Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance
The Merritt Parkway Trail Alliance (MPTA) was organized in 2000 to advocate for a trail along the Merritt Parkway right-of-way.
The Alliance, under the auspices of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, is comprised of groups and individuals representing the environment; cycling, walking and equestrian clubs; the business community; schools; recreation centers; the medical community and elected officials and legislators. The concept is supported by every town along and near the Parkway.
The Merritt Trail would contribute significantly to improved environment and enhanced quality of life in Connecticut. The Merritt Trail would:
- Preserve open space
- Help to ease the traffic congestion on our roads by permitting bicycling and walking as alternate forms of transportation to private transit, shopping, schools, the work place, waterfront and parks
- Improve air quality
- Provide a critical link in the East Coast Greenway
- Provide a connection to the bicycle/pedestrian lane that is a component of the new Housatonic River Bridge
- Provide incident management access
- Provide a safe haven for family recreation
- Improve the health and wellbeing of users
- Provide safe wheelchair access to public transit, shopping, schools, the work place, waterfront and parks
- Provide an up-close opportunity to enjoy and examine the 36 varied and unique bridges along the Merritt
- Provide an opportunity to enjoy existing specimen plantings as well as those planned for the future as part of the Merritt Parkway multi-million dollar restoration project
- Provide access to planned and existing intersecting trails including the Housatonic River Trail, the Pequonnock Valley Bike Trail, the Berkshire Rail Spur Trail and the Norwalk River Trail
- Enhance property values
- Encourage tourism
MPTA's Efforts Today
The Alliance continues to build broad grassroots support for the trail in an effort to compel Connecticut's Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) to allow use of the right of way for this project.
Recently, MPTA testified at public hearings on the ConnDOT's design for the Merritt/Route 7 Interchange. The designs being considered do not provide accommodation for the proposed Merritt Parkway Trail or the Norwalk River Trail. The Merritt Parkway Trail is included on the Master Plan and the Long Range Transportation Plan of both the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Agency and the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency. It should be considered and accommodated in the design every time a Merritt Parkway interchange is upgraded.
The MPTA , as a member of the ConnDOT's Merritt Parkway/Route 7 Interchange Stakeholders Group, maintains that retrofitting the Interchange to accommodate trail access some years from now will be costly and could escalate cost by 3-10 times. But incorporating trail access in the initial design would mean an insignificant increase to the $125 million that is the estimated price tag for the redesigned interchange.
Led by Governor Rell, Connecticut is embracing responsible growth and livable communities. Connecticut's citizens value communities where they can walk or bicycle safely and enjoy a high quality of life. A recent DEP survey established that nearly 90% of respondents have a need for more multi-use trails. Commissioner McCarthy's "No Child Left Inside" program is a timely response to a recognized need for facilities to encourage our youth to use their feet instead of their "seat"! We think it is time for ConnDOT to do the same. Just build it!
Contact MPTA
If you are interested in becoming a member of the MPTA, need additional information or would like to have a presentation made to your group, please contact:
Linda Hoza
203-356-0687
203-685-1100 (cell)
lhoza@optonline.net
