By Mike Abrahams
At the July 30 meeting of the Retired Men’s Association, Bob Meaney welcomed Jonathan Dean, Joe Belrose and Becca Hall who presented the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s I-95 Greenwich Planning & Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study, in a detailed PowerPoint show that was a comprehensive look into the PEL study findings.
The I-95 Greenwich PEL study focuses on a critical seven-mile stretch of I-95, extending from the New York State line to the Stamford city line, including Exits 2- 6 and up just before Exit 7 at the Stamford line, including the Mianus River Bridge. Additionally, the study includes approximately six miles of U.S. Route 1 and adjacent local roads, examining their collective function, needs, and deficiencies within the study area. This initiative builds upon prior analyses, including a 2018 feasibility evaluation and a 2019 strategic implementation plan that identified specific projects and phased improvements for the I-95 corridor. There is a similar PEL Study ongoing in Stamford including Exits 7, 8 and 9.
Ms. Hall explained that a PEL study is a collaborative approach used by agencies to streamline future transportation investments by creating efficiency in project selection and considering the environment, community, and economy. It integrates planning, engineering, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), fostering extensive public engagement—a key differentiator from traditional corridor studies. The process involves identifying transportation needs, defining study purpose and goals, developing screening criteria, and eventually identifying a range of solutions, from short-term to long-term, for all users.
Central to the presentation were the findings from the existing conditions assessment gathered since the study’s initiation. Traffic data collected in Fall 2022, in alignment with Stamford’s parallel I-95 PEL study, revealed the corridor’s severe congestion. Analysis using Vissim micro-simulation indicated significant degradation in the Level of Service (LOS), particularly during weekday peak periods, with areas showing “F” (poor) ratings due to high vehicle density and slowdowns. An origin and destination study highlighted that nearly half of weekday morning southbound I-95 trips and almost 60% of weekday afternoon northbound trips are “through trips,” passing directly through Greenwich.
Safety analysis revealed pervasive issues. Data from 2018-2022, drawing on the Connecticut Crash Data Repository (widely known as the UConn Crash Data Repository), showed rear-end crashes as predominant on I-95 and its ramps, while angle crashes were most common at I-95 ramp and U.S. Route 1 intersections. Critically, 18 pedestrian and two bicyclist crashes were reported on U.S. Route 1 in that five-year period, underscoring risks for vulnerable populations.
Multimodal deficiencies were also significant. A walk audit of U.S. Route 1 revealed 13 signalized crossings missing crosswalks, one mile of sidewalk continuity issues, and 26 side streets without crosswalks. Despite a small portion being part of the East Coast Greenway, US Route 1 itself lacks dedicated bike facilities. Limitations on I-95 are substantial: 63% of shoulders are too narrow, hindering emergency responders, and 81% of bridges are not wide enough by current standards to maintain continuous shoulder width. Furthermore, 75% of on-ramps and 73% of off-ramps are not long enough, forcing drivers to slow down on the mainline or merge below highway speeds, contributing to congestion. Many bus stops also lack basic amenities like shelters and adequate waiting areas.
Public engagement has been a cornerstone of the study, with a multi-pronged approach including quarterly Project Advisory Committee meetings, community events, and a public survey. The survey, which concluded in December 2024, received 511 submissions and 603 mapping points, highlighting widespread concerns. Key feedback from the community included frustration with I-95 congestion (55% of respondents) and aggressive driving on both I-95 and U.S. Route 1. For pedestrians, lack of sidewalks (55%) and drivers disregarding signals (53%) were major challenges. Bicyclists cited the lack of bicycle lanes (45%) and aggressive drivers (41%) as primary concerns. The public emphasized the importance of protecting community character, trees, parks, and environmental resources, alongside desires for reduced noise and air pollution.
Following the presentation, the remainder of the hour offered many questions and responses. Jon Dean from CDOT took the lead in responding to questions. Regarding increased congestion, it was noted that while options like High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and dynamic lane use are being considered, the team is also wary of induced demand. It was pointed out that small improvements are also possible such as the ongoing added eastbound ramp between the on-ramp at Exit 6 and the off-ramp and Exit 7 in Stamford. The study will explore smaller-scale improvements and strategies to encourage alternative modes of transport, such as enhancing access to Metro-North train stations and improving biking and walking infrastructure. Project leaders stressed that this study is part of a broader, statewide I-95 initiative, ensuring that improvements in Greenwich align with efforts in other congested areas like Stamford, Norwalk, and Bridgeport. Ongoing communication with the public is encouraged through the project website, hotline, and social media.
After the meeting closed the discussions continued at a table that had been set up in the front of the room with project handouts and project staff.
The talk can be viewed by going to the RMA website at https://greenwichrma.org, and clicking on “Speakers.”
The RMA’s presentation, “The Roberts Court’s Remaking of Religious Freedom” by Nelson Tebbe, is scheduled for 11 AM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. RMA presentations are held at Christ Church Greenwich, Parish Hall, 254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
Over the last few years, the Supreme Court has remade the law surrounding religious freedom, strengthening the right to free exercise and weakening the Establishment Clause. Nelson Tebbe, the Jane M.G. Foster Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, will describe the changes that the court has made since about 2020. He will focus on three cases that were decided this summer: concerning parents’ right to absent their children from aspects of the public school curriculum that offend their religious values, concerning the ability of religious groups to form charter schools, and concerning the rights of religious employers to be exempt from paying unemployment taxes. In these cases, the Roberts Court has extended the pattern of ruling in favor of religious actors.
Professor Tebbe works on freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and general constitutional law. In the spring of 2025, he was the Kluge Chair in American Law and Governance at the Library of Congress. His articles have appeared in leading legal periodicals including Columbia Law Review, University of Chicago Law Review, and Harvard Law Review, and his books have been published by Harvard and Oxford University Presses. As a media commentator, he has published opinion pieces in media outlets such as The Atlantic, The New York Times, and the Washington Post. A graduate of Yale Law School and Brown University, Professor Tebbe also holds a Ph.D. with distinction in the anthropology and sociology of religion from the University of Chicago.
To stream the presentation by Nelson Tebbe at 11 AM on Wednesday, August 13, click on https://bit.ly/30IBj21. This presentation will also be available on local public access TV channels, Verizon FIOS channel 24 and Optimum (Cablevision) channel 79.
Note: The views expressed in these presentations are those of the speakers. They are not intended to represent the views of the RMA or its members.
RMA speaker presentations are presented as a community service at no cost to in-person or Zoom attendees, regardless of gender. Any member of the public who would like to receive a weekly email announcement of future speakers should send a request to members@greenwichrma.org. The RMA urges all eligible individuals to consider becoming a member of our great organization, and thereby enjoy all the available fellowship, volunteer, and community service opportunities which the RMA offers to its members. For further information, go to https://greenwichrma.org/, or contact info@greenwichrma.org.
