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ACT
Advocates for Calm Traffic
Norwalk, Connecticut
ACT Actions History
2001
March
and April of 2001 ACT organized a successful lobby effort for first funding
approved in the budget for traffic calming projects. Four streets received
speed bumps through the year from the money allocated
ACT in conference with Dick Linnartz of DPW on Dec. 27, 2001 about CT DOT
and Norwalk DPW plans for changes on East Ave. that could adversely affect the
area character by creating a strip mall feel
2002
ACT contacted DOT-Metro North in Hartford and spoke with Bob Brown about
plan for 2006 to reconstruct railroad bridge over East Ave. and lower (so as
to allow increased room for oversized trucks) and widen East. Ave at that
section. He indicated that Norwalk DPW planned to widen East Ave. from
Van Zant to the I-95 in 2008 or 2009ACT contacted DOT in Hartford and spoke at length with Dave Mancini on
Jan. 3 and again on Jan. 7 regarding plans for reconstruction of East Ave.
bridge over the I-95. Plan to start work in Spring of 2003 that would
widen East Ave. at the bridge.
ACT contacted Mike Moccaie of Parks and Rec on Jan 16 and spoke at length
re. plan for soccer fields at Calf Pasture Beach. ACT expressed serious
concern re traffic problems that would resultACT working on coordinating efforts for lobby for funding of
citywide speed bumps and Van Zant/Fort Point traffic signal
Continued lobbying efforts by
Advocates for Calm Traffic (ACT) for funding for traffic calmingACT invited by Mayor Knopp
to meeting at City Hall on Jan. 30 for Leaders of Neighborhood Organizations.
Members attended and participated
ACT participated in SWRPA meeting on
Jan. 23 for pedestrian and bicycle safety as part of regional planning of
roadwaysDPW notified about increased
visibility needed for stop signs on George Ave.
ACT represented in League of Women
Voters interview with Rep Bob Duff on Feb. 15 regarding State Transportation
initiativesAdvocates for Calm Traffic (ACT) website -- CalmTrafffic.org -- on line as
of March 20. Handy contact numbers of officials and city department
staff on the site
ACT spoke at Capital Budget public hearing for funding for traffic
calming. The full $100,000 was passed by the CouncilACT, at invitation of Mayor Knopp,
presented information to the Police Commission/Traffic Authority on March 18
re guidelines for speed bumps
ACT spoke at Planning Commission
Public Hearing in support of Scenic Road designation for Fillow St. to help
avoid changes that would increase traffic problems. Designation passedACT represented at Friends of Rowayton's Environment (FORE) Forum on April
11. Laurel Lindstrom a panelist
ACT represented at Transportation Choices
Coalition of CT
(<TC3>) Traffic Calming
Presentation at Redding on April 18State Rep Bob Duff was contacted by
ACT about DOT plans for East Ave.
He contacted the DOT and will assist ACT as needed
Advocates for Calm Traffic (ACT) well represented at the May 7 meeting at
City Hall for informational meeting for the 10 streets with speed bump
approval. Turn-out was incredibleACT spoke at May Planning Commission
Public Hearing in favor of Village District designation
ACT participated in <TC3> meeting at
CT Fund for the Environment in New Haven on May 15ACT represented at Rowayton meeting
of 20 residents on April 28 about potential change in
use of the Ambler property on Rowayton Avenue that could cause increased traffic
ACT participated in May 7 meeting with
a Norwalk-Darien Route 136 committee
to study traffic solutions
Citywide Traffic Summit re-scheduled for May 29 and 30.
