New Pedestrian Safety Measures at Pulaski Circle; Rotary Improvements TBD

The new crosswalk indicators are high-visibility yellow and include flashing red lights that are pedestrian-activated.

In Spring 2023 and 2024, SoDo neighbor (and NRZ Board member) Michael Robbins submitted a Pedestrian Safety project idea to the Hartford Decide$ Participatory Budgeting initiative for Pulaski Circle. The project received sufficient votes in 2024 to be included in the 2025 budget, and the components were installed just a few weeks ago, at the end of August.

Pulaski Circle is one of the busiest and most challenging intersections in Hartford. More than 100 crashes were recorded there between 2018 and 2022, and many residents, commuters, and visitors have long expressed concerns about safety, confusing traffic patterns, speeding, and pedestrian access.

This is only the beginning of pedestrian safety and traffic improvements at this intersection. As shared by representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation at our June 17 meeting, the CTDOT is exploring a major redesign of the Circle. Part of the Greater Hartford Mobility Study, the project aims to reduce speeds and improve safety for all commuters, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Representatives from CT DOT will host a public meeting with an updated plan the first week of December at the Downtown Branch of the Hartford Public Library. We will share the date and time as soon as it is shared with us. 

Whether you drive through the Circle every day, walk across it, bike through it, or simply care about the neighborhood, this will be another opportunity to learn more and make your voice heard.

CT DOT Concept Plan as shared at the June 17 meeting. An updated version will be shared at the forthcoming public meeting in December. The full presentation is linked above.

Status of our Strategic Neighborhood Plan

Throughout 2025, SoDo worked on developing a ten-year Neighborhood Plan, with help from the City of Hartford Planning Division and FHI Studios. With permission from the City, this document will also function as the official Strategic Plan for our neighborhood. After numerous public meetings and revisions, we submitted the plan to the State Office of Policy Management, which oversees all NRZs in Connecticut. In July, we received their comments and questions, which we will incorporate into the next iteration of the plan before presenting the plan at a Public Meeting this fall. 

The SoDo Neighborhood Plan proposes the following goals:

• Ensure that SoDo is a vibrant and resilient neighborhood that is prepared for future climate risks and development.
• Create a more desirable SoDo by improving street safety and traffic calming to create a more welcoming grid for residents and visitors alike.
• Improve mobility options through better connections within the neighborhood, improve traffic circulation, and enhanced infrastructure for people on foot, bike, or bus.
• Create a more prosperous economy through revised zoning regulations, strategic infill, transportation development, and small business expansion.
• Support existing businesses and promote the opening of local retail and restaurants.

You can read the Draft plan and OPM Staff comments here.

Community Interest Survey for a Neighborhood Market

Is there an interest in a local, farmer-driven neighborhood market in SoDo? Think local produce, bulk foods, and other everyday essentials. Your honest feedback, whether positive or skeptical, will directly shape whether and how this market gets built. The survey takes about 10 minutes and is anonymous.

Click here to take the survey.

July 4 Road Closure Advisory

 

City of Hartford Traffic Advisory: State Capitol Celebration, The Long Weekend, Hartford Bonanza & Fireworks
July 4, 2026

Expect heavy traffic in downtown and plan ahead for the following road closures:

Road Closures & Times:

• Elm St & Trinity St: 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM (in yellow)
• Capitol Ave (Oak St to Washington St): 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (in purple)
• Capitol Ave (Broad St to Hudson St): 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM (in orange)

Motorist Tips:

• Please plan alternate routes to avoid delays.
• Allow extra travel time to get to your destination safely.
• Commute responsibly and look out for pedestrians! Have a happy, fun, and safe 4th of July celebration!

Free Rides:

CT Department of Transportation will be offering fare-free service on all CTtransit bus routes statewide on Saturday, July 4, 2026, and Sunday, July 5, 2026. Find more info about parking and transportation here.

The Future of Pulaski Circle at our June Annual Meeting

 

Pulaski Circle is one of the most important intersections in our neighborhood, and one of the most challenging. 

For years, residents, commuters, cyclists, and pedestrians have struggled with an intersection that is confusing to navigate and difficult to cross safely. The current design combines elements of a rotary and a roundabout, creating uncertainty for drivers and providing limited protection for people walking or biking through the area.

