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A Unique Opportunity

At our monthly meeting last week, the Bike & Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton (BPAC) discussed the possible siting of a CVS drive-through adjacent to the Clinton train station between Hull Street and John Street. We view the site of the proposed CVS drive-through as the gateway to Clinton, given its location adjacent to the train station and to Main Street.

So, the question we discussed was, do we want to encourage commuters along the shoreline to visit Clinton via the train by providing a welcoming atmosphere adjacent to the train station—i.e., public space, an outdoor café and shops, possibly bike rentals, and signage displaying distance to the marina, the town beach, and other local areas of interest; or do we want to discourage visitors by imposing on them the view of a chain link fence and a string of cars idling at a CVS drive-through?

Given the proximity of the train station to the marina and Main Street shops and attractions, we have a unique opportunity in Clinton to encourage pedestrian and bicycling activities directly from the train station. BPAC is unanimously in favor of promoting our town’s attractions through bike/pedestrian tourism and opposed to wasting the opportunity to showcase our town by turning this prime location into a CVS drive-through.

We feel our vision for this crucial link between the train station and Main Street is much more in keeping with the Plan of Conservation and Development and Route 1 Corridor Study recommendations of encouraging shops, restaurants, public spaces and open spaces in the town center, and reducing traffic congestion.

Debbie Lundgren, Chair

Bike & Pedestrian Alliance of Clinton