ACT -- with
the East Norwalk Beautification Committee and the East Avenue Neighborhood
Association -- will coordinate the East
Norwalk neighborhood summit on May 30
At the May 2 ZBA public hearing about allowing Aadvantage Refuse business
at 6 Smith St. many members of the public (including members of ACT) spoke
against it. Aadvantage withdrew its applicationSeligson preferred developer status
for Norwalk Center extended for two more years -- but lost his status for Wall
Street
ACT and EANA represented at Public
Hearing before the Zoning Commission on May 15 cautioning against Restricted
Industrial zoning change for Norden , encouraging completion of Citywide
Master Plan of Development prior to making changes and advocating for
immediate promotion by Spinnaker (owners on Norden Park) for alternatives to
single-occupancy vehicles for office workers so as to decrease traffic impacts
as Norden expandsACT represented at a meeting in West
Norwalk of 30 residents on May 19 at the home of Councilman Krummel.
Residents concerned re traffic that would result if a proposed zoning change
occurred at the Prudential property on Weed Ave.
At the invitation of Mayor Knopp
Laurel Lindstrom, ACT president, was a Panelist on the Traffic Calming Forum
on May 30 as part of the 2-day citywide Traffic Summit. The Forum was
taped for the record.ACT members from around Norwalk were
involved in informing their neighbors for the need to submit the approval
document for speed bumps to the DPW. Of the 10 streets with conceptual
approval 9 streets as of May 30 have more than 66% approval -- so will get
speed bumps. Gregory Blvd. (south of Fifth) did not get 66% but may get
speed bumps on the portion of the street where the residents are in favor of
the bumps.
ACT advocated for passage of a Tree
Ordinance. Council voted in favor on June 7, creating a Tree Ordinance
and Tree Advisory CommitteeACT in contact with Dick Linnartz of
DPW to monitor the outcome of saving the traffic islands at Highland and Flax
Hill. Outcome was favorable
ACT quarterly newsletter The Norwalk
Roundabout (Volume 1 Issue 1) published for July. Available by June 30 on
the ACT website in Adobe Acrobat.
By invitation ACT became a member of
Transportation Choices Coalition of CT (<TC3>) on July 5
Speakers at Wall Street Forum on July
24 spoke in a matter-of-fact way about increased traffic on East Avenue
heading to and from the I-95 Exit 16 as if it would be a necessary part of
development on Wall Street. ACT members present at forum. ACT
believes that all traffic concerns must be addressed and remedied at every
stage of the processACT represented at public hearing of
the Ordinance Committee on July 25 to speak in favor of new home ownership
program that would create homes closer to place of employment resulting in
shorter commutes and less congestion on the highways
ACT represented Sept. 26 at public
session of SWRPA presentation of Vision 2020 transportation plan. ACT
encouraged specific planning re budgeting strategies for initiatives proposed.ACT involved in meetings during
November and December with neighborhood associations, developers and city departments regarding traffic
concerns from changes in zoning regulations at Norden Park to allow
educational facilities.
ACT working with city departments to
assist neighborhood around 89B Strawberry Hill Avenue contractor's yard
regarding increased truck traffic.2003
ACT represented at Feb. 4 Capital
Budget Public Hearing of the Planning Commission to speak in favor of keeping
the recommended $100, 000 in the budget for traffic calming. Testimony
given re the safely and quality of life concerns of residents on all the
streets that have requested traffic calming.ACT actively supported CT State House
Bill 5572 proposed by Rep. Bob Duff to provide municipalities with revenue
from speeding infractions committed within such municipalities. Bill
went to public hearing on Feb. 26.
ACT represented at DOT Commuter
Shoulder Project meeting on May 6 and spoke in opposition to opening I-95
breakdown lanes to rush hour trafficACT continues involved in efforts by
Rowayton and Darien residents to alleviate truck traffic problems on Rte. 136
2004
With
the formation of the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhoods (CNNA), a citywide
neighborhood-driven organization that was co-founded by ACT Chairwoman Laurel
Lindstrom, ACT changed its structure. ACT became entirely a website advocacy
movement, leaving other neighborhood traffic calming advocacy efforts to the
CNNA and other neighborhood focused groups and associations.
Below are links to historic pages re ACT prior to its reorganization in 2004
Letters
from You and Articles in the Press
The Norwalk Roundabout: ACT Newsletter Index Page
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