Fairfield eyes improvements to stretch of Pleasant Avenue in heart of city

FAIRFIELD – With 27 curb cuts in a 1,700-foot stretch of U.S. 127 – Pleasant Avenue – it can sometimes be confusing for motorists trying to find where to enter one of 46 businesses in the heart of Fairfield.

That’s especially true with the 18,000 vehicles driving through that stretch of the highway every day, city staff members say.

It’s been an issue since at least 1982 when city leaders talked about the numerous curb cuts.

Still talking almost four decades later

“Here we are 39 years later talking about the same area,’’ said Greg Kathman, the city’s director of development services. “There’s not a whole lot different in 39 years.”

The one-third mile stretch along Pleasant Avenue between Nilles Road and the Pleasant Run bridge is being studied again as a result of the Fairfield Forward Comprehensive Plan adopted at the end of 2019.

It was one of four areas earmarked for special attention in the comprehensive plan. Last November council authorized a $20,000 study by consultants MKSK, with help from LJB Engineering.

Information gathered from that study is included in a 44-page document being reviewed by council.

Lots of businesses, lots of curb cuts

It shows at least 25 property owners, excluding those with single-family homes, little or no landscaping, overhead utilities, and few vacancies.

“It caters to the automobile, it’s defined by the automobile,” Kathman said. “There’s very little landscaping, very little streetscape. (There’s) a lot going on in a small area.”

Strengths of the area is that rent is affordable, there is low turnover of businesses and there are few vacancies.

Of the 27 curb cuts, 11 are on the west side of Pleasant Avenue; 16 on the east side, which include Reigart Square. There is no center turn lane.

High crash area

A safety analysis showed 21 accidents between Nilles Road and Patterson Boulevard between 2017 and 2019. There were four injuries, said Nick Dill, city engineer.

“That puts this (stretch) on par in terms of crash rates with sections of Route 4 and S. Gilmore (Road) so it’s one of the higher crash rate stretches we have in the city. People can be knuckleheads out there and the road almost encourages it.”

Design is also an issue

The road’s ‘drop lane’ design has a northbound through-lane that becomes a left-turn only lane at Patterson. That causes problems.

Among options to improve the situation are reducing curb cuts by reconfiguring parking in Reigart Square and restriping the roadway to eliminate or add a lane.

Neither is ideal but provide a starting point and provide a starting point for discussion with property owners.

“Anything we can do may be an improvement,” Mann said.

'You really have to sell the vision'

Kathman said the last time the city approached property owners there was no consensus on reducing curb cuts.

“It might make sense to (do) small, incremental projects.”

Councilman Mark Scharringhausen said he liked the vision presented by staff and urged them to further refine their ideas.

“I think there’s value in getting those property owners together and showing them the vision,’’ Scharringhausen said. “I think you really have to sell the vision. Nothing’s worked up to now. You have nothing to lose, a lot to gain.”

Kathman said staff members are evaluating the next steps and intend to reach out to property and business owners to get their input. Mann said his department would work on refining some of the options.