The Town of Manchester has received a grant of $7.5 million for a cycle track and road diet for Main Street in the downtown area.

• This funding came from the federal government through the State of Connecticut. In the application, it could have been used for a host of town projects, however it was submitted for the cycle track and road diet.

• The proposed cycle track will take away 25% of the road width.

• As a result of this road width reduction, the entire southbound lane will become parallel parking.

• In key blocks in the southbound lane, parking will be reduced and repositioned at the most southern end of Main Street adjacent to the South Methodist Church.

• With the new library of 75,000 square feet that the architect has identified needs 255 parking spaces, the town has planned for 50 in the rear of the library, and it is estimated 20 to 25 will be used by staff.

• The town advertised the development of the Forest Street lot and has proposed 60 public parking spaces from Saint James Street south to Forest Street. Currently Forest Street lot has 110 parking spaces.

• The Army & Navy clubs’ existence depends on full use of the existing 110 parking spaces in the Forest Street Lot. They are the largest hall in Manchester.

• In addition, the new library with all of its community programing space, will need and use the Forest Street lot along with all the businesses in the general area.

Save Downtown Manchester committee has expanded exponentially and has overwhelming community support for its alternate recommendations. The people want to maintain the historic nature of a wide main street, increase parking where possible to promote economic growth, implement improvements, connect existing bike ways to downtown and turn them into pedestrians in our walkable downtown.

In addition, preserve the Worldwide Manchester Road Race event going into its 88th year without any modifications.