The proposed construction of a cut-through to the Handel Road cul-de-sac from Brewer Street via Jefferson Lane is of significant concern to neighborhood residents. This plan threatens to transform our peaceful, family-friendly neighborhood into a high-speed thoroughfare, posing safety risks to children, pedestrians and all of our residents.

Handel Road is meant to be a quiet, residential area where families can feel safe allowing their children to play outside, and neighbors enjoy a sense of community.  Over the years this has been increasingly impacted by numbers of high-speed drivers and the introduction of a cut-through will inevitable invite even more, along with the accompanying noise, pollution and danger. The increased traffic for Handel Road equals increased safety hazards for all who live here and we believe should be seriously reconsidered in light of the dangers.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, residential streets that experience increased traffic see a higher likelihood of vehicular accidents and the opening of a cul-de-sac is a known factor for increasing these risks.  At the same time, death and injury rates to pedestrians and bicyclists from automobiles across Connecticut are rising yearly surpassing totals from previous years.

Moreover, local property values may decline if increased traffic turns our neighborhood into an extension of busy transport routes. Real estate studies indicate that properties in high-traffic areas often sell for less compared to those in quieter locales, harming the investment of current homeowners.

Stopping this construction would preserve the safety and integrity of our community. We propose that the town council explore alternative traffic solutions that do not compromise local residential areas using the other options that are available to them.  

Please sign this petition to urge the East Hartford Town Council to reconsider their plans for the Handel Road cut-through. Let’s unite to protect our neighborhood’s safety, tranquility, and value. Together, we can make a difference.