Middletown residents: State’s plan for Route 9 favors commuters over taxpayers

More than a couple dozen residents spoke out Thursday night at Middletown High School after the state Department of Transportation outlined three portions of a five-part project. Here, Common Councilmen Eugene Nocera, left, and Philip Pessina wait to speak. less More than a couple dozen residents spoke out Thursday night at Middletown High School after the state Department of Transportation outlined three portions of a five-part project. Here, Common Councilmen Eugene ... more Photo: Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Cassandra Day / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Middletown residents: State’s plan for Route 9 favors commuters over taxpayers 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series on proposed improvements to Route 9 and Main Street. This first article, which explored the state’s proposal, appeared on Saturday's front page.

MIDDLETOWN — The more than two-dozen residents who spoke out against the state’s plan to remove two traffic signals on Route 9 and change the way motorists enter downtown said the project places the needs of travelers over those who live and work in the city.

The three-phase, $70.75 million project would increase safety, alleviate congestion and improve access to downtown, Department of Transportation engineers told those who attended Thursday’s scoping meeting at the high school.

“It favors commuters and motorists over the citizens of Middletown and the families who live in the North End,” said Katherine Owens of Grand Street, who called the proposal “disastrous” for the area.

“The amount of traffic that already cuts through our neighborhood is appalling,” she said, which elicited a round of applause. “This through traffic often includes people who roll through stop signs, and blast past kids walking to our neighborhood school.”

Owens also said she sees no evidence that air pollution would be reduced with the new plan.

Jennifer Alexander, who owns Kidcity Children’s Museum and co-owns the combination game shop and cafe, The Board Room, is also a member of the Downtown Business District.

“It’s got to be hard to develop accurate computer models that show ... the complicated dynamic of people who decide to cut through the North End,” said Alexander, a mother of four and former Macdonough Elementary School parent.

“It’s no joke — the cut-through traffic in front of Macdonough School at drop-off time.”

There are many unintended consequences to the DOT proposal, she said.

“If it’s less desirable to buy a house in the North End and live there, or a safe place to rent and raise your family, that has long-term implications for police enforcement, tax revenue, and the atmosphere on Main Street if those neighborhoods become less stable.”

The proposal also puts an unfair burden on businesses and residents, said Diane Gervais, chairwoman of the DBD. She urged the DOT to withdraw its latest proposal.

“Both the construction period and the final product would do substantial damage to the access to our downtown, with negative effects for our business owners and the livelihoods of our employees, as well as our ability to contribute to our town’s grand list and property taxes.

“There would also be a traffic impact and a loss of value and stability in the residential neighborhoods surrounding Main Street, which are vital to the health of the business community,” Gervais said.

“It’s not that there’s one thing wrong with this plan,” Alexander said. “It’s that it plays roulette with our walkable downtown that so many people have worked hard to preserve and grow.

“A lot of small good decisions over many years have led us to where we are. I can’t think of another downtown which is both viable for independent businesses and is a diverse place economically and racially,” she added.

State Highway Design Unit Project Engineer Steve Hall said the purpose of Thursday’s meeting was to solicit comments from the public. On Monday, he stressed the project is still in the formative stage.

“We’re not moving forward with negotiations. Two years ago, we came to the same meeting with a different plan. We received a lot of pushback, so we went and redesigned it.”

The DOT must gain approval from the Federal Highway Administration before proceeding with any property acquisition along Rapallo Street, which would be necessary if the proposed Route 9 off-ramp moves ahead. “And it’s certainly not until the entire public involvement process is completed.

“Eminent domain is last resort. There’s a very thorough negotiation process,” Hall said. “The bottom line about the property acquisition is that’s still a long way off.”

Middletown Director of Planning, Conservation and Development Joseph Samolis said DOT officials have already met with the mayor and other department heads.

In his opinion, “there are sound aspects of the pedestrian accessibility that are a benefit to both Main Street and the riverfront.”

Project decisions made at the state level are not necessarily driven by municipalities, he added.

“There would need to be further review of any other traffic impacts the off-ramp would pose to the North End specifically,” Samolis said. “In general, the DOT does a good job engaging the general population to figure out potential impacts to the city of Middletown.”

The state plans to conduct “stakeholder coordination” — contacting faith-based organizations, community groups, the Board of Education if necessary, and others to involve them in the public process, Hall said. These will be identified more in depth as the design progresses.

“The purpose of going to the public is not to show them what’s happening, but to get feedback on what we’re proposing,” Hall said. “We’re investigating the feasibility of acquiring property and relocating businesses. We need to look at whether it’s feasible and possible.”

Buster Nelson, who lives with his family within walking distance of Main Street, addressed the issue of racial justice.

“This is a call for courageous and compassionate reflection. Imagine how might this proposition change if, in the North End, the population living therein, were wealthier and whiter?”

Nur Fitzpatrick, who lives on Green Street, told engineers she’s worried about the proposal’s effect on her neighborhood.

“I hope we do have a voice. I didn’t want to come here today and make it about race, but there’s a lot of people who feel, in this part of town, that people in authority are trying to gentrify it.

“I hope that is not the case, and I hope we can all come together and figure this out,” she said.

Alexander pointed to the long history of highway off-ramps being built in low-income neighborhoods. “People perceive that as the path of least resistance.

“It’s deeply offensive. It asks that neighborhood to bear the environmental cost of that ramp, plus the traffic, plus the damage to the fabric of the community.

“This may be a plan that contributes to the easy movement of cars, but it is not a plan that contributes to the livability or commerce of Main Street,” Alexander said.