Background and Regional Context
Route 7 is a key regional north-south roadway in Connecticut, traveling from Norwalk to the state line in Massachusetts. This section of Route 7 has had significant traffic growth through the years with increasing congestion. There has also been significant development along its entire length. The most intense or concentrated development has been in Wilton. Yet, new growth, as it spread northward from Norwalk’s urban edge and southward from the cluster of businesses at the Danbury Mall and airport, is not evenly spread along the roadway. Substantial pockets of homes on large lots and undeveloped land still occur adjacent to Route 7 north of Wilton center into Redding and through Ridgefield. Preserving community character in the face of sprawl along Route 7 is a continuing issue for these communities.
A Route 7 Expressway was considered years ago by the Connecticut Department of Transportation as well as a by-pass route. The bypass would have extended from the end of the limited-access (highway) portion of Route 7 that currently ends at Grist Mill Road to various “landing points’ in the vicinity of Kent Road and Route 33 in Wilton. These proposals never progressed beyond preliminary stages. Subsequently, a series of more localized roadway widening and intersection improvements have been completed or are underway. Opportunities to continue to widen Route 7 are becoming more and more limited, yet traffic choke points continue to be a growing problem. This study will develop a package of creative yet practical solutions to address these issues and get the best use of Route 7 in future years without compromising community character or valued environmental resources.
In the end, the study will result in a plan for Route 7 that will:
- Lay out recommended actions to improve travel.
- Look at ways to direct growth along Route 7 to meet the communities’ collective wishes or ‘vision’ for the future by identifying just what those wishes are, evaluating what is possible for Route 7 (where, how much, and what kind of growth), and determining what tools will be most useful in guiding growth to fulfill those wishes.
To accomplish these objectives, the study will focus on maximizing the capacity of existing Route 7 while improving safety. Improved access to commuter rail service will be examined and will be coordinated with current efforts by the Connecticut Department of Transportation to improve service on the Danbury Branch Line. Other mobility strategies (ways of traveling by other means) will also be explored such as enhancing sidewalks, greenways, and bicycle paths or lanes and improving bus transit. The strategies will be crafted to also complement rail service in the corridor. The study will explore opportunities for continued economic growth along the corridor using Smart Growth planning principles such as compact, mixed use, human scale, walkable communities and transit-oriented development.