Support Our Safety — Phase Two: Tods Driftway

Welcome to the Sidewalks on Shore Website:

In 2022, a group of residents in Old Greenwich banded together to propose a sidewalk for a busy stretch of Shore Road that serves office workers, construction companies, residents, as well as school children and walkers.  This sidewalk proposal was funded in 2022, and built in Fall 2023. It is actively enjoyed by residents from all over town.

An ever increasing group of residents have asked for the Town of Greenwich to finish the job, and continue this sidewalk effort on the popular busy stretch of Shore Road leading to Tod’s Driftway.

This project has been long requested, outlined, and on the list of Priority Sidewalks.  A line item of $250,000 to design and engineer a sidewalk on Shore Road from Sound Beach to the rocky bridge approaching Tods Driftway is in the First Selectman’s 2024-2025 budget and is actively being discussed by the Board of Estimate and Taxation.  (Click here for more information about the project on the Town website.)

This project will also include a very important stretch from Tomac Avenue on Shore to the Stamford City Line.  The final decision day for this is March 27 (link the Budget Schedule)

The hope is that this item is approved and given a positive outcome on this feasibility study, that we will ask top include funds for a sidewalk in the 2025-2026 budget line. 

A large number of school bus stops are on Shore Road between Sound Beach Avenue and Tods Driftway. To see more detail about these bus stops, click here.

Click here to read the article.

Click here to read the article: https://sidewalksonshore.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/wsj-article-on-sidewalks-and-safety.pdf
The Gateway to Greenwich Point

The table below shows the average number of people entering Greenwich Point Park each summer day. Note that almost 10% of these people have walked in via Shore Road.

CarsPeopleWalk-InsTotal
1,545.992,633.36238.092,871.45
Jogger and cyclist on Shore Road.
Cars, cars, cars!

Please learn about this project, sign up to stay informed, and at any time feel free to email info@sidewalksonshore.org.

No place to jog.

What You Can Do:

  • Follow us on Instagram! Go to: https://www.instagram.com/sidewalksonshoreroad/
  • As citizens united in the effort, we can get this done. Speak to your neighbors!
  • Give us your support and come to meetings at Town Hall, speak to your District 6 RTM representatives, and email First Selectman Fred Camillo at (acamillo@gmail.com). We have a much better chance with a united voice.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Will this take away my parking on Shore Road?

Per Town ordinance (14) no parking is allowed either side of Shore Road. https://library.municode.com/ct/greenwich/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH14.VETR_ART5SC_SCHEDULE_IPAPR

  • What is my responsibility if I have a sidewalk in front of my house?

The Town is responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalk, except in the case of snow/ice where it is the landowner’s responsibility to clear the sidewalk of snow/ice within 18 hours of a storm. The Town also asks however, that you not clear the sidewalk until they plow Shore Road first. https://library.municode.com/ct/greenwich/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH11.ST_ART2SNICRE&showChanges=true%20%20,%20%20CT%20Drought%20Management%20Plan

  • Am I liable if someone trips on my sidewalk?

Please speak to your lawyer/insurance agent. Our insurance agent, Peter Carlson, has said we are covered via our Personal Liability Insurance. Another idea is to add a rider to your homeowner’s policy, much as some do for a beach access exposure.

  • Will more people walk in front of my house?

People are already walking and cycling in front of houses on Shore. They would just be able to do so in a safer way.

  • What about my hedge?

We hope that the safety provided for residents outweighs these concerns. We plan to move our hedge in the Fall/Spring to create more space, as this is a good time of year to do so.

  • What about a large tree on Town of Greenwich land?

Speak to the Town about what to do on a case by case basis

  • What about my property values?

Agents have said that whilst there may be anxiety or uncertainty about putting a sidewalk in, once it is in it is not an issue when selling your house. We have heard anecdotally that new families moving into the area want safety and sidewalks for their children to travel to bus stops and town. As one realtor has said, “In addition to safety, sidewalks will clean up the streetscape AND should add value each property since buyers are coming to Old Greenwich (vs other areas of Greenwich or other towns) because they want to be able walk to the village, school and beach. Sidewalks visually reinforce the walking culture of our village.”


James Michel from DPW does a very nice job of summing up the opportunity of this project when he writes the following:

“When it comes to liability, I will not pretend to be an attorney but here are a few items that the Town has determined.  For the most part the Town is liable for sidewalk issues.  Per Town Ordinance, the property owner is responsible for snow and ice removal of the sidewalk adjacent to their house and can not block the sidewalk, park on the sidewalk, or otherwise create an obstruction.  The Town is responsible for the upkeep of the physical sidewalk.  This includes repairing cracks, replacing when it is has reached its useful life etc.  The few cases where the Town has not been held liable is when the property owner does not clear the snow per ordinance or when a utility company or property owner or their contractor has completed construction and left the sidewalk in disrepair and unprotected.  These cases are very infrequent.

We agree that sidewalks do create a safety benefit to the residents that we feel far outweighs the responsibility for the snow removal.  It provides a separation between the edge of the road and an area for people to walk.   It provides an accessible path to walk your dog, take the kids for a walk, get some fresh air, listen to that podcast and maybe even meet your neighbors.”

RELEVANT READING FOR OLD GREENWICH PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

(See the Reports page to view these items.)

  • 2004 Safe Routes to School Report – Old Greenwich (identifies 12 roads as areas of pedestrian concern, e.g., Shore, Tait)
  • 2006 Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee – Prepared for Selectman of Greenwich (Shore identified as high priority)
  • 2010 Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee – Update and 2 Volume report for Selectman (Shore identified as priority )
  • 2015 Eastern Greenwich Neighborhood Plan – Identifies priority sidewalk areas and highlights pedestrian/bicycle safety in Old Greenwich

For information on the original Phase One of the Sidewalks On Shore project that has already been completed, click here.