A December 31 deadline is approaching for those who want their input registered as part of an overarching study that will help guide future plans for traffic operation improvements, safety upgrades and addressing areas of frequent flooding/future sea level rise along the Route 146 corridor between Branford and Guilford.

The study, requested by the Towns of Branford and Guilford in 2019 and conducted by South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), is funded through SCRCOG's two-year Unified Planning Work Program, which uses federal, state and regional planning dollars undertake studies for the 15 municipalities served by SCRCOG. Funding availability for the study ends on June 30, 2021. More information is available at https://scrcog.org

The SCRCOG study is independent of Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and intends to outline roadway issues and corridor characteristics to be considered as general guidelines when future road projects are undertaken by CTDOT on the state road. The study also intends to develop short term, mid-term and long term recommendations for the corridor.

According to SCRCOG, the area under consideration stretches from Route 146's western Route 1 (North Main Street) junction in Branford to the eastern Route 1 (Boston Post Road) junction in Guilford. However, the SCRCOG study does not wade into the waters of CTDOT's paused replacement proposed for the deteriorating Route 146 "crabbing bridge." The original bridge replacement design presented by CTDOT in 2019 was met with deafening opposition when publicly aired. The project was then paused by CTDOT to address considerations due to the public response and remains under the purview of CTDOT.

According to information shared at SCRCOG's website, the purpose of the current Route 146 corridor study is outlining general characteristics which will then become points of consideration as general guidelines for future roadway projects to be developed within the corridor. Future projects undertaken by CTDOT are anticipated to be 100 percent covered by Federal Highway Administration funds. 

In order to give the public and others interested in the study chance to review the existing condition project study information gathered to date by SCRCOG, and to provide an opporutunity to give input to the study efforts, SCRCOG publicized and hosted a virtual public information meeting on Dec. 1; a recording of which can be viewed at https://scrcog.org/

The window for public input to be made part of the Dec. 1 meeting record expires on Dec. 31, 2020.

Information gathered by SCRCOG will inform the Study Advisory Committee (SAC) which will draft the completed study. A public information meeting to share the study is anticipated be held in the spring of 2021, when the study would be ready to become adopted by the two towns.

On a Mission: Friends of Historic Route 146

As stated at its recently-launched website, a citizens group made up of local stakeholders, Friends of Historic Route 146, is on a mission to "preserve the unique historic, scenic, recreational and residential character and ensure continued public enjoyment of Historic Route 146."

Members of the group have corresponded with SCRCOG and CTDOT in an effort to ensure proper steps and time are being taken so that a full consideration of the unique characteristics of Route 146 are being framed into the study and future projects along the corridor.  The group shared some recent correspondance with Zip06/Shore Publishing Newspapers; a call to SCRCOG's Deputy Director of Transportation providing an opportunity for further input for this story was not returned.

Through its website and other outreach efforts, Friends of Historic Route 146 is now asking other interested stakeholders to back the group's effort to provide input to the SCRCOG study so that it recognizes not only problem areas of corridor and its local scenic aspects; but also strongly weaves in certain irreplaceable resources; such as its close proximity to a wealth of historic homes and barns, the need to protect indigenous natural resources and scenery, safe and practical applications to allow continued recreational use, and other important attributes and qualities of the unique road. In addition to its designation as a state scenic route (a point that is noted in the SCRCOG study underway), the Friends also feel the study should strongly consider other unique aspects, such as the corridor's run through three different National Register Historic Districts.

While SCRCOG has noted that the current study underway is not the same as final design plans for future projects, Friends of Historic Route 146 are anxious to have the SCRCOG study incorporate input that would play into any final future designs. They say signage, traffic calming measures and other well thought design measures need to be considered now.

Key principles the group feels should be incorporated into the study include: preservation management of the road as a special resource; safety for cyclists and pedestrians by implementing practices and installations to discourage speeding; managing the special points along the road as community resources;  restrictions to types of vehicle traffic to help retain quiet enjoyment provided by the corridor's natural preserve surrounds;  preserving historic structures, landscape and features of the roadway;  management of natural areas to maintain the corridor's healthy ecosystem; and recognizing/addressing increased risks of rising tides and storms without abandoning the historic and scenic nature of the road.

Input provided by citizens for the SCRCOG Route 146 Corridor Study should be directed to Stephen Dudley, Deputy Director/Director of Transportation SCRCOG, Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven, CT 06473; or by phone at (203) 234-7555 or email to Sdudley@scrcog.org  Public comments should be received by December 31, 2020 to be included in the record of the Dec. 1 meeting.