Fairfield County/East Coast Greenway Bicycle & Pedestrian Summit

Thursday, October 22, 2009

10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. (registration 9:30)

UConn, Stamford

Walk the Merritt (optional) 8:30 - 9:30 am, Italian Center, Stamford

Wine Reception 4 - 6 pm, 36 Northwind Dr, Stamford

Purpose

• To heighten public awareness of bicycling, walking and public transit as valid and important alternate transportation options.
• To broaden support for the Merritt Parkway Trail as an important recreation and commuter corridor
• Formation of a Fairfield County Bicycle/Walk Coalition

Focus

• Public presentation of the flagging and GPS mapping of a hiking trail, the first step for a long-standing initiative to build a multi-use (pedestrian, bicycle, wheelchair) trail along the 37.5 mile length of the Merritt Parkway right-of-way. The trail will be a vital east/west commuter corridor through Fairfield County when it is completed. It will not only serve trips within Fairfield County, but will link to other trails in Westchester and Connecticut that comprise the East Coast Greenway, an urban version of the Appalachian Trail stretching from Maine to Florida and it will intersect with existing and planned north/south trails in the state

• Presentations on what other communities around Connecticut and in neighboring states are doing to get people out of their cars and on to their feet -- such as bike sharing programs, bike lanes, trails, Complete Streets, ride sharing, Safe Routes to School and Transit Oriented Development (TOD).

• Discussion about and interest in the formation of a Fairfield County Bicycle/Pedestrian Alliance (similar to the Central CT Bicycle Alliance)

The fee includes an optional Merritt hike with coffee & donuts at 8:30 am, lunch, and a 4-6 pm wine reception.

Hosts:

East Coast Greenway Alliance, Connecticut Forest & Parks Association, Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance

Co-Hosts:

Connecticut Bicycle Coalition, Greenwich Safe Cycling, Regional Plan Association, Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club, Farmington Valley Trails Council, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

Sponsor:

Newman's Own Foundation

Please note: directions to event locations can be found at the very end of this agenda.

Timeline, Format & Speakers/Panelists

8:30

Walk the Merritt (Optional)

Meet at the Italian Center, Newfield Avenue, Stamford (Coffee, donuts)

9:30 - 10:00

Registration / Networking (UConn Campus (203) 251-8400, 1 University Pl, Stamford)

Light refreshments

10:00

Welcome – Mayor Malloy (Stamford)

Other Invited state and federal officials:

Sen. Dodd (Will send greetings), U.S. Representative Jim Himes (will send greetings), State Rep. Kim Fawcett

10:30

Panel: Out of the Box – Innovative Bike/Ped Planning in Other States/Regions:

Craig Della Penna - Confirmed, Norman Garrick (UConn – Dir. Center for Transportation & Urban Planning --CTUP) – Confirmed; Jackson Wandres (NYC) (Confirmed)

11:00

Group Discussion: Envisioning a Walkable and Bikable Community and Ideas on How to Get There  - John Monroe (National Park Service) Facilitating

12:00

Lunch

12:30

Luncheon Presentation:

Envisioning How to Move CT from 43rd to #ONE and Steps to Get There

CT Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Amy Marrella; CT Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Al Martin

1:00

Merritt Parkway Panel: Merritt Hiking Trail & Positive Trail Experiences

Franklin Bloomer -- Confirmed, Bill  O’Neill, CT Greenways Council -- Confirmed, Bruce Donald Farmington Valley Trails Council – Confirmed

1:30

Round Robin Discussion: Trail Activities in each Merritt Parkway Community –

What’s happening in your town? How do you see existing and proposed trails in relationship to the Merritt Parkway Trail? Why is the Merritt Parkway Trail important?

John Monroe (NPS) Facilitating

2:00

Alliance Panel & Discussion:

Forming a Fairfield County Bicycle/Walk Alliance -- Structure and Purpose

Mike Oliva East Coast Greenway Alliance – Confirmed, Floyd Lapp SWRPA – Confirmed, Lynn Werner, Housatonic Valley Association -- Invited, Mark Nielsen Greater Bridgeport RPA -- Confirmed, Richard Dunne Valley COG – Confirmed

John Monroe (NPS) Facilitating

3:00

Adjournment

4:00 to 6:00

Reception: Linda Hoza, 36 Northwind Drive, Stamford, CT

Wine and Cheese and Heavy Hors D’oeuvres

Leave-With Objectives

• Broad support and a vision for the Merritt Parkway Hiking Trail and for the first segment of the Merritt Parkway multi-use trail between High Ridge Road and Newfield Ave in Stamford.
• Agreement from ConnDOT for an encroachment permit for the interim Merritt Hiking Trail
• Agreement from Fairfield County municipal officials to improve bike/ped facilities and infrastructure and to work to coordinate efforts regionally
• Formation of a Fairfield County Bicycle/Walk Alliance

Directions to The Italian Center: from Merritt Parkway southbound or northbound (directions are the same either way), take exit 36 for Rt 106 & Old Stamford Rd.  Right onto Old Stamford Rd/Rt 106 for 1.2 mi, right at Woodway Rd for 0.4 mi, right at Hope St for 0.6 mi, left at Eden Rd for 0.4 mi, right to stay on Eden Rd for 0.7 mi, then left onto Newfield Ave for 350'.  The Italian Center is 1620 Newfield Ave.

Directions to Linda Hoza's house: from UConn Stamford, head north on Washington Blvd for 1.5 mi, left on High Ridge Rd for 5.2 mi, left at Hoyclo Rd for 500', then left onto Northwind Dr for 0.1 mi.  Linda's house (#36) will be on the left.

Directions to UConn Stamford:

By train:  go to amtrak.com or mta.info for train schedules.  From Stamford's railroad station, walk or bike north on Washington Blvd for 0.7 mi.  The campus will be on your right.  

By car: 

From 1-95 southbound

Travel South on 1-95 to exit 7. At the bottom of the exit ramp, continue straight until second traffic light. At that light, turn right onto Atlantic Street. Continue north on Atlantic Street to the intersection of Atlantic and Broad Streets. Turn left onto Broad Street. At the third traffic light, turn right onto Washington Boulevard (the campus is on that corner). Turn left at division in median into parking garage. The University of Connecticut is across the street.

From Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) southbound

Travel South on Route 15 to exit 34. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto Long Ridge Road. Travel South on Long Ridge Road for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto Cold Spring Road. Follow the road as it curves to the left and becomes Washington Boulevard. Continue on Washington Boulevard for approximately 1 mile. Turn right into the parking garage. The University of Connecticut is across the street.

From 1-95 northbound

Take 1-95 North to exit 7. At the bottom of the exit, continue north-bound -- turn left onto Atlantic Street. Continue north on Atlantic Street to the intersection of Atlantic and Broad Streets. Turn left onto Broad Street. At third traffic light, turn right onto Washington Boulevard (the campus is on that comer). Turn left at division in median into parking garage. The University of Connecticut is across the street.

From Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) northbound

Take Route 15 North to exit 34. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right onto Long Ridge Road. Travel South on Long Ridge Road for approximately 2 miles. Turn right onto Cold Spring Road. Follow the road as it curves to the left and becomes Washington Boulevard. Continue on Washington Boulevard for approximately 1 mile. Turn right into the parking garage. The University of Connecticut is across the street.