Town of Mansfield

Transportation Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting

June 22, 2004

 

 

Present:    Stephens (Chair), Taylor, Nash, Koehn, Hultgren (staff)

 

The meeting was called to order by Chair Stephens at 7:38 p.m.

 

The minutes of the March 30^th meeting were approved on a motion by Nash/Taylor.

 

Hultgren and Nash reported on the status of the fare free bus program.  The USG has been contacted but the new President said they won’t be able to commit until UConn begins again this fall.  The UConn Administration has been asked several different times, but has not yet responded.  Nash will follow-up with the undergraduate students and staff will continue to try to get an answer from the administration.  In any event, the fare free program for Mansfield residents can continue at least until the Town’s ’04-’05 appropriation of $15,000 is exhausted.  (Note – I have subsequently learned that the Mansfield ’03-’04 program is paid through July 28^th, and the UConn program [if and when the administration makes good on its promise to pay] is paid through September 5^th.).  Hultgren also said that some regional transit system grant funds formerly used by Windham might be available to Mansfield on a 20% local match basis.  He will follow-up with WRTD to see if this is indeed the case.  If it is, Committee members suggested (1) transportation to and from the UConn area (as in from other cities such as Hartford) as well as (2) bus service to Wal-Mart and (3) Dial-A-Ridge funding be considered.

 

The committee discussed accommodating public transportation in the Downtown Partnership project.  Several courses of action to try to make sure this is a priority were discussed.  Hultgren will find the letter requesting this that the committee sent a year or so ago.  Taylor will discuss it with the Partnership’s Executive Director and determine appropriate follow-up.

 

Hultgren updated members on the status of the enhancement projects:  Rt. 44/Birch Road bids open this week; Separatist Road easements are being surveyed and two Downtown streetscape grant projects are being drafted by the Partnership (with Town Engineering assistance).

 

Hultgren also updated members on the status of road projects:  Maple Road right-of-way acquisition is 99% complete; Chaffeeville/Rt. 195 intersection is in design; the Birch Road roundabout is scheduled for this construction season; the Clover Mill Road loop pavement reclamation project is almost to final plans and specifications; and design work on Rt. 89 near the Mt. Hope Road bridge has not yet begun.

 

The Mansfield section of the Regional Transportation Plan was reviewed and the following comments offered which will be forwarded to the Town Planner for incorporating into the update:

 

1.      Public Transportation to and from the area should be emphasized

2.      Bike and Pedestrian projects should remain a high priority

3.      The Fare Free program should continue

4.      The Downtown Project should also serve as an important area transportation ‘hub” accommodating all applicable modes.

5.      Transportation and Development should be done so as to minimize travel on local, neighborhood roads.

6.      Walkway/bikeway priorities should be realigned with the committee’s March 30^th priority listing recommendations, and correctly labeled.

7.      Property may exist for a park and ride facility north of Four Corners – this should remain a potential project.

 

Koehn reported that a rideshare page now exists on the Town website and she said it was being used.  She sent a list of transportation links to staff to incorporate if possible on the page.  Publicity will follow, particularly at the upcoming Know Your Town Fair.

 

The next meeting was scheduled for September 15^th, subject to the need to meet earlier.

 

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Lon R. Hultgren

Director of Public Works

 

 

cc:   Town Manager, Town Clerk, Town Planner, Assistant Town Engineer, Project Engineer, Social Services Director, Janet Freniere, file

 

 

attach:       Spreadsheet – priorities

                  USG Act

                  USG Petitions