GATEWAYS AND CIRCULATION TEAM

The Gateways and Circulation team looked at what it means to create a sense of arrival, recognize the gateways of the village, and define the edges of the village. Recommendations for historic properties, infill potential and development, pedestrian access and safety, vehicular circulation and site lines, and parking were all discussed and included.

Drawing 1 - Gateways and Circulation Zones

Gateways

There are three gateways from which one enters or exits the village of Middlesex. Each of these gateways has unique features and hence requires different design solutions. The western gateway is located near Camp Meade, and directly off I-89. The eastern gateway is near the Middlesex Country Store and is the main three-way intersection of the village. The southern gateway is at the Route 2 bridge and divides Middlesex from Moretown.

When entering Middlesex from the west one has views of the scenic mountains to the south and the railroad/industrial buildings to the north. While these natural and built features announce the beginning of the village, there is no clear indication confirming this sense of arrival. Some suggestions made to resolve this notion are:

• Post a welcome sign that states one has entered the village of Middlesex
• Install street trees and landscaping that creates a village setting as separate from the rural countryside

The eastern gateway posed a bit of a challenge to the designers. Its engineered road design essentially increases speeds through the village because of the banked curve. This higher velocity causes safety hazards for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic. It is counterproductive to creating the sense of well-being for the heart of the village.

Suggestions to both calm traffic and introduce arrival to Middlesex through this gateway include:

• Look into the design of a three-way stop at the intersection
• Research the use of a roundabout in this location to improve circulation and safety
• Narrow road widths to decrease traffic velocity
• Extend curbs to accommodate pedestrians and/or parking
• Install street trees and landscaping
• Provide “Welcome to” signage
• Construct a pedestrian crosswalk in front of the store

The southern gateway is located at the entrance to Middlesex from Moretown. This occurs just before the 100 B bridge. The bridge is an attractive feature signifying arrival into the village center proper. A few suggestions to enhance this gateway are:

• Add a “Welcome to” signage
• Install two decorative and functional light fixtures at each end of the bridge
• Add sidewalks as an extension of curb
• Add a bike path across the bridge

Historic Properties and Industrial Zone

The railroad depot and surrounding area were also areas of interest to this team. This historic building, once a RR depot is seen as underutilized by being used for storage. It is an attractive building and offers a glimpse into the town’s history. Some ideas for the place are illustrated in Drawing 3:

• Use the depot as an enhancement to the village build-out, office space, or village library
• Add a focal point with an outdoor plaza or gathering space in front of the depot
• Provide a small additional amount of parking
• Enhance the landscaping and becoming part of the village walk
• Renovate the abandoned house on the adjacent lot

Drawing 4 depicts the depot as a focal point. There are many possibilities as to how the building could be used. The depot holds much potential due to its location, its visibility, and the large space surrounding it. There are a number of good examples across the state of the reuse of old RR buildings as community redevelop projects.

Infill Potential and Development

 There is infill development potential on the land along Route 2 in the western half of the village. Drawing 5 depicts these areas in red. Some other ideas for infill development include:

• Subdivide large lots into smaller parcels or develop clustered housing
• Convert the existing Camp Meade lodge to a tavern and restaurant
• Redevelop the railroad/lumber yards in the future
• Construct a river walk (indicated in Drawing 5 by the dashed line)
• Build a pedestrian bridge over the river or at least to the viewpoint
• Open a public gathering spot such as a coffee shop

Pedestrian Access and Safety

Pedestrian access and safety are of great concern to the village. There are no sidewalks along Rt. 2 and vehicles traveling on this road are often going speeds upwards of 50 mph. Needless to say when walking along the road it is easy to feel vulnerable and unsafe. Some suggestions to resolve this are:

• Install a sidewalk from Camp Meade to the Middlesex Country Store (see Drawing 5)
• Employ traffic calming measures such as a three-way stop or roundabout, street trees and landscaping, narrowing road widths to decrease vehicle velocities, etc.
• Neck-down the Church St. intersection to reduce vehicular speeds (see Drawing 6)

Landscape Architect Adam Portz Presenting the Gateway Team Designs

Conclusions and Analysis for Gateways and Circulation

1. Posting signage. This point came up numerous times throughout the charrette. It is not evident when entering the village that one is actually in Middlesex. The geographic features and small-scale commercial /industrial zones indicate a village, but signage stating “Welcome to Middlesex” or the equivalent would help orient the public as to their arrival in Middlesex.

2. Three way stop or roundabout at eastern gateway. There was some discussion regarding the construction of a three-way stop vs. a roundabout at this intersection to decrease vehicle velocities. The lack of space available at the intersection, the seemingly uneven traffic flow, and the higher cost of construction may make a roundabout difficult. But either solution needs further and comparative analysis to determine the most effective traffic calming method for this intersection.

3. Sidewalks as an extension of curb on the 100 B bridge. Amy Bell from the Agency of Transportation stated the way to receive funding for a sidewalk project is to prove the points of “origin and destination.” The Gateways Team only began to discuss these destination points within the charrette timeframe—so the question remains: Are there points of “origin and destination” on both sides of the bridge, crossing the river, along Route 2, etc.?

A further look should include a review of destinations in Moretown, the bicycle circuits people use, walks in the hills south of town, the new river walk, etc. These need to be mapped to determine the pattern of “origin and destination.” In addition, the 100B bridge offers wide shoulders (8’) allowing for the designation of a walking and biking lane. The implementation of sidewalks would slow traffic and give pedestrians a safer place to walk. 

4. Depot as focus for outdoor plaza. The team thought this design was both realistic for implementation in the near future as well as a great plan for Middlesex. It is a central location and there is ample space to develop a variety of functions. It would serve as an attractive feature for both locals and tourists. It could be used as a library, outdoor market, bicycle picnic stop, place for local art, etc.

5. Coffee shop/pub and restaurant. It was unanimous that Middlesex needs a central gathering place for the community to socialize and congregate. Food definitely brings people together and creates community identity. Several locations were discussed.

6. Install a sidewalk from Camp Meade to the Middlesex Country Store. The issue of pedestrian safety and circulation is one of the most pressing. Walking along the shoulder of Route 2 is hazardous. Installing a sidewalk would remedy this problem and facilitate people getting out and walking more. Destinations and experience along the way become important to this activity. An appropriately designed and located sidewalk builds village life, enhances the enjoyment of natural features, and links small commercial enterprises.

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