Meeting Summary, October 6, 2022
Attending: Hultgren, Waldburger, Manizza, Manville
This was a very informal meeting, as two of the four people attending didn’t arrive until 7:20 pm. Some of the items in the meeting notice were then discussed by the four attendees.
Early in the meeting Manville and Hultgren discussed the potential bike and safety improvements being considered for Route 275 between Separatist Road and route 195. While it is our understanding that the two grant projects from Maple Road east to Rte 195 (now being designed by the Town’s DPW) incorporate boulevard-type islands at the 195 end, refuge islands and crosswalk warning beacons at Eastwood and Westwood roads, improved bike lanes, a multi-use path from Maple to Separatist and a possible roundabout at Maple Road, the DOT has a project in design to add a signal to the 275/Separatist Road intersection – which was thought to be a bad idea by most of the area’s bicycle advocates (as discussed at the September Bike Mansfield meeting). Apparently, there is new traffic count data on the use of this intersection collected by the Town during UConn’s fall session when Hillside Road has been closed to through traffic, which could also suggest a signal at this location might not be optimal. Research on this via contacts at the Town and DOT will continue, and it is suggested that a few advocates speak at the Town Council’s audience of citizens at its Monday Oct 24th meeting (note: this opportunity for the public to address the Council begins promptly at 7:00 pm).
Hultgren said that the newly revised draft of the Town’s bicycle/pedestrian master plan was now done and it will be placed on the DPW’s website for review and comment. (Here is the link:
https://www.mansfieldct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15044/Final-BikePedPlanDraftupdateOct6edited8?bidId=
One idea that is not in the current plan was for the section of Hunting Lodge Road from North Eagleville Road to Separatist road, which is now closed to through traffic due to a large culvert failure, could be closed to through traffic permanently to cars and trucks (but remain open to bicycles and pedestrians).
Manizza said that volunteers were still needed to help with the Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross race on Oct 16th, which is a Sunday. The sign up link is: https://volunteersignup.org/events/summary/414282
The discussions concluded at approximately 8:07 pm.
Lon Hultgren, Secretary Treasurer
hultgrenlr981@gmail.com