I actually see this as more of a problem for pedestrians, although I do believe there is a safety concern for drivers that are expecting 3 lanes to be open and then arriving upon a normal drive lane that is temporarily being used for parking.

I've lived in NH for 5+ years and am very interested in the City. For 4+ years I lived on or near the NHGreen and walked/biked through it on a regular basis. I believe that cars being parked on Temple Street creates a serious hazard for pedestrians trying to cross at the crosswalk. On a good day, with full visibility, this is a very dangerous crosswalk (which the city is aware of, and has addressed previously). On Sunday mornings, it becomes even more hazardous due to the parked cars.

I've also witnessed, on several occasions later in the day, after the majority of cars have departed, that a few cars remain which creates even more chaos for drivers. This is a very heavily used path for city buses as well, and considering that buses can stop and line up in the right lane (for the bus stop) it can happen that there is only one usable lane of travel for vehicles.

My opinion is that parking should not be allowed in this particular block (well, actually, my belief is that this street along with the rest of downtown should be converted into 2-way streets). However, if the City continues to allow this and not treat it as a traffic/parking violation, then it absolutely should update the posted signage to reflect it's current policing of the area. There should be signage that shows that parking is allowed on Sundays, between such and such a time. If that doesn't occur, then the City should begin enforcing the No Parking signage and ticket/tow these vehicles.

If something else is going on here (an old city ordinance, a deal with the Churches where they pay for temporary parking one day per week, etc) I'd love to be informed of it.

I'm also wondering if the City allows parking like this for other events (concerts on the green, arts & ideas, tree lighting, etc). When I attend those events, I'm usually walking or taking public transportation and can't recall if this happens more often than just Sunday AM's

I've lived here 40 years now. I came when New Haven's Downtown was vibrant with tourists, Macy's, Malley's, the Taft Hotel, the Park Plaza, the Arena was replaced by the Coliseum, so we had conventions, sports, concerts, Yale, the Shubert and the Palace theatres. Night and day there were people downtown, strolling, shopping, restaurants, and it was clean and safe. The churches too, the Center Church still has the old cemetery in back, Trinity is rather famous. It was the Gateway to New Haven, thus the name of the community college. Pizza places. Battel Chapel.

It has changed. Gone, now people still walk, but not so much at night. Still go to church. It's sad, really. Yet, vestiges remain and people still walk around, or use bicycles. Bicycles are easier through the Downtown Yale area than cars. We have to remember to be conservative with gas.

College St is now two way but it's not better, so I don't think Temple would be better two way either, especially for pedestrians. That right lane is a special lane, and should remain. I take a detour either down Orange or State to respect Downtown crowds.

Really? This is the problem for pedestrians. It's not what happens DAILY?? (i.e. cars IGNORING the crosswalk). Gimme a break.

It doesn't matter about cars parked in the left lane on Sundays. It happens every single g'dam day!

I almost forgot about the time I came downtown on a Friday night to find 3 Dattco buses parked end-to-end completely blocking the crosswalk. As Quinnipiac girls came out of the buses, NHPD were far more concerned about directing them safely across the green. Forget about the RESIDENTS trying to cross 3-lane Temple Street with no crosswalk.

This town is a JOKE

If you think this town is a joke, you are free to move elsewhere.. if you don't like driving down Temple St on Sunday during church services you are free to take a detour. As far as walking across the street, unless you are crossing within the legal crosswalks then you are jaywalking, which is illegal anyway. Stop jaywalking and go to the proper crosswalk.

The Center Church, which the old gravestones in the back, was built back in 1639. It is ah historic landmark and treasure, and still active hundreds of years later. this was way before motor vehicles were invented and transient people came to think the world revolves around each newcomer to New Haven.

Trinity church was built in 1814, and is a very important part of New Haven since then. Their choirs tour all over the world. They are also open for rest and meditation during the week.

The United Church on the Green also dates back to 1639.

Parking downtown has been a problem for everyone everyday. I'm not sure why you are focused on the historic churches. Yale is also a historic location with lots of Yale students and professionals around,, and it's a lot of the Yale population that uses those churches, plus Battell Chapel, and St Mary's. This is not going to change for you, so please cross at the crosswalks with the traffic lights.. press the 'walk' button and wait your turn.

Welcome to historic downtown New Haven, incorporated in 1638 with no knowledge of technologies and daily life , or your demands tht would be 350 years later.

neighbor,

If you can't take criticism, you can shut your ears. J-O-K-E