Proposed New Haven Complete Streets Legislation

The City of New Haven Board of Aldermen will be holding a hearing on Complete Streets Legislation on September 22nd, at 6:30pm at City Hall. All are welcome to attend, and public comments and testimony are encouraged. Please feel free to copy the coalition (email newhavensafestreets [at] gmail.com) on any correspondence. Attached below is a copy of the proposed legislation, which was submitted to the Board this week.

August, 26, 2008

Honorable Carl Goldfield, President, New Haven Board of Aldermen

Dear President Goldfield:

We would like to respectfully submit to the Board of Aldermen, the attached communication, a proposed Order , which would establish a steering committee to develop a complete streets policy for New Haven, implement a sustainable complete streets program for the city, and propose complete streets legislation as an important first step toward creating a future New Haven which boasts welcoming, safe and vibrant streets and public ways.

New Haven is the regional center of south central Connecticut and the intermodal center of Connecticut's transportation system. In addition, a greater proportion of New Haven residents (14%) walk to work than in any other city in New England while another 31% of city residents bike, carpool or take public transit to work.

Recent tragedies at the Yale Medical School, along Whalley Avenue, and on Long Wharf Drive, as well as numerous other terrible accidents, have galvanized the community to form the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition. It has been found that auto traffic often conflicts with bike and pedestrian activity, thereby leading to unsafe conditions when these users do not follow the rules-of-the-road. In addition, recent studies on transportation policy in the tri-state area indicates that the economically disadvantaged, especially the African-American and Latino communities, are subject to disproportionately higher levels of pedestrian injuries and fatalities.

The Safe Streets Coalition's goal is to raise awareness of traffic safety issues and build community support for an urgent and comprehensive strategy that will reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities in New Haven by 50% by 2009 and 90% by 2015, while promoting streets that are more livable, walkable and economically vital. Streets are a critical component of public space, directly impact public health, play a major role in defining the image and identity of our city and provide the framework for current and future development.

We believe that it is crucial for the City of New Haven to make a commitment to reaching the goals identified by the Safe Streets Coalition: pursuing the development of tools that raise the quality and civility of our shared public spaces; supporting neighborhood economic development; increasing the modal split of walking, cycling and transit modes; and building a safe, efficient and equitable transportation system in the city. To that end, we ask that the Board please review and hopefully approve this Order which would create a steering committee empowered to develop a complete streets policy for New Haven, implement a sustainable complete streets program for the city, and propose complete streets legislation.

We strongly feel that this is the very important first step toward creating a New Haven which balances the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, children, adults and seniors in developing a comprehensive plan to foster a layout of our city streets and public thoroughfares that is welcoming, safe and convenient, as well as both walkable and economically vibrant.

Thank you for your consideration of this measure.

Respectfully submitted,

ERIN STURGIS-PASCALE, Alderwoman, 14th Ward, ROLAND LEMAR, Alderman, 9th Ward

---

ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN ESTABLISHING A STEERING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY FOR NEW HAVEN, IMPLEMENT A SUSTAINABLE COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM FOR THE CITY, AND PROPOSE COMPLETE STREETS LEGISLATION BASED ON THESE PRINCIPLES.

WHEREAS: New Haven is the regional center of south central Connecticut and the intermodal center of Connecticut's transportation system; and

WHEREAS: a greater proportion of New Haven residents (14%) walk to work than in any other city in New England; and

WHEREAS: an additional 31% of New Haven residents bike, carpool or take public transit to work; and

WHEREAS: automobile traffic often conflicts with bike and pedestrian activity, thereby leading to unsafe conditions when these users do not follow the rules-of-the-road ; and

WHEREAS: recent tragedies at the Yale Medical School, along Whalley Avenue, and on Long Wharf Drive, as well as numerous other terrible accidents, have galvanized the community to form the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition; and

WHEREAS: recent studies on transportation policy in the tri-state area are uncovering data that indicates that the economically disadvantaged, especially the African-American and Latino communities, are subject to disproportionately higher levels of pedestrian injuries and fatalities; and

WHEREAS: the Safe Streets Coalition's goal is to raise awareness of traffic safety issues and build community support for an urgent and comprehensive strategy that will reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities in New Haven by 50% by 2009 and 90% by 2015, while promoting more livable, walkable and economically vibrant streets; and

WHEREAS: streets are a critical component of public space, directly impact public health, play a major role in defining the image and identity of our city and provide the framework for current and future development; and

WHEREAS: the City of New Haven and the New Haven Board of Aldermen are committed to reaching the goals and objectives identified by the Safe Streets Coalition; to pursuing the development of tools that raise the quality and civility of our shared public spaces; to supporting neighborhood economic development; to increasing the modal split of walking, cycling and transit modes and; to building a safe, efficient and equitable transportation system in the city through implementation of a broad series of initiatives involving education, policy development, engineering practices, physical improvements and traffic enforcement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the New Haven Board of Aldermen that a nine member Complete Streets Steering Committee shall be established, consisting of three members of the Board of Aldermen, three employees of the City of New Haven and three residents of the City of New Haven to guide the development of:

• a Complete Streets policy which ensures that all users of the transportation system, especially pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users as well as children, elderly, and persons with disabilities are able to travel safely and conveniently on our city streets and sidewalks;
  
• a Complete Streets Design Manual that provides specific design guidelines for the construction of complete streets;
  
• a process by which community members are included in the planning and design processes that will result in changes to their neighborhood streets;
  
• an educational campaign; and
  
• traffic enforcement support in collaboration with the New Haven Police Department.
  
• Establish the following Complete Streets policy that: (a) requires the accommodation of the safety and convenience of all users of the transportation system using a Complete Streets hierarchy of users, which begins with pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users. These users shall be accommodated and balanced in all types of transportation and development projects and through all phases of a project so that the vulnerable - children, elderly, and persons with disabilities - can travel safely within the public right of way; (b) mandates the application of this policy, through adherence to principles of the Design Manual, to any new or improvement project affecting the public streets and sidewalks (including resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitation projects); (c) prioritizes walkability, inter-modal transit, traffic calming and pedestrian-based urban economic development over competing goals; and (d) references performance standards, with measurable outcomes and benchmarks.
  
• Develop progressive design standards that will be incorporated into a Complete Streets Design Manual providing technical guidance on the design and construction of streets and sidewalks so that they support the underlying principles of the Complete Streets policy. Such standards will: (a) provide a definition of a street classification system; (b) increase the safety and walkability of our city streets through proven tools that slow vehicle speeds; (c) create high visibility crosswalks for pedestrians; (d) create safe, connected bike facilities for cyclists; (e) narrow travel lanes; (f) address on-street parking policies. Such design standards will address: target speeds; street and lane widths; signal timing and vehicle detection; uninterrupted block length; connectivity; transit accessibility; as well as pedestrian and bicycle amenities such as benches, bus shelters and secure bike parking. The design plan should be of a quality so as to eliminate the need for excessive signage, which has negative aesthetic impacts and reduces safety through driver distraction. These design standards will require that the target speed for streets around schools, hospitals and business districts that depend on pedestrian traffic be a maximum of 15 miles per hour. Complete Streets solutions shall be flexible to fit within the context of the community.
  
• Develop a participatory planning process whereby affected communities are given an opportunity to advocate for changes that will best serve the community's interest. Such process will include the opportunity for the participation or input from a qualified landscape architect, an economic development or public realm strategy professional, or other appropriate professional guidance.
  
• Coordinate on-going educational campaigns targeting all users of the public right-of-way on their collective rights and responsibilities, with the goal of increasing the safety and civility of the public streets.
  
• Support the New Haven Police Department's traffic enforcement efforts and partner with the department to develop benchmarks for evaluating and measuring progress.
  

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Complete Streets Steering Committee will communicate the Complete Streets Policy as an Ordinance Amendment for consideration by the Board of Aldermen not more than one year after the passage of this Order, with the requirement that the principles of this policy be incorporated into all aspects of street and transportation planning projects, scoping procedures, design manual, design approvals and performance measures.

