Aimee Berger-Girvalo

I have formally requested an immediate joint meeting among the municipal leadership of Ridgefield and Danbury, personnel from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG), the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), and all relevant Department of Transportation staff to address urgent safety concerns along Route 7.

The meeting would focus on the corridor segment beginning where Route 7 runs adjacent to Danbury Airport and continues into Ridgefield.

This section of roadway presents a serious and growing public safety concern. At a time when distracted driving continues to increase across the country, and with collected data showing that drivers are consistently traveling above the posted speed limit in this corridor, the conditions are contributing to a dangerous environment for motorists, passengers, pedestrians, emergency responders, and all others who travel through or live near this area.

The increase in fatalities and serious crashes along this portion of Route 7 demands immediate and coordinated action. I have spoken with leaders and residents of both communities, and everyone understandably agrees that this is not an issue that can be addressed piecemeal or deferred for later consideration. A unified response is necessary to evaluate roadway design, driver behavior, traffic speeds, enforcement patterns, signage, visibility, transition zones, and any additional engineering or operational factors that may be contributing to these incidents.

I have also called for the prompt initiation of a corridor study of this Route 7 segment, led in coordination with ConnDOT and WestCOG and informed by the participation of both municipalities and the full legislative delegation representing the affected communities. The purpose of the requested meeting is to establish a shared plan of action, identify the appropriate scope of the study, review existing crash and speed data, and determine immediate interventions that can be implemented while longer-term solutions are evaluated.

The residents of Ridgefield and Danbury, as well as everyone who travels through this corridor, deserve confidence that every level of government is acting urgently and collaboratively to protect public safety.

By coming together as one coalition, we have an opportunity to take meaningful action now to reduce risk, prevent future tragedies, and ensure this stretch of Route 7 is safer for every constituent and visitor alike.

I have asked that the Department of Transportation and WestCOG coordinate a date and time with the municipal CEOs and ensure that each Representative and Senator from the Ridgefield and Danbury legislative delegations is invited to participate.

Below is the press release.