This document discusses plans to develop the area around the future Meriden train station into a transit-oriented development district. It proposes a zoning plan with sub-districts to encourage mixed-use and higher density residential development within walking distance of the station. The goals are to promote transit use, pedestrian access, and infill development to revitalize downtown Meriden around the new rail and bus transportation hub. Concepts for the station area and surrounding streets aim to improve connectivity and circulation for various modes of transportation.

1. MERIDEN TOD
Meriden
On The Move!

2. MERIDEN TOD
Panelists
Allan Hodges, FAICP Senior Planning Manager
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Peggy Brennan Director of Economic Development
City of Meriden, CT
Dom Caruso, AICP Planning Director
City of Meriden, CT
Margarita Iglesia, AICP Senior Planner/Architect
Parsons Brinckerhoff

3. MERIDEN TOD

4. MERIDEN TOD
New Haven, Hartford to
Springfield Rail Project
Meriden - Designated station stop.
Connection to Boston, Vermont, Montreal
rail service
State DOT design complete 2012; new
service 2015-16
State and Federal funding $447 million
Meriden -New station, double platform,
flyover, parking garage

5. MERIDEN TOD
Active Projects
TOD Master Plan / Zoning
Meriden Intermodal Center
New Circulation to and within the City
Meriden Market Assessment
HUB Redevelopment Park Plan

6. MERIDEN TOD
Meriden Downtown
TOD Master Plan

7. MERIDEN TOD
Market Analysis
Objective: Help the City achieve
the goal of revitalizing the City
Center in today’s economy and
real estate market

8. MERIDEN TOD
Development Framework and Phasing Strategy
Position downtown as origin rather than a destination; i.e.,
emphasize housing to build up population downtown;
Commercial will follow.
Early phases: encourage mid- to high-density residential
with small-scale commercial
Later phases: maintain flexibility with long-term
development opportunity

9. MERIDEN TOD
Development Strengths
Strengths Recommendations
Central Make Center City an origin rather than
location a destination
Accessible Convey consistent and focused Theme
Station / Vision
Location Message for developers:
Historic “Meriden City Center will be an attractive
character place for commuters to live. It will be ONLY
location equidistant from Hartford and
New Haven with multimodal access to
both

10. MERIDEN TOD
Development Opportunities
Opportunities Recommendations
Increased rail Aggressively market enhanced rail
capacity service (6 to 52 trains a day!)
Increasing Convenience
preference for Affordability
transit Enhanced quality of life
Increasing Target pioneering renters
preference for Rapidly growing demographic segment
downtown young professionals seeking central
living/working location, transit, and character
Strong rental Willing to accept area in transition as trade
off for price and transit
market
conditions

11. MERIDEN TOD
Encourage Physical Improvements
Make the HUB plan a reality
Upgrade/distribute affordable housing
Deliver physical / visual improvements
Target niche tenants to fill existing vacancies
Improve pedestrian/bicycle/auto access

12. MERIDEN TOD
Other Recommendations
Ways to overcome weak market conditions
Identify institutional partners/tenants less exposed to economy
Make it easy to develop City Center
Ways to change perceptions of City Center
Emphasize that the City Center is changing dramatically
To developers:
increased rail capacity and HUB progress
list of initiatives and developer incentives
central regional location
To public
Quality of life; access to jobs in Hartford and New Haven
Updates on improvements to City Center/Events

13. MERIDEN TOD

14. MERIDEN TOD
Transit Oriented
Development
Master Plan
Meriden, CT

15. MERIDEN TOD
What is TOD?
TOD means Transit-Oriented
Development or a development that
incorporates a mix of uses within
walking distances from a transit
station.

16. MERIDEN TOD
Basic TOD Principles
1. Efficient Land-use Patterns – interconnected neighborhoods
that consume less land, generates less traffic, contribute less
to congestion and air pollution
2. Mix of Choices - a choice of transportation options, mix
housing types and retail types that reflects the regional
diversity of incomes and family structures
3. Livability - transit, improved circulation, traffic calming, safe
walking, bicycling and recreation with appropriate parking
4. Financial Investment – a mix of uses that are responsive to
market demands and financial realities through partnerships

17. MERIDEN TOD
Center City TOD District
MHA/Mill Street
Colony Infill
ITC STATION
HUB Site
Pratt Street Gateway
Hanover/W. Main
East of Pratt
East-West Main
Connection
Factory H Area

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Mill Street: MHA / HUB Site

19. MERIDEN TOD
ITC Concepts
ITC
Multi-Modal
Interface
Public Park
Parking
Structure

20. MERIDEN TOD
ITC / Mixed-use

21. MERIDEN TOD
Colony Street Infill

22. MERIDEN TOD
MTC Intermodal Station
Future Park

23. MERIDEN TOD
MTC Intermodal Station
Urban Planning Objectives
High Speed Rail (NHHS) Commuter Parking
Commuter Rail Traffic Circulation
Transit (Bus) Drop-Off / Pick-Up
Platform Connections Pedestrian Access
Passenger Services Bicycle Access