Comcast Truck Runs Red Light, Narrowly Misses Baby Stroller at Whitney and Edwards

Comcast Truck with CT License 58C G55. See issue reported here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/1042. License plates of vehicles breaking traffic laws can also be reported to the City of New Haven's new Traffic Safety Hotline at 203 946-6956, and more urgent situations (such as aggressive driving) should be reported to local police supervisors, city nonemergency phone number and other city officials in order to open investigations.

Please be careful crossing the street, even at crosswalks!

City of New Haven Poll on Share the Road Program

"The City of New Haven and partners in our community are working together to launch a City-wide safe streets program. Help us brand this effort! Please take a moment to review the following slogans and vote for your favorite! Vote soon, polls will be open through Wednesday, September 3rd." Click here to vote (temporary link).

Drag Racers Hit Pedestrians, Kill 1

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sunday, August 17, 2008 (NBC30): New Haven police said one person died and another was injured in what they called a "drag race turned hit-and-run." All roads have been reopened since the accident, which happened at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday on New Haven's Long Wharf Drive.

Police said drag racing has been an ongoing problem in the city. Last week, drag racers totaled eight cars on Lexington Avenue. No arrests have been made.

Update: New Haven Independent coverage, and an interview with the Chief of Police, can be found here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/deadly_crash_el.php

A reader post from the Independent's updated coverage at http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/dragracing_deat.php:

Posted by: Westville Mom August 19, 2008 1:10 PM
I can confirm that drag racing is a problem ALL over the city of New Haven. In Jan. of 2007 racers were gathering in front of my home AT SCHOOL DISMISSAL TIME and racing right TOWARD Edgewood School. Outraged, I called 911, but was told the racers would move before the police could catch them. However, they (red car plus different "pals") returned at least 2 more times within a 2-3 week period. I managed to get 2 eyewitnesses, snapped photos, and contacted both the police and my alderwoman, emailing photos to both. (Unable to get "action" photos, I only had identification shots of post-race engine checks.) I did everything in my power to get a reaction from someone...anyone. The official reaction, however, was merely rhetoric with no true action, whatsoever. I never even saw a police car. This should be a cautionary tale to the city that the children and parents of Edgewood School were in grave danger and other children may very well be in the future. My sense of dire urgency was not acknowledged at that time, however I do hope that attitudes are changing with the new police chief in place. (BTW, they have not returned since then---they saw that there were eyewitnesses.) To see photos of Jan. 9, 2007 go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/new_haven

Street Racing Damages Cars, Drivers Injured

New Haven (WTNH) August 14, 2008 -- Cars parked along a city street in New Haven were heavily damaged Thursday morning, and some blame illegal street racers. It was around 12:30 a.m. Folks in this residential neighborhood were at home, sleeping or watching TV when they heard crash after crash and came out to find the damage.

Witnesses say two cars were speeding up Lexington Avenue. They ended up crashing, but those two cars also crashed into parked cars along the street doing serious damage. At least six parked cars are damaged.

Residents say cars speed up Lexington Avenue all the time, but this was actually unusual. They think the cars might have been racing when they crashed. One flipped over. The drivers were injured and taken for medical help. There was no word from the police about charges just yet, but one resident said at least three of the parked cars are now totaled.

"I'm disabled, I have no vehicle now, and the other people, this lady here just put a lot of work into her car, a neighbor put a lot of work into her car and so did I, and now we're without vehicles because of people driving like this," Rob Lowry said.

Lowry says he and other residents have complained about speeding on the street before, and asked the city to put in a stop sign or something to calm traffic.

The city is in the middle of a campaign to try to make the streets safer for everyone who uses them, with a new traffic calming ordinance in the works, and the city just set up a hotline to report traffic problems. The hope is to do something about dangerous streets before things get quite this bad. The number to call to report a traffic problem is 203-946-6956.

Response from Mayor DeStefano on In-Street Crosswalk Signs

http://mailman.yale.edu/pipermail/traffic-safety/2008-August/000033.html

Hello everyone,

Recently our group joined with Elm City Cycling to write to Mayor
DeStefano requesting use of in-street pedestrian crossing signs in New
Haven. Below is the Mayor's response and the original letter. I have
to give most of the credit to Tom Harned and the folks at Elm City
Cycling who have been pushing for these signs over the past few years
and put in the work to write a well-researched proposal. Please send
me an email if you would like to see a picture of the signs we are
talking about.

Rachel

--

August 8, 2008

Elm City Cycling
c/o Thomas Harned

Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group
c/o Rachel Wattier

Re: In-Street Unsignalized Pedestrian Crosswalk Signs

Dear Mr. Harned and Ms. Wattier:

Thank you for your letter of August 5, 2008 concerning the use of
in-street, unsignalized pedestrian crosswalk signs. The City has
reviewed your letter not only from the perspective of increased
pedestrian safety, but also from a broader mission to create liveable
streets and to develop a cultural "share-the-road" mindset in New
Haven.

In regard to the specific request of your letter, the City's
prevailing concerns about in-street signs do not relate to liability
or effectiveness. In fact, the Transportation, Traffic and Parking
Department - following meetings with you and others - has reviewed
this technique and concurs there is merit to this technique. Our
prevailing concern is related to maintenance and this is an issue that
can be addressed.

With that in mind, my staff will arrange for the two of you to meet
with city staff and develop a pilot program for implementation at
once. We will look for opportunities based on accident criteria and
road condition and then implement accordingly. Longer term, we
continue to work on the broader mission and this includes
outreach/educations, new thinking on physical improvement and
systematic traffic enforcement.

Thank you again for your time and detailed research. I encourage you
to continue to work closely with City staff on the other major
projects in this fiscal year. These include the Union Station
Interconnect of bike route (s) / bike parking connecting Union Station
with four city neighborhoods; the proposed Complete Streets
Resolution; the various ongoing traffic calming improvements; and a
new education / outreach effort. Our collective effort will indeed
result in a more sustainable transportation system here in New Haven.

Very truly yours,

John DeStefano, Jr.
Mayor
City of New Haven


August 5, 2008

Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
New Haven Mayor's Office
165 Church St # 2
New Haven, CT 06510




  Re: In-Street Unsignalized Pedestrian Crosswalk Signs

Dear Mayor DeStefano:
We have prepared this letter on behalf of Elm City Cycling, the Yale
Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group, and numerous members and
supporters of the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition, formally
requesting that the city of New Haven permit and pilot the use of
in-street Unsignalized Pedestrian Crosswalk signs on public roadways.
We will outline the purpose and proper use of the devices, the
perceived barriers that have prevented the use of these devices in the
past, and offer supporting evidence outlining the safety and efficacy
of the devices.

In light of the recent tragedies that have occurred on New Haven's
roadways, numerous community groups have taken up the cause of traffic
calming and the need for streets that are safe for all roadway users
whether they be pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists. Many of these
groups have assembled as the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition. While
we, Elm City Cycling, Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group and
various members and supporters of the New Haven Safe Streets
coalition, believe that major changes in roadway design and
enforcement of the traffic laws are necessary to achieve streets that
are safe for all citizens, we also believe that there are
cost-effective short-term solutions available.

Chief among these is the in-street Unsignalized Pedestrian Crosswalk
sign, or the Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk Device (YTPCD). A
photograph of several variations of the device is shown in Figure 1 on
the following page.

Figure 1 – In Street YTPCD Devices

The YTPCD is a standard roadway sign used by municipalities across the
state of Connecticut, as well as major cities throughout the country.
Its purpose is to signify to drivers that state law dictates that
motorists must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Placing the sign
in the roadway serves to alert drivers to the presence of the
crosswalk and in doing so creates a safer environment for pedestrians.
Additionally, the presence of an object in the roadway tends to cause
drivers to reduce their travel speed thereby producing a traffic
calming effect, which yields safety benefits to all roadway users.

The device is outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD), a publication produced by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) of the United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT). This is the manual used by transportation
professionals throughout the country and spells out the standards by
which traffic signs, road markings and signals are designed,
installed, and utilized. The in-street YTPCD has two variations in the
MUTCD: R1-6 and R1-6a. A copy of the portion of the MUTCD describing
this device is enclosed.

Elm City Cycling, the Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group and
numerous members and supporters of the New Haven Safe Streets
Coalition have frequently expressed interest in the potential
deployment of this device.  However, the city of New Haven has thus
far declined to utilize it, citing several objections.

