Description
Tried crossing Whalley Ave. on marked crosswalk (stood in crosswalk, kept slowly inching my way into the road) at West Park Ave. and was passed by a horde of motorists. No one even thought about stopping. Also got trapped in the middle of the road when cars did not stop on the westbound side. I think a new traffic light is warranted here with a countdown-style walk light for the crosswalk. This would help slow traffic on this dangerous stretch of Whalley and allow people to cross safely. Also recommended is a bicycle-actuated signal, so cyclists can turn on to Whalley safely.
8 Comments
Thomas Lehtonen (Guest)
Tom Lehtonen Alderman, Ward 27
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
Tom, have you had a response from Mike yet?
This is what every crosswalk in London looks like. A similar solution would be great at intersections like those next to Edgewood Park.
It isn't that expensive to raise a crosswalk like this, and it adds tremendously to property values by making it easier to walk around and reducing the number of outright speeders.
If we want to see higher property values (not to mention reduce the chance of a child, family or elderly person getting hit on their way to the park for a community program), our streets need to be great places to live, work and play, not just drive down at 35 miles per hour.
ben (Guest)
An estimate on cost would be interesting.
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
http://www.walkinginfo.org/pedsafe/pedsafe_curb1.cfm?CM_NUM=27
$2,000 to $15,000, depending on when it is installed, the length, and other factors.
Also, if you install them when the roads are being repaved anyways, the cost is negligible. If you go in and install them as part of a separate contract, it is more expensive because of the labor costs.
Whether they are $2K or $15K a piece, I think it's worth it if you get a significant reduction in traffic speed and make a significant reduction in pedestrian and driver injuries, which is what these have been proven to do. Property values across an entire neighborhood go up when you reduce traffic speeds and make streets more accessible.
Peter Fitch (Guest)
Oh, please don't put a light here. There's really not that much traffic on West Park. Speaking as a cyclist, I rarely have to wait that long to make a left turn onto Whalley. And speaking as a driver, there are already so many lights on Whalley that it would be crazy to put in yet another.
If people on this website got their way there would be a traffic signal at every corner in this city. And it would always be red.
There are protected crosswalks one block to the north and one block to the south. Who's crossing to walk to the cemetery?
And since there are already signals at Fitch and Grasso, and Osborn (why isn't that simply a blinker?) enough fake congestion is created to give drivers and cyclists and pedestrians plenty of time to cross Whalley, stop in the middle, lay down, tie a shoe, and reach the other side before a car approaches.
Enough with installing lights already.
Josh (Guest)
CT Livable Streets Campaign (Registered User)
I agree this should be addressed (see below).
Has anyone considered filling out a Complete Streets Request form? See bit.ly/ward7crosswalk for an example.
Fill these out and get as many neighbors and Alderpersons as possible to sign it with you, so that the project will officially get on the city's radar screen.
Closed City of New Haven (Verified Official)