Getting around town may soon get a little bit easier for those traveling by foot. The Board of Selectmen (BOS) heard updates on three potential pedestrian improvement projects at its Nov. 19 meeting. The projects come as part of the town's Complete Streets Resolution.

Adopted in March 2020 by the BOS, the Complete Streets Resolution was established to "improve safety, mobility options, and connectivity while preserving and enhancing Guilford's scenic, historic, and environmental resources," according to the resolution. The policy enables the town to utilize transportation funds to improve transit for "non-motorized users," especially in areas that connect to public transit and schools.

Since then, the town's engineering department has been working to develop projects aimed at improving the town's walkability with a number of improvements to sidewalks, pavement markings, and signage.

Town Engineer Janice Plaziak and Assistant Town Engineer Michael Ciacciarella presented three new projects to the BOS on Nov. 19, which would improve walkability near the Guilford/Madison Town Line on Boston Post Road, near Guilford Lakes Elementary School, and on Long Hill Road.

According to Ciacciarella, the engineering department is seeking to extend the sidewalks on Boston Post Road to the Madison town line. Ciacciarella said the construction would include a five-foot wide concrete sidewalk with curb ramps, crosswalks, signage, and a bus stop platform. He said the project is estimated to cost $740,000.

“We were lucky enough to receive a Connecticut Department of Transportation Community Connectivity Grant, covering around $700,000 towards this project,” Ciacciarella said. “The rest will be covered here in-house.”

First Selectman Matt Hoey explained that the project would affect approximately 161 residential homes. Slides prepared for the department's presentation noted that four commercial businesses, two hotels, and three existing CT Transit bus stops are located within 1/2 mile from the project. According to the presentation, the expanded sidewalk connections would provide safe access to the town of Madison, Yale New Haven Hospital Shoreline Medical Center, Soundview Road industrial area, the Boston Post Road business district, Calvin Leete Elementary School, the Guilford Town Green, Guilford Town Hall, Guilford Free Library, the fairgrounds, and the Guilford Housing Authority.

A second proposed project on North Maidson Road would connect to Beech Road, Lakeside Drive, Echo Point Road, and White Birch Road. The project would improve existing sidewalks and add new five-foot-wide concrete sidewalks and crosswalks, impacting the Guilford Lakes area, including the elementary school and the golf course. A slide prepared by the engineering department indicated that 200 residences and three commercial businesses would be impacted. While being on a busy road, Plaziak said the project aims to improve pedestrian safety. The cost of this project is expected to be approximately $860,400, with no concrete funding source found yet.

“We do believe we have some sidewalk funds to at least start on the east end of the crossing,” Plaziak said. “We will be seeking other funding sources, as well as fine-tuning our plan.”

Plaziak said the department is also eyeing improvements to Long Hill Road. Like the other two projects, it will help to improve the quality of sidewalks and crosswalks on this road, making it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles to access the road.

Still in earlier planning stages, Plaziak could not offer a cost estimate or potential funding source for the project. She presented the BOS with several improvement alternatives, including 10-foot-wide shared-use paths for both pedestrians and bikers or a five-foot-wide sidewalk with a six-foot-wide bike lane. Conceptual plans for all three projects are available on the engineering department's section of the town website.

For more information and to review the presentation slides, visit www.guilfordct.gov.