The first of these objections is the issue of liability. City staff
has, in the past, expressed concern that the city could be held liable
if a driver struck a YTPCD that had been placed in the street. While
we understand the city's concern, we feel that it is largely
unwarranted. As noted before, the YTPCD is an established sign listed
in the MUTCD. As such, assuming it is installed and utilized properly
within accepted traffic engineering practices, the city's liability is
limited, if not eliminated. To give an example, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has installed 4,500 such signs
since 2001. According to PennDOT officials, to date, the state has not
been sued by a motorist who struck a sign.

The second objection, often heard is that the sign would not result in
increased safety for pedestrians. It has been argued that it would
simply be another sign largely ignored by motorists. This objection is
a justifiable reaction, as many traffic signs are indeed ignored by
motorists. This is precisely why we are requesting the use of the
in-street YTPCD. Motorists in the United States are largely
unaccustomed to objects placed in the roadway. Therefore, when signs
are placed in the roadway, they tend to attract the attention of
drivers. In fact, a study by PennDOT confirms this. A safety
evaluation of PennDOT's yield-to-pedestrian devices revealed the
following results:

The likelihood of the first motorist arriving at a crosswalk yielding
to a waiting pedestrian increased 30-34 percent at intersections and
17-24 percent at midblock
crosswalks;

The percentage of pedestrians who yielded to motorists decreased 11-16
percent at intersections and 8-13 percent at crosswalks – PennDOT
concluded that this result suggests increased pedestrian security at
crosswalks.

A copy of the full PennDOT report on the efficacy of YTPCD can be
provided to the city upon request.

The third objection that we have heard from city officials and police
in the past is that while the YTPCD is utilized successfully in dozens
of other communities in Connecticut, the political and cultural
realities in New Haven are sufficiently different, such that the
successes realized elsewhere could not and would not be duplicated
here in New Haven. While it is true that New Haven is in many ways
very different from the suburban communities that surround it, towns
and cities of all sizes have realized the benefits of the YTPCD.
Provided below is a partial list of towns, cities, and states that
currently utilize the YTPCD:

Rocky Hill, CT
Winsted, CT
Windsor, CT
Washington, CT
Salisbury, CT
Kent, CT
Norwalk, CT
Milwaukee, WI
Baltimore, MD
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The YTPCD is a standard traffic control device that is approved for
used by the FHWA, and utilized throughout the country to improve
pedestrian safety. The reasons given by city staff in the past for not
using the devices are not supported by the experience of other cities,
and do not agree with relevant studies on the matter.

In light of the significant benefits to pedestrian safety that could
be realized through use of the YTPCD, as well as the minimal cost of
the device when compared to other safety improvements, we strongly
urge that you work with the appropriate city staff to allow for the
pilot implementation of a minimum of 20 Yield to Pedestrian in
Crosswalk Devices throughout the city no later than November of 2008.
Additionally, we recommend that the pilot implementation be
coordinated with the New Haven Police Department to include increased
enforcement of existing traffic laws at the pilot locations selected.
We believe this will maximize the efficacy of the device and increase
driver awareness of its use.

Finally, we respectfully request a meeting with representatives of all
relevant city departments to discuss the details of such an
implementation. Issues to be discussed include: scheduling, potential
pilot locations, design standards such as minimum street widths and
device placement, as well as any additional concerns or questions that
city staff may have.

If you have any questions, or need any additional materials, please
contact Tom Harned of Elm City Cycling.

Very truly yours,
       
  Tom Harned, representing:
ELM CITY CYCLING

  85 Avon Street, Apt. 2
  New Haven, CT 06511

  
  Rachel Wattier, representing:
YALE MEDICAL CAMPUS TRAFFIC SAFETY GROUP
382 Whitney Ave., Apt. 10
New Haven, CT 06511


CC:  
New Haven Board of Aldermen

Michael Piscitelli, AICP, Director, Dept. of Transportation, Traffic &
Parking, City of New Haven

Robert Smuts, Chief Administrative Officer, City of New Haven

Lt. Joseph Witkowski, New Haven Department of Police Service

State Senator Toni N. Harp
State Senator Martin M. Looney
State Representative Juan Candelaria
State Representative Patricia Dillon
State Representative Bill Dyson
State Representative Robert W. Megna
State Representative Cameron Staples
State Representative Toni E. Walker

Dixwell CMT (DECMT)
Downtown-Wooster Square CMT
Dwight CMT
East Rock CMT
East Shore CMT
Fair Haven CMT
Hill North CMT
Hill South CMT
Newhallville CMT
Quinnipiac East CMT (QEMT)
Westville-West Hills CMT
Whalley-Edgewood-Beaver Hills CMT



1000 Friends of Connecticut
America Walks
Cedar Hill Blockwatch
Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance
Chatham Square Association
Church on the Rock - New Haven
City Point Hist. Dist. Neighborhood Assoc.
CitySeed
Coalition for a Livable Whalley
Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel
Connecticut Bicycle Coalition
Edgewood Neighborhood Association
Edgewood Park Defense Patrol
Elm City Cycling
Friends of East Rock Park
Friends of Edgewood Park
Grand Avenue Village Association
Hill City Point Neighborhood Action Group
Historic Wooster Square Association
New Haven Bioregional Group
New Haven Environmental Justice Network
New Haven Urban Design League
Quinnipiac River Community Group
Ronan-Edgehill Neighborhood Association
Safe Kids Connecticut - Greater NH Chapter
Town Green Special Services District
Transportation Alternatives
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Trowbridge Square Renaissance
Upper State Street Association
West River Neighborhood Services Corporation
Westville Village Renaissance Alliance
Whalley Avenue Special Services District
Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group
Yale Public Health Coalition

Intersection Repair in Fair Haven

“Road witching” came to New Haven for the first time as traffic-calming champion Erin Sturgis-Pascale led a dozen of her fellow Fair Haveners in “chalking in” medians and curb bump-outs — which, if actually built, would slow traffic and help reclaim the streets for non-vehicular uses. As they approached, curious drivers slowed down on a brilliant morning that highlighted the calm beauty of Chatham Square Park and the neighborhood....

“The city has a classification for streets that they really don’t focus on: neighborhood streets, collectors, and arterials. This is the lowest volume, a quiet neighborhood street. Kids in suburbs play on their quiet streets; why shouldn’t city kids too?”

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/road_witched_in.php#010787

Appel interviews City's traffic enforcement czar

See here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/top_traffic_cop.php

Following the regular August monthly meeting of the Fair Haven Community Management Team (one of the first "Safe Streets" supporters in the city), which featured the city's new police chief, New Haven Independent correspondent Allan Appel asked Lieutenant Witkowski several important questions about cell phone use while driving (shown to be worse than drunk driving), traffic statistics, police equipment, educational programs, speeding and drag racing.

New Haven Police Department 2008 Recruitment Drive

SPREAD THE WORD! Applications are now available at the front desk at 1 Union Avenue.
Return dates for completed applications are Sep. 8, 2008; deadline Sep. 26, 2008.
Only accepted at 1 Union Ave. “Who do you know that would look good in BLUE?”

NH Register: Traffic-safety efforts gear up across city

Photo at Left: An in-street crosswalk sign used in a highly successful retail district in Downtown Norwalk, Connecticut, July 2008. It's combined with a textured crosswalk and curb bumpouts, creating a welcoming pedestrian environment and slowing traffic to a reasonable 15-20 mph pace. A group of New Haven residents observed a high rate of compliance with crosswalk regulations here, similar to the experience in dozens of other towns in the New Haven region where these signs are present. Public health authorities and traffic engineers have extensive data showing that in-street signs are highly effective at increasing pedestrian safety.

Traffic-safety efforts gear up across city

By Mary E. O'Leary, Register Topics Editor, 08/07/2008

NEW HAVEN — A push is on to slow down traffic in the city with in-street signs that would remind drivers they must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Separately, Yale alumni have petitioned the university to incorporate traffic-calming measures as plans solidify for two additional colleges off Prospect Street, while across town, Fair Haveners will gather Saturday to continue discussions on dangerous streets in that neighborhood.

These are just a few of the many pieces of a movement to make city streets safer for pedestrians in light of several fatal accidents, as well as the increasing number of cyclists sharing the streets with motor vehicles.

The Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group, Elm City Cycling and members of the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition are asking that the city consider, on a trial basis, placing yield-to-pedestrian signs in crosswalks.

Generally, the signs stand several feet high on a platform and incorporate a walking figure, a reference to "state law" and a yield sign. The devices, which are approved by the Federal Highway Administration, do not include traffic signals.

Placing the signs directly in the road is intended to get drivers to reduce their speed and alert them to the crosswalk, according to advocates, who said they have been used successfully around the country, including larger cities such as Milwaukee and Baltimore, while there are 4,500 throughout Pennsylvania. The signs also are in use in area communities, such as Milford and Branford.

Advocates said the city has been reluctant to use the signs because of potential liability if a driver hits one and concern they would simply be ignored.

Tom Harned of Elm City Cycling and Rachel Wattier of the Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group believe these reasons don't hold up, in light of safety studies conducted by Pennsylvania and, particularly, if city police enforce the traffic laws at the pilot sites.

"We believe this will maximize the efficacy of the device and increase driver awareness of its use," they wrote. They would like to see a minimum of 20 such signs throughout the city by November.

On Saturday, Fair Haveners will chalk improvements, such as islands, curb cuts and roundabouts, on the streets, as discussed in an earlier workshop with Dan Burden, the director of Walkable Communities. They will meet at 10 a.m. at Chatham Square on Clinton Avenue.

The neighborhood has already prioritized which streets it would like to see improved first; this will be their third meeting on the issue.

More than 1,600 residents and 10 community management teams have signed on to a safe streets petition being circulated in New Haven which endorses measures to cut citywide traffic-related injuries in half by 2009 and by 90 percent as of 2015.

The letter to Yale requested that streets be posted at 15 to 20 miles per hour where pedestrian traffic is heavy around the campus, as well as incorporating other physical changes.

"Curb extensions that improve pedestrian visibility, medians, narrowed, raised or marked crosswalks, in-street signage and other traffic-calming measures are desperately needed," the 16 alumni wrote.

Among them are Alderwomen Rachel Plattus, D-1, Gina Calder, D-2, and Dolores Colon, D-6.

Mary E. O'Leary can be reached at moleary@nhregister.com or 789-5731.

http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19897504&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=635057&rfi=6

Upcoming Events: Chalking, Bicycling, Public Safety

BOARD OF ALDERMEN PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE: WED., AUG. 6TH, 6PM
This event, at 6pm at City Hall, is a meet & greet with the city's new Chief of Police. Please come and express your concerns to your Aldermen and to the new Chief. This may be a good opportunity to show community concern for traffic safety. One suggested question: How can we improve the specific collection and sharing of citywide traffic-safety related data, so that neighborhoods and block watches can better understand the issues and advocate for their own interests?

BIKE TO WORK BREAKFAST, FRI., AUG. 8TH, 7:30-9:30AM
August 8th, 7:30-9:30am in front of City Hall. Free breakfast; learn the best commuting routes. Sponsored by ElmCityCycling.

FAIR HAVEN STREET CHALKING EVENT, SAT., AUG. 9TH, 10AM
A street chalking event at Chatham Square in Fair Haven will follow upon the workshop with Dan Burden. Participants will be drawing, on the street in chalk, the improvements suggested by the community. All are welcome to participate. See here for background: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/06/traffic_calming_1.php

Bicyclist struck in New Haven

Posted Aug. 5, 2008 (WTNH): Police in New Haven say a bicyclist was struck by a car, but it looks like the bicyclist was at fault. The man on the bicycle had a red light at Grand Avenue and the car traveling on Blatchley had a green light. The bicyclist got some cuts and bruises and was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital. Police say the woman driving the car was shaken up and she did stop. But she more than likely will not be charged.

"Safe Streets" City Ordinance Proposed

Reckless drivers, residents' fears prompt safe streets ordinance
By Randall Beach, New Haven Register Staff, August 3, 2008

NEW HAVEN - Responding to growing neighborhood interest in "traffic calming," two aldermen are preparing a safe streets ordinance that could lead to traffic designs to improve pedestrian safety.

Alderman Roland Lemar, D-9, said he and Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale, D-14, began drafting the ordinance after receiving considerable feedback from their respective neighborhoods of East Rock and Fair Haven. Lemar said they hope to have the proposal ready for the full board to consider in about a month.

The issue also has taken hold in the Whalley Avenue area following the hit-and-run death of Garbrielle Lee, 11, in June, as she was trying to cross that street.

The recently formed New Haven Safe Streets Coalition has been circulating an online petition advocating measures to cut citywide traffic-related injuries in half by 2009 and by 90 percent as of 2015. More than 1,600 residents have signed the petition, and 10 Community Management Teams have endorsed it.

Perhaps its strongest and potentially most controversial provision is to "re-establish and enforce a strict 25 mph speed limit throughout all streets and arterial roads in New Haven." Local speed limits also must be approved by the State Traffic Commission.

"It's exceptional that so many people in the city have signed on," Lemar said. "A broad spectrum of New Haven supports this. The city government should recognize this groundswell of interest in improving neighborhoods."

Lemar did not want to discuss the proposed ordinance in detail, but he said it would establish a traffic calming safe streets committee, as well as set aside money to make traffic safety improvements and require that new construction "passes this test."

"We've seen this work with bike lanes," he noted. "This would take it further."

Lemar said he and Sturgis-Pascale are working with Michael Piscitelli, head of the city's Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking.

Illustrating the momentum of the safety movement, city officials have created a Traffic Safety Hotline. Citizens can call 946-6956 or e-mail TrafficSafety@newhavenct.net to report a dangerous intersection or place where vehicles are speeding or not obeying red lights or stop signs.

The East Rock Management Team recently surveyed its members to identify trouble spots in that neighborhood. Members of the Ronan-Edgehill Neighborhood Association also were invited to pinpoint dangerous sites. There were about 30 responses.

The most dangerous intersection, cited by eight residents, was at St. Ronan and Canner streets, where respondents reported seeing cars speed up and down Canner Street, ignoring stop signs. A close runner-up, with seven complaints, was the intersection of St. Ronan and Highland streets.

Other trouble spots included portions of Trumbull Street, Orange Street, Whitney Avenue and State Street. An e-mail discussion group set up by RENA has been filled with complaints about unsafe motorists.

"We have a serious problem with groups of motorcyclists, four or five at a time, going up the hill at a terrifying speed while simultaneously riding only on the rear wheel," wrote an East Rock Road resident.

She added, "It happens in the afternoons and evenings when the kids and I are out walking the dog, and I am very concerned about the drivers losing control and taking us out in the process."

Bill Kaplan, who lives on Autumn Street between Canner and Highland streets, said in a RENA e-mail message that "a genuine traffic calming design" would be preferable to keeping police officers posted at the intersections.

Kaplan said he saw small traffic circles with permanent plantings slow down vehicles in his former home of Portland, Ore. Kaplan said the round fixtures are placed in the center of intersections.

"You have to slow down and steer around it. You can't blast through the intersection," he said. "They're attractive and they work day and night."

Kaplan said unless such measures were taken, the East Rock intersections would remain "a tragedy waiting to happen."

Lemar said he has also seen "Yield to pedestrian in the crosswalk" signs bolted into streets in East Haven, Hamden, Long Island towns and elsewhere. He said these could prove effective in New Haven, too.

Message from New Haven Chief of Police: Dirt Bikes will be Confiscated

HELP US KEEP NEW HAVEN STREETS SAFE! DIRT BIKES, ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES AND UNREGISTERED VEHICLES ARE ILLEGAL IN NEW HAVEN. BY KEEPING THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD WE CAN ENJOY SAFER STREETS FOR EVERYONE.

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. The best way for us to confiscate these illegal vehicles is when they are parked or garaged. When you see a dirt bike or an ATV, call the anonymous Traffic Safety Hotline! A hot-line has been set up for residents to call and provide anonymous information about any type of traffic violation witnessed. If you see a dirt bike or an ATV out on the street, or if you witness any type of unsafe traffic behavior please call 946-6956 and give us information 24 hours a day. If you wish to speak to someone, you can leave your phone number and request a callback. You can also email us at TrafficSafety@newhavenct.net. Your name and contact information will remain confidential.