24. MERIDEN TOD
MTC Intermodal Station
Urban Design Objectives
Visibility of Station TOD Opportunities
State St. – Station Plan Complementary to HUB Site
Brooks St. – Close At-grade Accessibility to Downtown
Rail Crossing and Neighborhoods
Safe and Efficient Connections - E. Main St
Intermodal Transfers Connections - Colony St

25. MERIDEN TOD
Station Site Program
Existing Proposed
At-grade Rail Platform (1) Raised Rail Platforms (2)
At-grade Crossings “Up-and-Over” Bridge
On-street Bus Stops Dedicated Bus Berths (6)
Dedicated Bus Lane
Drop-Off / Pick-Up Area
ADA Parking, Taxi Stand
Commuter Parking
Pedestrian and Bike Access

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Option with Station on Colony Street
Colony Street
Bike Path

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Raised Rail Platforms (2)
“Up-and-Over” Bridge
Dedicated Bus Berths (6)
Dedicated Bus Lane
Pedestrian and Bike Access
Drop-Off / Pick-Up Area
ADA Parking
Taxi Stand
Commuter Parking
Pedestrian and Bike Access

28. MERIDEN TOD
New Circulation Pattern

29. MERIDEN TOD

30. MERIDEN TOD
Transportation Goals
Improve the gateway to the city
Direct travelers to the transit center and hub safely
and efficiently
Improve circulation within center city
Enhanced streetscape & landscaping
Improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation

31. MERIDEN TOD
Traffic and Parking Studies
Traffic counts morning and evening
Generated Traffic flow under different scenarios:
• One way vs. two way
• Different access routes to city center
• Existing and future conditions
Public transportation – existing bus routes
Parking availability

32. MERIDEN TOD
TOD District Circulation
The city center is
accessible by
pedestrians,
bicycles, cars,
busses and trains
Provide new
way-finding signs
Propose main
entrance from I-
691 Exit 8 to
Pratt Street
Create an
attractive
gateway

33. MERIDEN TOD

34. MERIDEN TOD
New Center City Circulation
Eliminate the
unusual
existing traffic
pattern
Provide a more
predictable
street layout
Investigated
roundabouts
but to close to
RR crossing
Include new
green spaces
and pedestrian
paths

35. MERIDEN TOD
Goals of the New TOD Zoning District:
I. Accommodate future growth which will enhance the TAX BASE
through the optimum use of appropriate parcels for sustainable
economic development;
II. Encourage moderate to high DENSITY development within walking
distance of the Intermodal Transportation Center;
III. Create a PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY environment to encourage walking,
bicycling and transit use, and reduce dependency on the automobile;
IV. Emphasize MIXED-USE Overlay Code and District with a focus on
mixed-income residential development with supporting commercial
and retail uses;
V. Encourage INFILL and building REHABILITATION to create higher
densities, preserve existing fabric and complete the definition of
streets;
VI. Protect existing neighborhoods / assets by ensuring HIGH QUALITY
development that is well integrated and compatible in aesthetics;
VII. Protect the integrity of HISTORICALLY significant and
ENVIRONMENTALLY sensitive areas.

36. MERIDEN TOD
Gateway
Historic/ Park
Commercial
Civic
Hanover
TOD ZONING SUB-DISTRICTS

37. Bridgeport: Downtown Village Districts
MERIDEN TOD
Gateway
Historic/ Park
Commercial
WEST MAIN STREET
Civic
Hanover
Primary Street
Secondary Street
TOD DISTRICT: STREET HIERARCHY

38. MERIDEN TOD
PARK SUB-DISTRICT:
• Focus on HUB Park / Proximity to ITC
• High density, mixed-use, mixed-income
residential [35 D.U. / acre min.]
• Define Pratt corridor and Park edges
with ground floor uses that promote a
pedestrian-friendly public realm
• Maximum height 5 floors [8 floors with
incentives]
Park

39. MERIDEN TOD
CIVIC SUB-DISTRICT:
• Preserve & “Showcase” existing
cultural, institutional and civic buildings
of merit
• New development should compliment
existing scale and grandeur to
appropriate siting and articulation
• High quality single, 2 & 3 family
residences are permitted on secondary
and tertiary streets to provide
complimentary infill fabric
• Residential densities must be a
minimum of 10 D.U.s / acre
• Height: 4 floors [6 floors by incentives]
Civic

40. MERIDEN TOD
HUB Flood
Control
Redevelopment
Plan

42. HUB Flood Control Redevelopment Plan
(February 2008)

45. MERIDEN TOD
Sources
www.MeridenTOD.COM
www.CityofMeriden.COM