CANTON — Route 44 could be transformed into a safer, more pedestrian-friendly corridor through a new study underway in Canton.
Route 44 has been an area in need of improvement for several years now, said Pramod Pandey, principal planner for the Capitol Region Council of Governments and the project manager for the study.
With the Route 44 Corridor Study underway, conducted by CRCOG and the Town of Canton, a future version of a Route 44 that is more safe and accessible for all users of the road is now possible.
CRCOG is responsible for initiating and implementing regional programs to benefit the member towns in the region in collaboration with local municipalities.
And during a time when there are so many incentives to develop land, whether it be for affordable housing, recreational purposes, or commercial and business opportunities, the study aims to work with the town to see what is needed and enhance and improve what is already there, Pandey said.
Although it just kicked off in June, this project has been in mind for a few years already but Canton and CRCOG now have the funding needed to actually bring these conceptualized ideas to fruition, Pandey said.
Pandey estimates the study will cost around $180,000. He said it will take around 18 months from start to finish, so the group should have recommendations ready before next winter. But the construction and other work that follows is a different story, and that timeline will vary depending on this study's findings.
The study's main three foundations concern safety, a smooth flow of traffic and trail connectivity, Pandey said. Improvements as a result of the study would impact drivers, transit users, cyclists, pedestrians and anyone traversing around the area, he added. “It’s for everyone.”
Because of Route 44's location, a key aspect of this project is the Farmington River Trail.
"The study is right in the heart of the trail," Pandey said.
The project will seek to accommodate a proposed east-west extension of the existing trail and determine the best location of a trail crossing on Route 44. One potential opportunity for a multi-lane roundabout with a trail crossing is identified off of the intersection of Route 44 and Lovely Street and Lawton Road, according to the CRCOG presentation.
The study further aims to provide easier access for people who want to go to The Shops at Farmington Valley along Route 44, through potential parking options, and a trail crossing that would connect to the shopping area.
While final recommendations as to what new infrastructure and changes to actually implement depend on a variety of factors, including research, public engagement and stakeholder input, possible recommendations being considered are crosswalks, stoplights, a pedestrian bridge and tunnel, roundabouts and more.
The study will specifically evaluate the existing and future traffic signal locations on Route 44, between Canton Village and the Simsbury town line and a portion of Dowd Avenue (State Route 565), from Canton Hollow to Route 44.
"Safety is paramount," Pandey said, as addressing driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety is a primary purpose of the study.
There has been one pedestrian fatality along the Canton portion of Route 44 in the last six years, which occurred in 2018 just west of Canton Valley Circle, Pandey said.
And a study like this is definitely needed, said resident Jane Latus, who is also president of Canton Advocates for Responsible Expansion (C.A.R.E). C.A.R.E. is listed as one of the stakeholder’s in CRCOG’s presentation. Although Latus was aware of the project, she said she had not been reached out to yet.
"I think everyone in town is aware that there are some spots that need some attention for safety," Latus said.
There have been 376 crashes on Route 44 and Dowd Avenue, according to the data from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository between 2018 and 2022.
"I think anyone who's pretty familiar with the roads knows people who've been rear ended while they've been waiting to turn," Latus said. Forty-eight percent of the 376 were rear-end crashes, according to the data.
One of the long-term project goals is to reconstruct the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 into a normal “T” configuration and add an exclusive left turn lane on to the Dowd Avenue.
Latus also said there has been issues with speeding, and another goal listed in the project presentation is to install a speed table at the Canton Springs Road rail trail crossing.
Pandey said he also hoped this study would result in an alleviation of traffic not only along Route 44, but the surroundings areas as well.
Many people who come to work in Canton are taking public transportation, so CRCOG also wants to be able to provide them with services that are safe and accessible and improve public transit along the route, Pandey said.
Another project goal is to redo all driveway aprons and sidewalks along the route to create continuous sidewalks, improve connectivity and enhance safety, which may require narrowing or combining driveways to reduce crossing widths, according to the CRCOG presentation.
And with such connectivity and trail expansion, Pandey said he hoped it would incentivize more people to use the Farmington River Trail for daily and recreational use. He also hopes this reimagined Route 44 will draw more people to the area, he said.
But public outreach is essential to know what exactly the community members who use this route every day and will be impacted by any changes say is needed.
And one of CRCOG's way of doing that is through a public survey, which will be sent out to all local residents. But anyone can fill out the survey, whether they live in Canton, travel through the area or have an interest as any sort of stakeholder in the project, Pandey said.
Another aspect of the public engagement plan is to meet one-on-one with interested parties, including from the town, businesses, commuters, or anyone who uses this road for the purpose of transit. "We’re trying to get their input," Pandey said.
Latus said so far, she thought of the Route 44 Corridor Study as a balancing act.
"We need a well-functioning transportation corridor," Latus said. "But it also has to accommodate whatever the town decides is the development that we want along it. And it's important that as many people be involved as possible."
In addition to the survey, CRCOG's outreach plan includes hosting public meetings as well as presenting at Board of Selectman meetings. Those dates are not set in stone yet, but will be publicized on the CRCOG and town websites as soon as they are, Pandey said.