FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The I-84 Danbury Study is a Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) initiative to reduce congestion and improve the mobility of people and goods in the I-84 corridor in greater Danbury.

I-84, which was built in the 1960s, experiences increasing congestion. This aging highway carries approximately 20 times more traffic today than in the 1960s and is at capacity. Also, there is about one crash per day on I-84 through Danbury.

The limits are on I-84 from the New York/Connecticut State line to Exit 8. See map.

Yes.

Yes.

No, tolling is currently a separate legislative initiative.

Approximately 110,000 vehicles travel on I-84 in Danbury each day.

Left-hand on- and off-ramps, short weave sections, roadway curvature, closely spaced interchanges, and congestion during peak periods are the principal causes of crashes.

A large-scale mainline reconstruction project would likely not begin before the late 2020s. However, smaller, breakout projects could move forward into design and construction in the short-term.

There is funding for the planning and preliminary engineering phase. No funds are currently programmed for rights-of-way acquisition or construction.

The project is in the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study phase. This work has involved studying various improvements in the study area, looking at impacts at a high level, and conducting early engagement with the public. More information on the PEL process can be viewed on the project planning webpage.

A PEL Study is a study that follows a Federal Highway Administration recognized process for early planning and coordination. It seeks to connect transportation planning and environmental / community concerns early in the planning process. More information is available at: www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_initiatives/PEL.aspx. A great, short informational video is available at: https://youtu.be/kc44jvF8kAg.

The benefit of a PEL Study is that the team can determine how each individual improvement could interact with others to achieve the most favorable outcome for the corridor. In addition to better assessing how the individual projects can affect one another, the broader Study allows for:

• Less duplication of efforts (i.e. different parties will not be studying variations of the same concepts and putting each forward separately
• More accurate project phasing because projects are planned and potentially designed together, and
• Ability to advance breakout projects, or “low hanging” fruit.

The PEL study should be completed at the end of 2024.

There may be 20 or more concepts that can be mixed and matched to create an overall series of recommendations, or alternatives, to reduce congestion and improve mobility in the I-84 corridor in greater Danbury. To learn more, visit the Concept Development page.

Concepts are assigned a number when they are first developed. The concepts will be posted to the website as they are completed, and not necessarily in sequential order.

Non-highway improvements are being studied and evaluated under Concept 4. Both non-highway and local improvements are determined as independent breakout projects.

There is a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) for the project that the project team meets with several times per year. The PAC members’ roles are to guide the project team, provide input, and share information with their own organizations.

PAC members include neighborhood groups, local and regional authorities, major employers, and advocacy groups. Learn about the PAC Members and Meeting Materials.

There was one public meeting to introduce the project to the public on June 13, 2017. There will be more as the project progresses.

At this time, no upcoming public meetings are scheduled. Please visit https://www.i84danbury.com/comment-subscribe/ to subscribe to the email distribution list. All meetings are announced through the email distribution list.

The project team is communicating with the public in a variety of ways, including working with the PAC, posting informational materials to the website and in newspapers, communicating via social media and e-bulletins, and attending community events in Danbury.

Please visit https://www.i84danbury.com/comment-subscribe/ to provide comments and ask questions about the study.