2. Make sure your children and other children know not to ride dirt bikes or ATVs on the street.

3. Wear a helmet when you’re out on a bicycle or motorcycle. Encourage your family and friends to do the same!

4. Follow traffic signs, adhere to the speed limit and always stop at a Stop Sign.

By following these easy steps you’ll contribute toward a safer, more welcoming New Haven!

Related story here: http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=8775161

Tougher teen driver rules take effect

(AP) Teen drivers in Connecticut are now facing stricter rules, including an earlier curfew and more on-the-road training.

A state law that took effect Friday imposes an 11 p.m. curfew on 16- and 17-year-old drivers, with some exceptions. That's an hour earlier than the old law required. The number of hours of required on-the-road instruction has doubled to 40 hours, and parents and guardians must attend two hours of classroom training with their teens.

Young drivers also face a potential reckless driving charge if they're caught going 20 mph or more over the speed limit. And their licenses can now be suspended immediately for 48 hours if they're caught drag racing, driving recklessly or violating passenger restrictions. The new rules are in response to a series of fatal accidents involving teens in Connecticut.

Flashback: Fatal and Serious Traffic Incidents on Ella Grasso Boulevard

Another driver death was reported today along this stretch. Here's just one three-month section of the recent collision history along a small stretch of this 4-lane road in New Haven. Only the most serious incidents are shown here.

Fatal and Serious Accidents, February - April 2006: Ella Grasso Boulevard - Truman Street to Derby Avenue

April 22, 2006-0059 Hours, 1211 Ella Grasso Boulevard: Two vehicles northbound at a high rate of speed proceed through the intersection of Derby Avenue; one passes the other, skids out of control, colliding with an oncoming vehicle in the southbound lane at a high rate of speed. Result- two dead, two seriously injured, one injured. Contributing factors-Speed, racing

April 16, 2006-0254 Hours, Derby Avenue and the Boulevard: Vehicle traveling West Bound on Derby Avenue with the right of way proceeds into the intersection of the Boulevard and is struck broadside by a vehicle traveling northbound on the Boulevard passing through the red control signal. Result-one dead, operator with right of way, serious injury to other operator and passenger. Contributing factors-speed: failure to obey signal

April 10, 2006 – 2010 Hours, Boulevard and Legion Avenue: Vehicle turning left onto Legion Avenue from the Boulevard is struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on the Boulevard in the intersection. Three-vehicle collision. Result-death of passenger and her unborn child, other injuries. Contributing factors-Speed and intersection control.

March 16, 2006 – 0724 Hours, Boulevard and Orange Avenue: Pedestrian crossing the Boulevard at Orange Avenue is struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk. Result-Loss of both legs of the pedestrian. Contributing factors-Yet to be determined.

March 11, 2006- 2318 Hours, Boulevard and Legion Avenue: Vehicle turning left onto Legion Avenue from the Boulevard is struck in the intersection by an oncoming vehicle traveling northbound on the Boulevard. Result-one operator in critical condition. Contributing factors-Speed and traffic control.

February 16, 2006 – 2037 Hours, Boulevard and Truman: A pedestrian crossing the Boulevard is struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on the Boulevard. Result-Death of pedestrian. Contributing Factors-Evading Responsibility of vehicle. Other factors unknown.

February 3, 2006 – 2045 Hours, Boulevard and Legion Avenue: A vehicle turning left onto Legion Avenue from the Boulevard is struck by a second vehicle traveling northbound on the Boulevard. Result-Death to the unborn child of the operator of turning vehicle. Contributing Factors – Speed and traffic control signal.

New ConnDOT Commissioner's First Task: Community Planning Training

See post from TSTC here, related to coverage of today's Whalley Avenue public hearing and recent workshop: http://blog.tstc.org/2008/07/31/conndot-commissioners-first-task-community-planning-training/

Update: Detailed post-event coverage of the Whalley Avenue public hearing appears in today's New Haven Independent: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/conflicting_vis.php. An NBC local news article is posted below:

DOT Unveils Whalley Ave. Renovation Plan: Safety Coalitions Question Plan (August 1, 2008, NBC30)

A new renovation plan to make Whalley Ave. safer was met with many questions from residents and safety coalitions Thursday.

The Department of Transportation presented their Whalley Ave. renovation plan to the community after reworking the plan for years. The DOT plans to invest up to $13 million to repaint crosswalks, spruce up landscaping, fix retaining walls and create two designated lanes, which will widen the road from Emerson Street to Route 69.

“The pavement is a mess, the sidewalk is a mess and the curbing is a mess,” Jim Norman of the DOT said.

But residents and safety coalitions are unsure about whether the plan fully addresses safety issues the avenues has faced over years, specifically the 110 yearly accidents along that strip. The push for the avenue’s renovation became stronger after the hit -and -run incident that killed 11-year-old Gabrielle Lee on the avenue in June.

The Coalition for a Livable Whalley Avenue and the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition voiced their own opinions on the plan.

“The biggest concern, really, of our group-- and I think a lot of people in the room--is the speed of the traffic on the roadway,” Chris Heitmann of the Coalition for a Livable Whalley Avenue said.

Even though the DOT plans to keep the 25 mph speed limit, some don't think wider lanes is the answer.

“If speeds are increasing because you have two lanes and you have all this more distance for pedestrians to cross it seems to me that you're going to have more pedestrians getting hit,” Aric Issacs of the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition said.

DOT said plan to get started on the project by the spring of 2009. That's also around the same time when the two safety coalitions said they want to see a 50 percent decrease in traffic related injuries.

East Rock CMT Supports Petition; Discussion Focuses on Traffic

Reporting from the New Haven Independent on the East Rock Community Management Team and the group's lengthy discussion with the city's new Chief of Police: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/07/east_rock.php

"East Rockers became the 10th of 12 neighborhood management teams to join a traffic-calming movement sweeping the city, while the new police chief offered manpower to help."

Petición para Calles Seguras de New Haven

Spanish translation of petition. Para firmar, visite http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/new-haven-petition-for-safe-streets.html "sign the petition."

Descripción/Historia

Petición para que la Ciudad de New Haven tome acciones inmediatas para mejorar la seguridad vial dentro de nuestras comunidades-con el objetivo inmediato de reducir las heridas causadas por accidentes de tráfico en un 50% para el año 2009, 75% para el 2012, y 90% para el 2015.

Una amplia coalición de oficiales electos a nivel estatal y local, grupos comunitarios, equipos de administración distrital, asociaciones vecinales, e individuos, ha firmado la petición y está apoyando esta campaña. Por favor chequee http://www.newhavensafestreets.org para obtener la más reciente lista de patrocinadores y proponentes.

Por favor distribuya. Envíe un correo electrónico a newhavensafestreetsARROBAgmail.com si su negocio u organización está interesada en apoyar la petición.

Petición

CONSIDERANDO QUE, violaciones de tráfico por exceso de velocidad y varias otras violaciones son un problema constante en la Ciudad de New Haven, resultando en decenas de heridas graves y heridas fatales en lo que lleva del 2008, así como cantidades medibles de ruido, contaminación, impactos negativos en el desarrollo infantil y la erosión de comunidades vecinales;

CONSIDERANDO QUE, como partidarios de esta petición, nos comprometemos a respetar todas las leyes de tráfico y advocar para la mejora de seguridad en las calles a través de toda la ciudad, con el objetivo inmediato de reducir el número de heridas y muertes causadas por los accidentes de tráfico dentro de nuestras comunidades en un 50% para el año 2009;

CONSIDERANDO QUE, calles seguras contribuyen a la percepción de la calidad de vida y de la seguridad física de residentes urbanos, empleados y visitantes; y por lo tanto son urgentemente necesarias para promover la salud pública y el crecimiento económico a largo plazo dentro de nuestras comunidades;

CONSIDERANDO QUE, el incremento de la seguridad vial es particularmente necesario en los densos distritos del centro de la ciudad, principales corredores comerciales, áreas alrededor de escuelas, y distritos en los que se ubican centros médicos con gran concentración de peatones, ciclistas, niños pequeños e individuos deshabilitados;

