Dear Westport Journal:
As elected members of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting District 9 (RTM-9), we are writing to offer our strongest support for the Town of Westport’s FY25 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant application for the Compo Road North Pedestrian Improvements Project.
RTM-9 represents the neighborhoods directly served by Compo Road North and Evergreen Avenue. We are uniquely familiar with the longstanding safety concerns at this corridor- including poor sight distance, missing sidewalks, limited pedestrian visibility, and a pattern of frequent near-miss accidents, especially at the intersection of Compo Road North and Evergreen Avenue.
Our constituents have consistently raised concerns about this corridor, particularly for children walking to school, seniors, and residents without access to private vehicles.
These issues have persisted for years and are well-documented in the Town’s Safety Action Plan. The proposed improvements include ADA-compliant sidewalks, a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon, pedestrian-scale lighting, and other traffic calming measures, which directly address the conditions our community experiences daily.
We commend the Town for engaging the public through community surveys, stakeholder meetings, and neighborhood outreach. The overwhelming support for safety upgrades in this corridor is clear, and the SS4A program represents a timely opportunity to advance critical infrastructure that our residents urgently need.
The RTM-9 delegation is united in support of this project, which reflects both the Town’s broader Vision Zero commitment and the specific, localized safety priorities of the neighborhoods we represent. We respectfully urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund this vital project and help Westport create safer, more equitable streets for all road users.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kail, RTM Member – D9
(nkail@westportct.gov)
Kristin Schneeman, RTM Member – D9
(kschneeman@westportct.gov)
Sal Liccione, RTM Member – D9
(sliccione@westportct.gov)
Jennifer Johnson, RTM Member – D9
(jjohnson@westportct.gov)
Let’s give credit where credit is due. First Selectwoman Jen Tooker created the Westport Safety Committee and pushed this forward, and the Committee itself, comprised of Operations Director Tom Kiely, Deputy Chief Officer Ryan Paulson, Officer Al D’Mura, Fire Chief Nick Marsan, Planning & Zoning Director Michele Perellie, Public Works Town Engineer Keith Wilberg and Director Pete Ratkiewich and Office Manager Eileen Francis. They devoted long hours, meeting district by district, listening to Town residents. Thank You!
Now comes the implementation of the recommendations. We NEED buy-in from the CT Department of Transportation. The number one priority is pedestrian signal lights at the intersection of one of the worst intersections in the state – Post Road US1 and Route 33 (Riverside/Wilton Road). Our State Representatives and State Senators MUST apply pressure on DOT to get these recommendations done.
Louis M. Mall
RTM D2