MTR 259, CT Mall Plan Still Begs Traffic Questions

Mobilizing the Region
Issue 259 March 3, 2000

CT Mall Plan Still Begs Traffic Questions

Last week, two Connecticut environmental and transportation advocacy groups again voiced their frustration with a state analysis of the traffic impacts of building the Long Wharf Galleria, a 1.2 million square foot mall planned for the junction of I-95 and I-91. Both the Connecticut Fund for the Environment and the Environment & Human Health group released statements saying the New Haven area mall will lead to significant traffic back-ups on the two highways and surrounding ramps likely to have detrimental effects on public health. The highway intersection already sees 1,000 more vehicles per hour than it was originally designed to handle and the Long Wharf mall is expected to draw 34,000 vehicles per day.

The two groups criticized a draft study performed by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development released last year that found no significant environmental impact from the development as "extremely flawed" for failing to account for idling cars and trucks that would produce more emissions leading to increased asthma and cancer risks for the region's residents. New Haven already suffers from one of the highest child asthma rates in the state with one child in four afflicted. A final report is expected from the agency in the near future.

Karyl Lee Hall, CFE Senior Attorney, said that full compliance with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) would require the project to undergo more extensive federal environmental impact assessment. A senior analyst for the State DEP also told the New Haven Register that serious environmental impact questions remained unanswered.

Traffic patterns are already disrupted at the inter-section due to planned lane expansions on the near-by Q-Bridge (See MTR # 233). ConnDOT could reduce the region's pending grid-lock by implementing the transit improvement suggestions put forward by an advisory committee (ICDC) made up of environmental, trucking, highway construction, and neighborhood interests (see MTR #205) such as increasing train service on the Shoreline East, a new train station in East Haven, doubling bus service on popular routes in East Haven and Branford and reducing fares on buses and trains.