CONSIDERANDO QUE, límites de velocidad ligeramente más bajos y la atención a las layes de tránsito no resultan en el aumento de la duración del viaje hacia centros de trabajo, si no que por el contrario, pueden aumentar la eficiencia del tránsito vehicular, al mismo tiempo resultando en incrementos exponenciales a la seguridad pública (por ejemplo el Departamento de Transportación de Estados unidos señala que una tasa de mortandad de 5% existe cuando peatones son impactados por vehículos yendo a 20 millas por hora, versus una tasa del 40% cuando son impactados a 30 millas por hora);

CONSIDERANDO QUE, el Director de Transportaciones Michael Piscitelli ha sido un gran aliado en la promoción de mejoras al transporte que benefician a la ciudad entera y a la región, pero que pueden requerir de adicionales infraestructuras institucionales para la implementación de su visión a largo plazo;

Los que abajo firman apoyando esta petición, piden a través de la presente que la Ciudad de New Haven:

-Empezando inmediatamente, restablezca y haga cumplir un estricto límite de velocidad de 25 millas por hora a través de todas las calles y carreteras arteriales y vías primarias en New Haven, a través del despliegue constante y vigoroso de oficiales de tránsito y otros agentes;

-Empezando inmediatamente, haga cumplir estrictamente todas las reglas de tráfico relacionadas a semáforos, señales de paro (stop), carriles para bicicletas, cruces peatonales, y el uso de celulares al manejar;

-Empezando en el tercer cuarto del año 2008 y continuando cada cuarto de año, haga público un reporte a nivel de la ciudad acerca de las dos medidas mencionadas arriba, incluyendo métricas sobre las acciones que ha llevado a cabo para hacer cumplir las reglas a nivel de vecindario y la cantidad y tipo de castigos dados;

-Empezando inmediatamente, desarrolle medidas de largo plazo para significativamente incrementar la seguridad vial a través de la generación de actualizados protocolos de diseño urbano como aquellos utilizados en otras ciudades principales, y el nombramiento de coordinadores encargados de peatones y ciclistas, quienes puedan planear para tales mejoras más proactivamente;

-Para el final del 2008, establezca un estricto límite de velocidad de 15 a 20 millas por hora en todas las áreas de densa concentración de peatones y ciclistas, incluyendo las áreas que rodean inmediatamente al Hospital Yale-New Haven, el Hospital de San Rafael, y el corredor comercial de la Calle Chapel, y despliegue mejores formas de señalización peatonal, sistemas de luces y señalización dentro de esos distritos;

-Desarrolle un grupo de trabajo de alto nivel que explore la creación de un límite de velocidad de 15 a 20 millas por hora en todos los distritos residenciales de la ciudad, particularmente en zonas escolares donde niños juegan frecuentemente sobre o cerca de la calle, con un reporte a ser publicado antes del final del año 2008 y un programa de reducción de límites de velocidad en zonas designadas a ser implementado antes del tercer cuarto del año 2009;

-Desarrolle un grupo de trabajo de alto nivel que explore nuevas iniciativas de seguridad escolar y aquellas lideradas por los mismos ciudadanos, incentivos para cumplir las leyes de tránsito, y la implementación de multas más altas por violaciones de movimiento, el manejar agresivamente, y por asalto en vehículo motor, con un reporte a ser publicado antes del final del año 2008;

-Anualmente mida y reevalúe las iniciativas de seguridad vial con el objetivo de reducir el número de heridas relacionadas al tráfico vehicular y fatalidades en las calles de la ciudad, carreteras arteriales y vías principales en un 50% para el año 2009, 75% para el 2012 y 90% para el 2015.

Residents Meet to Re-think Whalley Avenue

New Haven Independent article (excerpt below, photo adjacent):

"One Whalley resident, who asked not to be identified, said she had been impressed with the DOT when they came to her house several years ago and listened to her concerns about traffic.

"Parking is available right in front of her house on Whalley, but several years ago she started parking around the corner and walking to her house. Her parked car had been hit too many times by cars speeding past her house, where two lanes merge into one.

“I want to get it safe, get it slowed down,” she said. “I want to be able to walk across the street and get an ice cream cone.”

Full article: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/07/livable_whalley.php

New Haven Register article (printed below): http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19871003&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=635049&rfi=6

Residents meet to discuss Whalley, Mark Zaretsky, Register Staff, 07/25/2008

NEW HAVEN — Westville residents and “safe streets” allies from across town got together to review traffic calming options and talk strategy Thursday night in advance of a meeting next week with the state Department of Transportation.

At next week’s meeting, at 5 p.m. Thursday at Edgewood School, members of the Coalition for a Livable Whalley plan to urge the DOT to make some changes in the long-approved plan to rebuild a 0.7-mile stretch of Whalley Avenue, one of the city’s main arteries, from Emerson Street to the Route 69/Route 67 intersection. The goal: added safety.

At Thursday night’s workshop and meeting at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, just off Whalley Avenue, residents talked about options and how traffic calming strategies could help. They then broke into smaller groups, each with its own Google satellite maps, to come up with specific suggestions.

Construction of the DOT project is scheduled to begin in April 2009. Members of the coalition hope to get the DOT to send the project out to bid with additional safety measures that have come into greater use during the six years since the design was completed.

“What really excites me about this workshop is that we have a chance with this project to be proactive” and come up with some refinements under which “everybody benefits,” said Mary Faulkner, chairwoman of the Westville/West Hills Community Management Team.

Chris Heitmann, a Westville resident and coalition member who works for an urban planning and design organization in New York, described the Whalley Avenue project as now proposed. He also talked about some unanswered questions he had — including why mass transit and bicycle facilities were not included. He also discussed options that might help slow traffic and make the reconstructed Whalley safer.

Heitmann said he recently learned that the DOT plan is not as “set in stone,” as residents previously had thought, and that it would “be good to go to the hearing next week with some alternatives.”

The speakers included Jay Sokolow, president of Beth El-Keser Israel; Erin Sturgis-Pascale, D-14, a Fair Haven alderwoman involved with the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition; and Safe Streets Coalition coordinators Doug Hausladen and Mark Abraham.

Sturgis-Pascale said what’s going on with Whalley Avenue is one of “a series of requests to ... take aggressive measures to lower traffic injuries and fatalities by 90 percent by 2015.”

State Rep. Patricia Dillon, D-New Haven, Westville Aldermen Ina Silverman, D-25, and Sergio Rodriguez, D-26, and representatives of the Police and Fire departments also attended.

“I’m just so glad that you’re doing this,” said Dillon.

NH Register: Group Eyes Walkable Whalley Avenue

http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19866146&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=624602&rfi=8

"The ever-growing “safe streets” movement in the city has come to Whalley Avenue, and residents see the state’s proposed reconstruction of that road as the best place to start.

"The Coalition for a Livable Whalley will hold a workshop at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel at 6 p.m. Thursday with the goal of redesigning the state Department of Transportation’s plan to emphasize traffic calming and pedestrian safety as quickly as possible.

"The state plan, which has been in the works for decades, proposes a widening of Whalley between Emerson Street, just outside the Westville Village center, and Route 69 in the Amity neighborhood. While community leader Chris Heitmann found some merit in the plan, “the DOT sees the new road accommodating over 40,000 cars a day, which nobody wants.”

Coalition for a Livable Whalley Press Release on Community Workshop and DOT Hearing

COALITION FOR A LIVABLE WHALLEY

PRESS RELEASE / MEDIA ADVISORY
For release July 22, 2008 - Camera Opportunity!

WHAT: Community workshop on Whalley Avenue traffic safety.
WHERE: Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI), 85 Harrison St. at Whalley Avenue, New Haven.
WHEN: Thursday, July 24, 6 p.m.
CONTACTS: Coalition for a Livable Whalley, Carole Bass, bass.carole /at/ gmail.com or Chris Heitmann, kibbitz77 /at/ gmail.com, 203-745-3173

Coalition for a Livable Whalley to hold community workshop on Whalley Avenue reconstruction project
- Event part of growing support for citywide traffic safety movement -

As part of the growing "safe streets" movement in New Haven, the Coalition for a Livable Whalley, a group of concerned citizens, will hold a community workshop this week to help gather ideas and support for making Whalley Avenue safer, calmer and more vibrant. The workshop will take place at Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI) on Thursday, July 24, at 6 p.m., in the Westville section of New Haven.

