“Currently, there is no perceived [Route 9] issue with people accessing the business, but there is a concern about the walkability and pedestrian-friendliness of downtown streets that also serve as state highways. … The business relies on the appeal of a walkable, local Main Street with unique, creative, and historic businesses, an any plan that reduces this charm is seen as detrimental to the business.” – Jen Alexander, Kidcity Founder and Executive Director
People need to know at this point in time that like, when people are coming to stop in your town, or shop at your store, or your restaurant, they’re coming for you. Almost every time. They’re not randomly shopping, or randomly eating, or being like, oh, there’s a light on the highway, maybe we should pull off. – Bridge St. Neighborhood Resident
“Removing the traffic lights [on Route 9] will not have a negative effect on the Middletown community and its ability to bring residents together and attract newcomers. People know and love Middletown. … It could make [Middletown] a more accessible town and improve small business.” – Katie Hughes, Perk on Main Founder and CEO
[We should think more about] business cooperative modeling, like making a Restaurant Week, sort of a really big thing. It benefits everybody so much. [And], let’s have free parking for Restaurant Week. Like, it’s not that hard. You’re not losing anything. You’re making your town so much better. Right? Middletown Art Fest night, have free parking. – Bridge St. Neighborhood Resident
“I think that if people are going to Main Street businesses, they know they are going there. When they get in the car, they’re not going to like suddenly stop — unless they have to use the bathroom, in which case, I wouldn’t go to Perk on Main for that. I’d find a McDonalds or something. The only reason I would ever shift course when I’m going somewhere or leaving work is if I have to use the bathroom. So, I really don’t think it [lights or no lights] will hurt [Main St. business] in the slightest. I really don’t. But, I do think that if there’s more traffic on side streets, that can make getting downtown a little bit trickier, maybe [that could hurt businesses]. –Diana Martinez, Middletown Resident
You know, having a traffic light or not having a traffic light. That was the same argument why they made the bridge land on Main Street and created all this crazy, right? It’s like, if we put the bridge on Main Street, and then people will drive over and come [to] our business? No, you made a traffic jam on Main Street and made it harder for people to get to your businesses. Nice Job. … People do come to Middletown, certainly. But they would go there whether the bridge too you directly there or not. – Bridge St. Neighborhood Resident
There’s absolutely validity to that [idea that traffic on Main street helps businesses on Main Street] at all. That may have been true in the 50s. There is zero validity to any of that right now. People want to be able to get in and out. Nobody’s sitting in traffic going, Oh, great. There’s a signal I’m going to pull off.” – Howard Weissberg, Deputy Director Middletown Public Works