The numbers tell the story. More than 100 crashes were recorded at Pulaski Circle between 2018 and 2022. While thankfully there have been no fatalities, the intersection remains a significant safety concern and a major gateway to both Downtown Hartford and our neighborhood.

Now, change is on the horizon. Representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation will join the South Downtown NRZ on June 17 to present early concepts for transforming Pulaski Circle into a modern roundabout. Proposed improvements include clearer traffic patterns, proper lane markings, improved signage, and enhanced pedestrian safety measures designed to reduce crashes and slow traffic entering nearby residential and commercial streets. Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam will also attend the meeting to participate in the discussion and hear directly from the community.

These plans are still in the conceptual phase, which means community feedback can help shape the project before decisions are finalized.

Whether you drive through Pulaski Circle every day, walk across it, bike through it, or simply care about the future of our neighborhood, this is an opportunity to make your voice heard. 

Join the conversation. Ask questions. Share concerns. Help shape the future of one of the neighborhood's most important intersections. Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capitol Avenue. All neighbors are encouraged to attend.

June 17 is also our Annual Meeting and will include Board Elections, reports from HPD, HFD, and MDC on activity in the neighborhood, updates from various City offices such as Community Engagement and Planning & Development Services, and news from our own internal committees. 

Our monthly meetings are hybrid. Join us at First Presbyterian (136 Capitol Avenue, lower level) or on Zoom. Check out this month's newsletter for additional news, the May Minutes, June Agenda, and meeting link.

SoDo May Meeting + Info on Former Dispensary Building

 

The former dispensary at 341 Main Street

Neighbors, just as spring blooms change our landscape, there are many opportunities for change coming up in SoDo, read on and please attend the next two SoDo meetings - tonight and Wednesday, June 17. Read on for details on:

• What would you like to see at 341 Main Street?
• Vote for a bocce court at Buckingham Square Park.
• Possibility for thermal energy in the redevelopment of the Cap Ave lots?
• Zoning appeal for 165 Buckingham.
• What are the DOT’s plans for Pulaski Circle?

Last November, the Hartford Business Journal reported that the city was contemplating a purchase of the vacant former Roots dispensary building on the corner of Main and Buckingham (pictured above). That sale occurred in February 2026. The city is preparing a Request for Proposals for the building’s future redevelopment and is seeking neighborhood input before that process begins. This is an opportunity to help shape what comes next. What uses would strengthen the neighborhood? What would neighbors like to see at this site? Jack Benjamin, City Director of Economic Development, will be present tonight to hear community ideas and answer questions about the redevelopment process.

Through Hartford Decide$ participatory budgeting, our neighborhood could add a fun new amenity to the underused Buckingham Square Park, right next to 341 Main. Click here to read the full description, and click here to add your vote. All Hartford residents 10 years of age or older are eligible to vote.

Our next SoDo meeting of the 2025-26 year will be on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:00 pm. Our agenda includes discussions on the potential for thermal energy networks in SoDo, the future use of the former dispensary at 341 Main St., and a zoning appeal for 165 Buckingham. We’ll also have reports from HPD, HFD, and other city departments, and our Community Engagement and Social Committees. Check out this month's newsletter for links to join the Meeting or download the Agenda, as well as info on City dog licenses and rabies shots, Hartford Decide$ voting, CapFest, Solstice, and other neighborhood news.

April News + Progressive Dinner Photos

Last month’s Downtown Progressive Dinner was a wonderful evening of connection and community, bringing together 48 neighbors from SoDo, Downtown, and Charter Oak. The night began with drinks and mingling at Sol y Luna, followed by dinner in small groups at five host homes throughout the neighborhood. Guests then reunited for an unforgettable dessert buffet by Casey Moran and Caroline Correia, complete with stunning views of the city from their rooftop cupola. By all accounts, it was a memorable, walkable evening that captured the spirit of our neighborhood at its best. View photos here.

Our next SoDo meeting of the 2025-26 year will be on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm. Our agenda includes a discussion of the CT Legislature’s proposed bill HB 5260, ”An Act Prohibiting A Municipality from Imposing a Penalty for the Performance of Certain Activities of Daily Living,” which you can read here. We’ll also have reports from HPD, HFD, and other city departments, and our Community Engagement and Social Committees. Check out this month's newsletter for links to join the Meeting or download the Agenda, as well as more neighborhood news.