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                                                     Advocates for Calm Traffic

                                                                Norwalk, Connecticut

Advocacy Items -- Current ACT Positions and Efforts                                  This page last updated 5/19/03

Check the Calendar of Events for Public Hearings -- and Email Legislators and Government Department Heads and Letters to the Editor -- to Speak Out.

Click on underlined items below (or above) to go to that site or email address  

Engineering

    Traffic Calming Projects 

    No undue widening of streets.  More lanes bring more traffic

    Preserve and promote landscaped traffic islands

    Creativity in traffic calming approaches.

    I-95 'breakdown lanes' need to remain as lanes for breakdowns and emergency use -- and not open to traffic, even during 'rush hour'.

Enforcement

    Police presence at select key locations (e.g. - Norwalk-entry highways and cut-through streets)

    Update of -- and adherence to --  the Master Plan of Development

    Reinstate the Point System so that habitual speeders lose their license instead of simply paying fines on tickets

    Bill proposed to allow some of the money collected on local speeding violations to return to the local coffers.  Currently %100 of the money goes to the state.

Education

    Multi-Departmental (Mayor's Office, Schools, DPW, P+Z, etc.) public awareness program

    Police radar trailers and increased visibility through community policing

Studies

    A citywide Traffic Summit took place on May 29 & 30 of 2002.  We will await a specific strategy plan from the City

Smart Growth and Mixed-Use Development

    Reed Putnam Mixed-Use

    Smart Growth for Norwalk Center and Wall Street.

    Support Norwalk Preservation Trust

    Committed to use of land along the Norwalk River and Harbor for people-friendly endeavors

    'No' to casinos in Bridgeport (and elsewhere in CT) that will generate unmanageable traffic volume throughout Fairfield County

    Support Village District designation for East Avenue and Rowayton Avenue

    Support West Norwalk neighborhoods in preventing zoning changes that would allow Prudential to have unmanageable traffic increases

    Advocate against zoning changes that would allow contractor's yards to legally expand.  Truck traffic and a variety of problems that occur act to erode adjacent neighborhoods Bouton/Glasser Street issues in Zoning Commission. Continue to monitor 89B Strawberry Hill Ave.

Affordable Housing

    Adoption of the Affordable Housing Task Force's seven recommendations that it released in March of 2002

Traffic Safety related to Schools

    Formation of oversight Committee to help ameliorate hazards related to school-generated traffic

    Institute programs like 'Safe Routes to School'

Pedestrian-Friendly

    Bike lanes and pedestrian walkways

    Urban Forestry -- newly appointed Tree Advisory Committee is in the process of creating a Tree Management Plan.  The Norwalk Tree Alliance is conducting an inventory of the city trees.

    Protection of Parks and Open Space -- support Friends of Oak Hill Park in protection of wooded area

    Litter control -- Enforcement, DPW, Parks and Rec., Neighborhood Cleanups. New 'Litter Ordinance' created by the Common Council

   Support establishment of new Village Districts on East Ave. and Rowayton Ave.  Public Hearing before Zoning Commission is May 5 at 7:30 PM at City Hall

Alternative Transportation

    Take necessary steps to make Amtrak work

    Greenways

    Bicycle lanes, bicycle racks on trains and buses, bicycle storage at stations

    Improved routes and schedules for buses and trains

    Addition of train station in Norwalk Center as area is revitalized

    Explore alternatives to trucks for transporting goods -- like barges on the waterways and rail for freight

    Explore potential for passenger ferries at various locations

Telecommuting, Rideshare and Flexible Work Hours

    Use of programs by businesses -- Metropool, etc.

Vehicular Noise and Emissions Control

    Support manufacturing -- and use -- of passenger vehicles and buses that use clean fuel (natural gas, electricity) and do not exceed size required. No more diesel fuel.

    Inspections on regular basis for trucks and commercial vehicles on Federal, State and Local roads

Voting for Calm Traffic -- and FOI Compliance to Maximize Public Participation

    Passage of an Ordinance by the Council that would create an FOI Advisory Board for Norwalk

Funding

    City, state and national budgets that fund Calm Traffic pathways

    Traffic Calming Projects -- $100,000 approved in city's budget for fiscal year July 2003 through June 2004. 

For more information contact ACT

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