The project: IMEG is serving as the prime consultant for a comprehensive safety study and an update to the bicycle facility plan in the Town of West Hartford, CT. This initiative consists of two main components: a safety study targeting high-crash corridors and a review of the town’s bicycle facility plan. The safety study seeks to identify crash causes, propose solutions, and establish a program for monitoring progress. The bicycle facility plan ensures that existing and proposed bicycle infrastructure is appropriate for the roadway and traffic conditions.

The goal: To enhance safety and sustainability in West Hartford by identifying high-crash areas and recommending improvements, as well as ensuring that the town’s bicycle facilities meet the needs of its population and create a Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities, guiding the town toward a safer transportation system.

Design approach: The design approach involved a detailed safety study focused on high-crash corridors, where the team identified causes for crashes and proposed evidence-based solutions. Additionally, the bicycle facility plan involved a thorough review of current and future infrastructure, with an emphasis on creating facilities that suit West Hartford’s unique roadway and traffic characteristics. Central to the approach was the development of the Vision Zero Action Plan, which included recommendations for infrastructure improvements, policy changes, process enhancements, and data monitoring to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.

Project outcome: The Vision Zero Action Plan provided a comprehensive framework for eliminating fatalities and serious injuries in the town. The plan’s recommendations led to West Hartford securing a $669,000 supplemental planning grant, which will fund a speed management pilot program—a key recommendation from the Vision Zero Action Plan. The bicycle facility plan and safety study, together with the Action Plan, will guide the town’s efforts in building a safer and more connected transportation network for both cyclists and drivers.