Walking, Biking & Safe Streets

Stamford’s downtown was nearly completely rebuilt in the latter half of the 20th Century. While the new gleaming office towers, mall, and later apartment buildings were the most visible manifestation of this transformation, what is often less acknowledged is how different the streets became as part of this urban renewal.

Narrow streets that combined trolley service with car traffic and robust pedestrian activity were replaced by fewer and more direct roads that elevated car movement above all else. A concept of a ring of urban arterials made up of Broad Street, Greyrock Place, Tresser Boulevard, and Washington Boulevard with Atlantic Street in the middle had their traffic divided with landscaped or concrete medians to limit turning movements and facilitate traffic flow. We now know that mixed-use streets can be safer and provide more value to the adjacent properties, creating places where people want to spend their time rather than pass through.

Over the last few years, several streets have been reconfigured including most notably Greyrock Place’s median removal and addition of bike lanes. Significant future projects are planned and funded. In the near term, downtown’s transportation infrastructure will better meet the needs of a broad range of users and calm through traffic for people who live, work, and visit this vibrant neighborhood. Additionally, the Mayor’s Vision Zero task force is working to overhaul enforcement and education along with these street redesigns with the ultimate goal of zero road fatalities by 2033.

 The following projects are currently underway or recently completed:

Greyrock Place – RECENTLY COMPLETED
The concrete median was removed, allowing for the creation of a northbound Class II bike lane.

Lower Summer Street – UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The sidewalks from Broad Street to Summer Place were widened up to eight feet to provide more room for pedestrians and enable a longer outdoor dining season. Festoon lighting strung across the street make this space feel like an urban room. For the first time in Stamford, the road was raised to the level of the sidewalk so that when it is closed for special events, the space will feel like one large piazza.

Bedford and Forest Street – IN DESIGN
To expand outdoor dining and public space while mitigating safety concerns at one of the city’s busiest and most dangerous pedestrian crossings, this intersection is being completely redesigned. The small surface parking lot will be converted into a permanent piazza and several parking spaces will be replaced on the east side of Bedford Street. The piazza will be extended into Latham Park via an elevated crosswalk that places pedestrians first.

Atlantic Street from Tresser Blvd to Broad St – IN DESIGN
The concrete median will be removed and replaced with new bike lanes and some additional on-street parking. The intersection of Atlantic Street and Main Street will be raised to create a safer pedestrian connection between Old Town Hall and Veterans Memorial Park. Significant upgrades will be made on the eastern side of the street where the ramp to mall upper garage enters the intersection. With an emphasis on landscaping and sidewalk safety, car access will be maintained in a way that doesn’t interfere with walking paths.

Broad Street from Atlantic St to Greyrock Pl – IN DESIGN
The landscaped median will be removed and replaced with new bike lanes and parking along the north side of the street in support of the retail there. The sidewalk and streetscape quality on the north side of this block will finally match the high quality pedestrian realm on the south side.

North State Street – IN DESIGN
The frontage road to I-95 will be narrowed and redesigned to incorporate robust landscaping and a greenway on the north side that will create a safe connection between the eastern Tresser Boulevard office complexes and the train station and downtown core. The greenway will link from Mill River Greenway in the West to the city’s East Side.

Washington Boulevard from Station Pl to Hoyt St – IN DESIGN
The CT Department of Transportation recently completed a road safety audit that identified a series of improvements to this corridor. Early funded improvements include a raised intersection at Richmond Hill Avenue and a raised intersection with robust pedestrian enhancements at Main Street.

Mill River Park and Greenway – ONGOING
Since 2009, major improvements along the Mill River have created new pedestrian paths and park amenities on downtown’s western edge. Recently completed projects include the northern greenway connection from Broad Street to North Street. Currently under construction is the western greenway connection from Richmond Hill Avenue to Tresser Boulevard and a new playground. Funding was recently awarded towards the construction of the Community Commons within the Downtown along Washington Boulevard between Broad Street and Main Street and the crucially important greenway connection across the Northeast Corridor and I-95 enabling the greenway to link Downtown and the South End.

Stamford Transportation Center – IN DESIGN
The CT Department of Transportation recently released a plan for the future of the transportation center and anticipates building the improvements in 2027.

Micro-Transit – IN DESIGN
The City received a CT Department of Transportation grant to add a micro-transit service to supplement private shuttles and CT Transit longer distance bus routes. It is expected that this service will provide a frequent and convenient link between Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.