Fairfield to Conduct Virtual Forum on Post Road Circle Safety Study

Fairfield, CT - The Town of Fairfield will conduct a virtual public workshop regarding the Post Road Circle Safety Study on Wednesday August 19^th, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  The workshop will take place on Microsoft Teams Platform, which can be accessed via the project website at: http://bit.ly/post-road-circle.  For those wishing to participate by phone, call in information is also provided via the web link.

The workshop will include a brief introduction of the project, a summary of the priorities expressed by the community, an analysis of traffic patterns and a presentation of preliminary concepts. The presentation will be followed by a moderated discussion of the community’s thoughts on the concepts and preferences. 

The purpose of the study is to identify safety improvements for all users of the Post Road/King’s Highway Circle. Currently, the Post Road Circle is extremely difficult for drivers and pedestrians to navigate. Limited crossings and sidewalks, minimum handicap accessibility, and inadequate transit amenities leave pedestrians underserved on a four-lane roadway with over 20,000 vehicles per day. 

Fairfield residents have been concerned about the Post Road Circle for years. The Town conducted a roadway safety audit along Post Road in 2016, which included MetroCOG, local officials, members of the Town’s bicycle and pedestrian committee, business owners and CTDOT. During a November 2017 Neighborhood Forum on transportation in the area, attendees expressed concerns about traffic speeds, pedestrian safety, and the need for bike routes and traffic calming measures. Further, there have been several public complaints registered with the Engineering Office and through the Town’s “Q Alert" system regarding crashes, speeding, and pedestrian safety.

Funded by a $375,000 State grant, the study aims to identify strategies to create a safe and attractive pedestrian environment, a robust infrastructure for bicycles, buses and other vehicles, and linkages between Downtown Fairfield, and the neighborhoods, businesses and restaurants located in the vicinity of the circle. The study area is focused on an area of the Post Road from South Benson Road to Shoreham Terrace including the “Circle” where US Route 1 and CT 130 intersect with Old Post Road and Kings Highway East.

The Town is being assisted by the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG), which is managing the project.  Fitzgerald and Halliday, Inc. (FHI) has been selected as the lead planning consultant, and has teamed with Tighe & Bond. The study is expected to be completed by early 2021. For more information about the project, including how to get more involved, visit http://bit.ly/post-road-circle. 

It is recommended that workshop participants join via computer if at all possible since there will be maps and graphics, which may not display properly on smaller devices.  Participants need not install any programs to join the event; rather, participants should select the option to “join in this browser instead.”  Additional tips and notes about joining a meeting on Microsoft Teams Platform are provided on the project website at http://bit.ly/post-road-circle.