2. Notice of Scoping for Downtown Crossing - Phase II

Municipality where proposed project might be located: New Haven, CT

Address of Possible Project Location: Area generally to include work on Union Avenue, South Frontage Road, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK) Boulevard, Orange Street, South Orange Street, Water Street and State Street.

Project Description: State funds will be used to complete Phase II of the Downtown Crossing project, which will covert Route 34 from a limited access highway to urban boulevards. The CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is the sponsoring agency and is working with the CT Dept. of Transportation (DOT) and the City of New Haven to bring the project forward.  The project introduces a new at-grade connection across the former Route 34 Corridor by re-connecting the north and south sections of Orange Street.  Five major components of the project include construction of a new at-grade, signalized intersection of Route 34 with South Orange Street and MLK Boulevard and South Frontage Road; pedestrian improvements to the State Street underpass; transition zone improvements intended to slow travel speed along the transition of Route 34 to the new intersection; a bike lane along Water Street from Orange Street to Olive Street; and relocation of utilities and stormwater improvements within the project area. 

This Phase II work in part will support the private redevelopment of the Coliseum Site (275 South Orange Street) into a human-scale, mixed-use, community-gathering place centered on an activated public square and laneway, with 719 residential units, 76,900 square feet of retail, 160 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of Class A office, 52,620 square feet of public space and 785 parking spaces.   

Under the final phase (Phase III) of the Downtown Crossing Project, Temple Street is intended to be re-connected from MLK Boulevard to South Frontage Road, MLK Boulevard and South Frontage Road will be further improved as urban boulevards, and Church Street will be reconstructed between MLK Boulevard and South Frontage Road. Various utility relocations and stormwater management improvements will also be a part of Phase III.

Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Thursday, April 16, 2015.

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by close of business on Friday, March 27, 2015.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact: