Farmington Bike Committee Grapples with Cyclist Safety and Trail Enhancements

Farmington Bike Committee Update: December 11, 2024

Farmington’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee met virtually on December 11, 2024, to tackle pressing community cycling issues and discuss ongoing trail improvements. Missed it? Watch the full meeting here on YouTube. Here’s the breakdown:

Safety Spotlight: New Britain Avenue at Meadow Lane

The committee addressed safety concerns raised by cyclist John Anderson, who reported multiple near-misses at the New Britain Avenue and Meadow Lane intersection. Committee members analyzed the situation and provided insights.

• Key Observations:
  • Visibility was deemed adequate, with trees cleared 15-20 feet back and clear sight lines at the intersection.
  • Traffic volume at Meadow Lane, essentially a shared driveway, was reported to be minimal.
• Meeting Quotes:
  • “The town has built out the trail network, and it sounds like this user neglected to use it when it’s clearly available,” remarked Bruce Donald, Trails Advocacy Chair.
  • Carolyn Dube, committee member, added, “If I’m on New Britain Avenue at that point, I’m going to be on the bike path.”
  • Neil Williamson, committee member, urged a follow-up: “Let’s invite him to the next meeting and get all the details. Always good to get more people involved.”

Next Steps: The committee will contact John Anderson to clarify his account and explore whether additional signage or public education is warranted.

Farmington Valley Trails Council Updates

Updates on the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and other key trail projects highlighted the committee’s agenda.

• Plainville Trail Phases: Work progresses on connecting Plainville’s trail gaps:
  • Phase Two (Northwest Drive to the center of town) will go to bid in Spring 2025.
  • “Construction should start next year and continue into early 2026,” explained Bruce Donald.
• Burlington Section: Burlington received $600,000 for critical drainage fixes and resurfacing.
  • Donald detailed: “The drainage has to be completely re-engineered. It’s essentially a waterfall off the highway.”
• Farmington Maintenance: Repaving between Red Oak Hill and Brickyard Road is planned but contingent on adjacent development progress. Dylan Reilly, Civil Engineer, assured the committee: “If the timeline extends too far, we’ll proceed independently.”

Public Education Initiatives

The committee discussed hosting bike safety seminars in Spring 2025. Carolyn Dube emphasized: “We’re not meeting the metrics for public informational seminars required by the bike-friendly community application. This needs to be a priority.”

Proposed topics include:

1. Bike Repair Workshops.
2. Safe Commuting Tips.

Recreational Trails Grant

Farmington has finalized its agreement under the Recreational Trails Grant program. An RFP for consultants to design the South Road trail will be released in early 2025, with project kickoff anticipated in mid-year. Bruce Donald encouraged collaboration: “Let’s look for additional funding opportunities once the RFP is ready.”

Website Overhaul

Farmington’s cycling webpage is getting a refresh with:

• Local trail maps.
• A cycling events calendar.
• Photos showcasing Farmington’s unique trail system.

Carolyn Dube solicited input: “We’ll need everyone’s help to keep the events section updated. Let’s make this the go-to resource for cycling in Farmington.”

Meeting Minutes

The committee approved the minutes from its November 13, 2024, meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for January 2025.

This article is sponsored by Farmington Storage, located at 155 Scott Swamp Road. For your storage needs, call 860.777.4001. Thanks for supporting local journalism and the cycling community! 🚴

Written by Jack Beckett, fueled by coffee and optimism ☕.

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