Proposed Broad Street Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Project
Referendum
March 11, 2025
The Traffic Calming and Pedestrian Safety Project proposes a reduction from two lanes of travel to one for both directions of travel on Broad Street from the intersection with Palisado Avenue and Poquonock Avenue to Batchelder Road area. The project also includes dedicated on street parking, bump outs to promote additional safety for pedestrians, bike lanes and the replacement of three traffic signals with roundabouts, as a means to reduce travel speeds and the potential for serious accidents. Below, you can find additional information on the project which does not negatively impact the town green and aims to calm traffic, increase safety for pedestrians and cyclist while boosting the vitality of the town center.
Broad Street (Route 159) is a four-lane state highway through Windsor Center. The average daily vehicle trips through the town center on Broad Street is approximately 9,675. Many vehicles are traveling at excessive speeds on Broad Street endangering pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists:
- 3,520 or 36% of vehicles exceed the 30 MPH posted speed limit in town center daily
- Nearly 200 vehicles per day travel over 40 MPH
- 86 motor vehicle accidents on Broad Street in past 5 years
Vehicle Speed Comparison to Chance of Pedestrian Injury and Fatality
The proposed project design includes the following elements to slow traffic and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety:
Traffic Calming
– Bump outs at crosswalks
– Roundabouts
– Single travel lane
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
– Shorter crosswalks
– Slower travel speeds
– Dedicated bicycle lanes
– Reduced conflict points
Project Funding
- Estimated project cost of $6.1 million
- 65% of Project Funding is from State or Federal grants
- $1,000,000 from the State of Connecticut Grant Funds
- $3,000,000 from the United States Department of Transportation Grant Funds
- $2,100,000 from Town of Windsor Bonding
Current Layout Selection
Benefits of Roundabouts
Roundabouts allow for a continuous flow of traffic at lower speeds with less conflict points for vehicles and pedestrians than traditional intersections. Traditional 4-way intersections have 32 vehicle conflict points and 24 pedestrian conflict points. Roundabouts reduce the conflict points to 8 for vehicles and 8 for pedestrians.
Image credit: City of Toledo, Roundabouts webpage
Planning Efforts
As proposed in the Windsor Center Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan and Redevelopment Strategy Study completed in 2014, this project seeks to make physical alterations to Broad Street (Route 159) from the Palisado Avenue / Poquonock Avenue area to the Batchelder Road area in order to slow traffic, enhance pedestrian safety, and add on-street parking, all with the overarching goal of strengthening the town center’s vitality.
On December 21, 2020 the Town Council authorized $85,000 in funding to prepare preliminary designs for Broad Street Road Diet Improvements. In 2021, the town secured a $200,000 Urban Act Grant from the State of Connecticut to continue design efforts. A series of public information sessions were held on April 19, 2022, December 19, 2023, June 25, 2024, and October 9, 2024 to present design plans and seek community feedback.
Based on public feedback received in December 2023, the Town’s project engineering firm, VHB, analyzed the feasibility of installation of a bike lane(s); as well as exploring the possibility of installing roundabouts at the intersections of Broad Street and Poquonock Avenue / Palisado and Poquonock Avenue and Bloomfield Avenue in lieu of traffic signals. Below is a progression of public information meetings held in 2024 to review design options that culminated in the roadway design and roundabouts that will be considered at proposed future referendum.
Past Public Information Meetings
A Public Information Meeting was held on June 25, 2024 to present various road configuration options.
A Public Information Meeting was held on October 9, 2024 to answer questions and receive public input on the presented design options.
A Town Council Road Calming and Pedestrian Safety Workshop was held on September 9, 2024 to review conceptual road plans and roundabouts.
Informative Videos
Here is an informative video from the New Jersey Department of Transportation on the function and benefits of road diets.
Here is an informative video from the Utah Department of Transportation on the function and benefits of roundabouts.
Conceptual Plans
Plan #1
On Street Parallel Parking Both Sides of Roads
– New lane arrangement within existing curb line
– Provide parking spaces on west and east sides
– No bike lanes
– Maintain existing sidewalks and provide pedestrian bump outs
Plan #2
On Street Parking & Bike Lane on Both Sides
– New lane arrangement moves existing curb line on east side by approximately 6+ feet
– Provides parking spaces on west and east sides
– On street bike lanes on both sides of road
– Requires relocation of multiple utility and streetlight poles
– Requires additional pavement width, new curb and new sidewalk
– Reduces the width of the Town Green by 5 to 10 feet to accommodate relocated snow shelf, utility poles and sidewalk
Plan #3
Parking West Side, Bike Lanes Both Sides
– New lane arrangement within existing curb line
– Provides parking spaces on west side. No parking on Town Green side.
– On street bike lanes both sides
– Maintains existing curb line and sidewalks. No pedestrian bump outs on east
Broad Street – Typical Cross Sections
Roundabout Conceptual Plan
Please be aware that this page will be periodically updated as we proceed through the project.