Acknowledged By the Department.

As both a driver and a cyclist I find this intersection to be dangerous. When crossing Orange you really have to pull into the bike lane in order to see if there's oncoming traffic. Perhaps the "No parking from here to corner" sign (assuming there is one) could be moved back so cars won't be allowed to park so close to the corner?

This intersection should definitely be fixed somehow. I don't think that lowering the speed limit is the best solution, since the problem is not just the traffic on Orange St., it's also the traffic on Lawrence.

the sight line is horrible here, but the same is true about a few other streets that cross orange as well. i don't think adding a light would be a good idea, because you can't add a light at all the streets...

getting rid of a parking spot or two on each side of the streets would help (presuming people wouldn't just ignore the signs, like on lawrence by nash street where people park too close to the intersection regularly).

I hate this intersection, too. It is impossible to see turning onto Orange. It's always sort of a gamble.

Slowing speeds on both streets, to levels that are appropriate for a residential neighborhood, would reduce both the frequency as well as the severity of crashes here.

This should be done both with posted signs as well as re-engineering techniques (which, contrary to the city's assertions, do not need to be expensive to install).

Appropriate speeds are well defined by many progressive local and national governments throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. For example, 20 mile per hour speed limits are increasingly required in residential neighborhoods throughout the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In Darien and Greenwich, Connecticut, the lives of children are apparently more valuable than they are in New Haven, so many residential areas have 15 mile per hour design speeds. In other words, there are many examples that New Haven could draw from if it were to adopt a policy that placed the needs of residents of all ages and abilities above the needs of speeding drivers.

Unfortunately, until this happens, we will continue to see speeding and severe crashes and pay a hefty price for them.

This intersection has four problems correctly identified by commenter's.

1) Its low and this can't be changed...It's is actually a deep trough in the neighborhood...Top of Prospect is about el:150', Whitney about el:45', Livingston about el:30', and Orange about el:25'. Can't see it in USGS maps but Orange and Lawrence is about the lowest place on Orange...somewhere between 0-10' lower than the rest.

2) Drivers on Lawrence burn the blinker...this can be changed but not by a change in lights which will be ignored. How about a speed hump at the crosswalks parallel to Orange?

3) Visibility is sucky...this can be marginally changed by extending the no parking further into the block but...see below.

4) Drivers speed on Orange...don't know if this can be changed. Don't see the need to stop them...just to slow them down. Would some version of the Edwards street solution be appropriate? Like a Seattle traffic circle (i.e. small planter circle in middle of intersection)? Cyclists may not love this because it pushes drivers outward.

Ha!

Maybe I take the speed hump suggestion back....

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/speed_humps_calm_traffic_agitate_neighbors/

The police don’t enforce no standing zones at all on orange street. Huge delivery trucks block views and turning right or left onto orange is a gamble every time. I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents.