The best way to sum up the 200+ DOT hearing on the proposed Merritt Parkway/Route 7 interchange is to use the words from the DOT guy: “It’s [overleaf with Option D2] off the table as a preferred alternative. It’s still on the table, it’s just on the table for consideration.” So what is a preferred option? Well, for that the DOT will have to go back to the drawing table and figure out which is the best way to complete the interchange. If after listening to the Silvermine residents was any signpost, option Alternate 12A is a contender.

Residents were naturally concerned by what was meant about the off/on the table status, and whether solutions would come back that are not presented publicly. The DOT guy assured them that was not the case. But here’s the rundown by Robert Koch:

“Our goal is to reach a consensus. That is what we’re going to strive for. Everybody’s voice needs to be heard. Your opinion is very important to us,” said Richard Armstrong, principal engineer with the DOT. “The Cloverleaf with Option D2 is off the table as the preferred alternative.”

Later, Armstrong qualified his earlier remarks. “It’s off the table as a preferred alternative. It’s still on the table. It’s just on the table for consideration.”

The informational and scoping meeting held in the City Hall concert auditorium Thursday night marked the third time in three months that DOT officials came to Norwalk to speak about where the interchange overhaul stands, several years after it was halted in court by preservationist groups interested in preserving the Merritt Parkway.

Armstrong summarized the consensus at a March 18 meeting at City Hall as support for the cloverleaf design, and the consensus at a May 14 meeting at Silvermine Elementary School as support for what is known as Alternate 12A.

That latter sentiment sounded strongly Thursday night.

One by one, residents told DOT officials to shelve the cloverleaf design, which would cut deeper into the Silvermine neighborhood than would Alternate 12A.

“Basically, my backyard is going to be taken down. My house is right about at that corner where one of the ramps is going across,” said Judy Wasserman, a Ray Lane resident, referring to the cloverleaf design. “We want progress, we want the traffic to flow, we want everybody safe, and we want our backyards.”

Michael Mushak, a landscape architect living in South Norwalk, said Silvermine residents have been living in emotional pain for months believing the cloverleaf design was going to be built in their backyards. He welcomed the change in sentiment since the March 18 meeting.

“I really want to declare the cloverleaf dead on arrival. I really want that message to get out loud and clear,” said Mushak, urging others to repeat after him.

According to Armstrong, upward of 20 designs were drawn up by the DOT over the years. The goals, he said, have been to improve traffic safety and to provide the missing connections between Route 7 and the Merritt Parkway — “the connections to and from the north do not exist,” he said.

Nancy Meany, a resident, acknowledged that the cloverleaf and Alternate 12A both complete the missing connections. Arguably, both have the same impact on the Norwalk River, she continued. By contrast, the cloverleaf would destroy four times as many mature trees as would Alternate 12A, hurt wetlands, add noise and shine traf-fic headlights into Silver-mine homes, she said.

Alan Kibbe, took aim at Peter Malkin, an owner of MerrittView, an office building at the southwest corner of Main Avenue and the Merritt Parkway. The cloverleaf design would not impact the area, whereas Alternate 12A would. Malkin is board chairman of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, a plaintiff in the lawsuit that halted the state’s original design several years ago, and in March he supported the cloverleaf.

“The suit has been a means of stopping construction under the guise of the parkway. Mr. Malkin is first and foremost a real estate developer,” Kibbe said.

According to the DOT and another Parkway Conservancy board member, Malkin recused himself from discussions between the conservancy and the transportation departments regarding the overhaul.

State Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, majority whip, arranged Thursday night’s informational meeting.

“A lot of us at the March meeting, a lot of us thought the Silvermine residents were on board. We found out that that was not the case,” Duff said. Now “the consensus is that the cloverleaf plan is dead on arrival. I look forward to having this (interchange) get done right,” he said.

Mayor Richard A. Moccia said he has received many e-mails and phone calls since the March 18 informational meeting. He acknowledged that divisions arose since then, but urged all concerned parties to work together. Moccia said Alternate 12A is now the “most acceptable alternative.”

“Now we all have to work together to get the best solution, and I think now you’re all in agreement about what the best solution is,” Moccia said.

State Rep. Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-142, minority leader, arranged the May 14 meeting to give Silvermine residents an opportunity to speak about the project. He could not attend Thursday night’s meeting but had a letter read into the record. He described Alternate 12A as the “best option” for Silvermine residents, whom he praised.

“They have a deep respect for the history, beauty and character of Silvermine,” Cafero said.

Thomas A. Harley, manager of consultant design for the DOT, could not attend because of a scheduling conflict.

source: The Hour, Residents: No magic in cloverleaf design, By ROBERT KOCH, May 30, 2008