The event precedes a public open house with the state Department of Transportation about DOT's plans to reconstruct and widen a 3/4-mile stretch of upper Whalley. That meeting, convened by state Rep. Pat Dillon and state Sen. Toni Harp, is scheduled for July 31 from 5 to 8 pm at Edgewood School, 737 Edgewood Ave., in New Haven.

The Coalition for a Livable Whalley came together after last month's hit-and-run killing of 11-year-old Gabrielle Lee on the stretch of Whalley Avenue that the DOT intends to reconstruct. DOT's plan, in the works for decades, includes widening Whalley between Emerson Street in Westville and Rte. 69 in Amity. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2009. The group’s immediate goal is to re-envision and re-design the plan to calm traffic and prioritize access and safety for pedestrians, bus riders, and bicyclists, especially children, senior citizens, and disabled people. In the long term, the group hopes to create safe, active, and vibrant places along Whalley Avenue for both residents and visitors, in the process encouraging greater livability and local economic development.

Traffic safety, walkability and their impact on economic development have always been a major concern in New Haven and Connecticut cities. But New Haven's patchwork of individual residents and groups were not always sure what to do about it.

This spring, in the wake of a number of high-profile traffic-related injuries and fatalities -- including that of Gabrielle Lee -- the community has been galvanized into taking urgent citywide action. A number of community organizations, advocacy groups and elected officials formed the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition, which published an online "Petition for Safe Streets" seeking specific measures needed to create a 50% reduction in citywide traffic-related injuries by 2009, and a 90% reduction by 2015.

According to Chris Heitmann, one of the Livable Whalley group’s coordinators, the approval of state funding for the DOT’s plan is “a tremendous opportunity to rebuild this stretch of Whalley Avenue in the long-term interests of the community, rather than trying to move more traffic through as quickly as possible. While the current plan has some merits, the DOT sees the new road accommodating over 40,000 cars a day, which nobody wants. We see a more desirable future for Whalley, one that’s safer for people walking, taking the bus, and riding their bikes, and which is actually pleasant to be on."

The effort to re-envision Whalley Avenue as a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly place is being echoed in similar efforts all across New Haven. In June, a series of neighborhood planning meetings in Fair Haven, organized by Ward 14 Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale (D-New Haven), was funded through neighborhood contributions and attended by over 100 local residents. Since that time, the list of Safe Streets Coalition supporters has grown dramatically, and now boasts over 1,400 signatures on its online petition, plus the support of 28 elected officials and nearly two dozen community and advocacy groups, including, most recently, the Upper State Street Association, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance and the Town Green Special Services District's Board of Commissioners, three influential business improvement districts.

"The Safe Streets Petition was an easy signing for all who were present the evening that the Upper State Street Association voted to support," said Ben Berkowitz, president of Upper State Street Association. "Upper State Street wants to continue to see its reputation as a safe place to walk and bike grow and we feel that efforts like the Safe Streets Petition will help to foster that growth."

Perhaps most impressively, the Safe Streets Coalition's petition has now been approved by 9 of the city's 12 Community Management Teams (known as CMTs), neighborhood policing organizations which each can boast dozens of active members and serve as forums to discuss all issues related to public safety and neighborhood economic development. At its June meeting, the Westville-West Hills CMT, which represents the neighborhoods surrounding the Whalley Avenue project area, joined with groups from Newhallville to the East Shore in voting unanimously to support the petition. Safe Streets Coalition organizers expect the remaining 3 Management Teams to endorse the petition when they reconvene for voting later this summer, at which point they plan to launch additional grassroots campaigns to change policy at the local, state and national levels.

According to Alycia Santilli, an active member of New Haven's Quinnipiac East Management Team and the research coordinator for the Community Alliance for Research and Engagement at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, the safe streets effort is important for its public health benefits as well.

"With obesity on the rise nationally and locally—obesity is more than 20% higher in New Haven compared to the rest of Connecticut and greater still among our children—it is imperative to increase physical activity options throughout the city. An integral component is ensuring that our streets are safe for walking and biking," she said.

Although New Haven has its work cut out in overcoming decades of automobile-centric policy and planning at the state level, the city is an ideal place for more progressive traffic planning to take hold. According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, New Haven has a higher percentage of residents who walk or bicycle as their primary mode of commute to work than Boston, New York City, Hartford, Providence, Worcester, Bridgeport, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Stamford. Its dense urban center, founded in 1638, has a strong base of institutional and commercial employers. The potential for balancing regional traffic concerns with the principles of safety, walkability, bikeability and improved neighborhood development in this city have been widely recognized. A recent article by the American Podiatric Medical Association and Prevention Magazine ranked New Haven as the 19th most walkable of 501 U.S. cities.

But of the top five pedestrian commuter cities in the country, New Haven's city center has the closest direct proximity to major interstate highways. As a consequence, pedestrians routinely encounter high-speed traffic spilling from I-91 and I-95 onto major urban streets. Significant citywide focus has recently been given to the Route 34 Connector, a six-lane highway which runs directly from I-95 to the Air Rights Garage adjacent to Yale-New Haven Hospital. It bisects New Haven, creates an extremely dangerous situation for pedestrians, and according to the city, significantly inhibits downtown growth.

The city has an ambitious vision to remove the highway, re-create the street grid, and develop housing, parks, and offices in the highway's place. A group of community leaders came together in a letter dated May 27, 2008, to the governor of Connecticut to support this vision and demonstrate the overwhelming public support for the proposal. The letter was preceded by a March 2008 public event attended by over 125 community members and elected officials. In addition, the Yale Medical Campus Traffic Safety Group, one of the original founders of the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition, boasts an email list of nearly 200 citizens and has been conducting extensive organizing efforts to improve pedestrian safety around the hospital and on the Yale campus.

All of these concerns seem particularly urgent on Whalley Avenue, not just in the wake of the fatal traffic injury, but because the avenue is a key commercial corridor whose success or failure will have a major long-term impact on surrounding neighborhoods. Coalition for a Livable Whalley organizers are expecting a strong turnout at the two upcoming events.

Above all, residents see an improved Whalley Avenue as an opportunity to build community. According to Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen, a supporter of the Coalition for a Livable Whalley, "two-thirds of the members of Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI) live in the City of New Haven and spend a lot of time walking, biking and driving around town. Many of our families choose to live in New Haven specifically so they can walk or bike to synagogue, which is part of a devout lifestyle. Our existence as a community depends on the safety of the streets and sidewalks."

“Spiraling gas prices have many Americans – some right here in Connecticut – reconsidering urban life as an attractive alternative to the auto-dependent sprawl of the past hundred years, but for this to become a realistic alternative in the future we must ensure a suitable urban environment for all who use city streets, including bicyclists and pedestrians,” explains Senator Toni N. Harp (D-New Haven), a coalition supporter. “I hope many New Haven-area residents participate in the imminent traffic safety public hearings so we gather a complete range of ideas and opinions about how to modify our city going forward to provide vibrant neighborhoods and safe streets throughout.”

Citizens Hammer NYPD Commissioner on Traffic Safety

Interesting report from one of New York's community meetings.

http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/03/25/citizens-hammer-nypd-commissioner-kelly-on-street-safety/

Hartford Courant Op-Ed: Tougher Driving Tests

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-teens.art.artjul21,0,6289586.story

New Intersection, Old Safety Problems at Yale

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/07/new_intersectio.php

Article and article comments detailing pedestrian safety concerns at Prospect & Trumbull Street in New Haven.

"Deaths of pedestrians hit by drivers — including Mila Rainof on South Frontage Road and 11-year-old Gabrielle Lee on Whalley — as well as the steady stream of bicyclists injured by vehicles have combined to spark a citywide “safe streets” movement. Lemar expressed concern that rushing, preoccupied students would be streaming from their new digs down to classes in greater volume for this intersection than ever before.

In effect Lemar and other commissioners were asking: Can you guarantee us that these kids will end up in class and not in the nearby Grove Street Cemetery?"

