 95 percent certain” regarding one of the lots, but it would most likely not be ready until next spring or summer. The other lot is still up in the air.
”You want to get parking off the street, particularly on a major street,” he said, adding that street parking on major roads can disrupt traffic flow and pose a safety threat to drivers and those entering and exiting their vehicles.
Other complaints centered around traffic congestion on Myrtle Avenue causing significant delays and deterring patrons from venturing into the area.
Now that the transitway is open, Martin said he expects to see improved traffic flow through the area.
Ultimately, Martin said he believes businesses along the corridor will see increased patronage as a result of the transitway, “because people are now able to get to them.”
The mayor’s office said the third phase of the transitway project, which will widen East Main Street between Courtland and Lincoln avenues, is currently in the ”concept and environmental assessment” phase.
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
