Job 1 of our Board of Selectmen is to protect Ridgefield’s quality of life.
Our First Selectman Rudy Marconi has been in Harford three times supporting tolls. He advocates for all the benefits to the state but does not account the negative impacts on Ridgefield. Why has our Board of Selectman not reviewed or voted on this?
I have lived in Ridgefield for 29 years, and have spent a fair amount of time on the roads traveling back and forth through the center of town. It is impossible not to notice there are more cars on the road, and more congestion in Ridgefield, especially the Route 7/35 corridor. It seems it takes longer than ever to get to and from Danbury from southern Ridgefield
I looked for facts to back up my observation. The Town of Ridgefield and the Housatonic Valley Council did a 2005 Route 35 Traffic Improvement study to develop recommendations for the 6.7 mile stretch from Route 7/35 to the NY State line.
The 2005 report said traffic volumes ranged from 10,500 to 14,000 vehicles per day. Traffic experts employ a +1% annual growth factor, and you have approximately 14,000 to 17,000 vehicles in 2019. The 2005 study said 19% of those vehicles or 2800 to 3400 vehicles per day use Ridgefield as a cut through. The report also says this road has 24 traffic hot spots and intersections. 21 were rated at the lowest service levels, unsatisfactory.
As traffic increases, Governor Lamont is now looking at implementing border tolls. The Danbury Chamber of Commerce estimates that 125,000 cars a day go through Danbury. The question is if tolls are implemented how much of that traffic will potentially be diverted through Ridgefield. Every 1% of diverted traffic represents 1250 vehicles. That's a 10% increase on Ridgefield's traffic, and the number of diverted vehicles could potentially run much higher. Consider how this will impact on our roads, our air quality, our taxes and our overall quality of life.
This issue also impacts Ridgebury off exit 1. The Beaver Brook neighborhood is now seeing over 300 cars a day each way during commute hours. Tolls will make this even worse.
Ridgefield needs to have a serious discussion on this important issue, and join other Towns that border NY State to fight this. Danbury is leading the fight now with our elected state officials.
Here are some next steps to not only stop tolls but proactively improve our traffic problems.
1- The Board of Selectmen must review this toll issue, get public input and join the fight with other towns including Danbury.
2- Planning & Zoning and Police Commission should review the impact of tolls from their respective responsibilities and help fight this growing problem with actions in the Town Master Plan.
We need our Board of Selectmen to get engaged, fight tolls and work to improve our traffic problems.
Protecting Ridgefield quality of life is why this election matters do much. Learn about me at www.joesavinoforridgefield.net.
Joseph Savino
Board of Selectmen Candidate
71 St Johns Rd
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