"Slower, calmer and safer streets -- streets that are designed as such -- will do much more towards encouraging bicycling and walking than any number of bike lanes, turn lanes, new sidewalks or pedestrian signals can ever hope to accomplish."

East Rockette: "I'd like to see Yale put their foot down, on behalf of the safety of the large walking/biking population that they're in loco parentis for. I'd like to see the streets and intersections around the campus treated like pedestrian precincts - raised brick crosswalks, planters, bump-outs whatever it takes to indicate to drivers that they are passing through a zone that prioritises pedestrians. "

Transit Bill to be Reauthorized in 2009: Advocacy Site

This is a once-per-decade opportunity to change the way our country looks at transportation infrastructure. Pleasee see http://t4america.org/

" The Federal Transportation bill will be reauthorized in 2009, and now is the time to start fighting for something different — something that can get us where we need to go quickly and efficiently, end our dependence on oil, clean up the air, and provide us with a better, stronger America."

NYC's Broadway to turn into a Pedestrian and Bike Esplanade

From http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elmcitycycling/message/7429. Click there to read an original article about the conversion plan, and an open letter of response written by a Safe Streets Coalition supporter.

"Thanks largely to the team of Mayor Bloomberg, the Department of City Planning, and renowned Copenhagen urbanist Jan Gehl, New York City is turning its largest and most significant public street into a landscaped boulevard for bicyclists and pedestrians.

"I lived and worked right in the middle of this section of Broadway for several years, and can't wait to use this new esplanade. It will be great for commuting and getting from Herald Square to Times Square. Among hundreds of other pedestrians who have been hit and seriously injured or killed in recent years along this stretch, the proposed new boulevard begins right where 7 pedestrians were killed and 8 seriously injured in a widely publicized traffic incident on December 27, 2001...

"Let's make it clear to ConnDOT and our elected officials that it is about time that Connecticut had pedestrian and bicycle friendly cities and towns, instead of cities designed exclusively for moving automobiles through the middle of our neighborhoods at the deadliest, highest speeds possible. Even as we speak, ConnDOT is planning to widen several streets in the heart of our city in order to create "smoother" traffic flows, over the objections of many residents...."

See http://www.downtownnewhaven.blogspot.com/2008/07/pedestrians-now-playing-on-broadway.html for an article about how this relates to Broadway in New Haven.

Construction Site Guidelines

An excellent list of guidelines -- many of which are not appropriately considered in and around New Haven's construction sites, even those surrounded by bustling pedestrian crowds and bordering streets where automobiles frequently travel 15-20 miles per hour in excess of posted speed limits.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sidewalk2/sidewalks210.htm

Additional measures, such as speed bumps that inflate when speed limits are exceeded, are available, and not listed here. When it comes to planning for construction sites, how much is it worth to prevent the risk of a pedestrian fatality?

Letter to Rob Smuts regarding traffic violations, July 2, 2008

This letter is from a coalition supporter, sent July 2nd to CAO Rob Smuts and Deputy Patrol Resource Coordinator Witkowski. Rob Smuts replied on July 3rd; that letter is also posted below.

Dear Rob and Lt. Witkowski,

At 5:51pm today I was standing near the intersection of Dwight and Edgewood. An NHPD squad car was coming down Edgewood Ave approaching the intersection. While the NHPD squad car was still a way's off, the light turned yellow. The NHPD car was not rushing anywhere as it was travelling at a normal speed and did not have its sirens or lights on. Yet when the light turned yellow, the squad car accelerated. The light then turned red. The NHPD squad car still had enough time to come to a stop. It did not. Instead, it accelerated through the red light. It then continued down Edgewood Ave, with no lights or sirens on.

This is far from the first time I have seen this happen at this intersection.

The New Haven community has been crying out for police to enforce traffic laws. How are they to do that, if they break them themselves?

I am under the understanding that NHPD cars may not recklessly run red lights under any circumstances, and may proceed through them at slower speeds only when rushing to an emergency. Despite my faith in the good intentions of the NHPD, given the lack of lights and sirens and the frequency, with which I have seen NHPD cars run red lights at this intersection (not to mention at Elm & York, where this occurrence is probably even more frequent), I have great trouble believing these squad cars are running red lights only when there are emergencies. Instead, I have to believe they run them for the same reasons as most drivers in New Haven: because it's a pain to wait thirty seconds for the light to turn green again.

If this is, indeed, the attitude of (not to mention the example set by) some of New Haven's finest -- even if it's only a small minority of them -- then it needs to change. I urge you to respond to the public's calls for safer streets in New Haven and send a message to the Department that traffic laws are to be enforced, not broken, by the police.

Sincerely, H.Smith, 85 Edgewood Ave.

Reply from Rob Smuts:

Please do get the car numbers, as Lt Witkowski requested. You make the obvious distinction between a car responding to an emergency and normal travel and under normal travel there is no excuse nor any tolerance foran officer failing to obey traffic (or any other) laws. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Best, Rob Smuts

Speeding: Major issue in Branford

See this article: New Haven Independent: Community Policing Hits Short Beach

In an update, Chief John DeCarlo told the Eagle that “the problems that different neighborhoods are bringing to the attention of the police department are amazingly similar. Without exception, quality of life issues such as traffic, parking, vandalism and diminished civility are paramount among residents’ concerns.”

As the meeting drew to a close, Lt. Morgan asked the residents to go to the hallway where the sheets of paper had been placed. He asked them to attach the stars to the three topics they were most concerned about. Some residents put all their stars on one topic; others scattered them.


The winners: Speeding on Shore Drive, speeding on Clark Avenue and juvenile vandalism.

"You can drive over a child, but don't drive away after"

Post from Streetsblog: http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/07/02/you-can-drive-over-a-child-but-dont-drive-away-after/

Pelli discusses importance of walkability at downtown event

Reporting by DNH here: http://www.downtownnewhaven.blogspot.com/2008/07/pelli-celebrates-architecture.html

"In what other city in the world does half of your staff walk to work? I even walk to work, sometimes."

Article: Perils for Pedestrians

http://www.pedestrians.org/articles/riskmanagement.html
"Promoting and encouraging the development and use of safe walkways near schools helps improve fitness, fosters a sense of community spirit and reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. The number of students walking to school in the United States has fallen from 70 percent a generation ago to barely 10 percent today. What are the implications of this enormous change? What caused it? What can be done to reverse it?"

Hartford Business Journal Op-Ed: Safe Streets = Economic Development

See http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news5933.html for the letter, which was printed in today's issue of the journal.

"Studies have shown that walkable streets are critical to: 1) Encouraging residents to walk or bicycle more frequently, increasing worker productivity and helping to support neighborhood-based retail; 2) Attracting new businesses and employees; 3) Slightly reducing traffic speeds, which supports retail districts and; 4) Improving overall public health, the environment, and the sense of ownership people feel towards their neighborhoods and public spaces — even the number of friends they report having. "

Flashback to 2001: Deadly by Design

A report from 2001 below. Since the report was written, hundreds of Connecticut residents have died while walking in their communities, and tens of thousands of more have been injured. Most of these would be preventable through comprehensive policy and design changes. When is enough enough?

CONNECTICUT NOT SPENDING SAFETY $$ ON PEDS

"According to the October 15th edition of Mobilizing the Region, "A report released last week by the Connecticut Bicycle Coalition finds that the Connecticut Department of Transportation spends almost none of the nearly $30 million it receives for safety-related construction projects from the federal government each year on traffic calming and pedestrian facilities. But pedestrians account for about 16% of traffic fatalities in the state each year."

"The report, 'DEADLY BY DESIGN,' analyzes ConnDOT traffic fatalities data, project lists, and funding sources. It finds that 50-60 CT pedestrians are killed each year. 67% are either children or senior citizens. But less than 2% of federal aid for traffic safety projects made to Connecticut between 1998-2000 was spent improving the pedestrian environment and reducing pedestrian fatalities. In fact, per fatality, ConnDOT spends more than 10 times as much on projects to promote safety for drivers and passengers of motor vehicles as it spends on pedestrians."

"The co-author of the report, David Hiller, Executive Director of the CT Bicycle Coalition, told the Hartford Advocate that most of the small amount of money spent on pedestrian safety pays for re-striping crosswalks and other minor modifications."