I see TT&P acknowledged this. I'll contact the director to chat more about this intersection and other 2-ways in the neighborhood people are concerned about.

Thank you Greg. Please post here with updates.

Incidentally, if you go to New Haven Independent, there is a crime log that will show you exactly where M/V violation tickets are issued. Seems pretty clear from that log that enforcement activity in this neighborhood is quite limited. Neighbors who want to see traffic enforcement should be concerned by the data on the log, and demand more attention to local quality of life enforcement.

It is easy to change the situation in a small city like this, it just takes one or two persons to make the issue a priority.

Thanks Mark but I would like to say that the lack of attention for Westville is not so simply corrected. Westvillians are anything but complacent and do complain (document, point out however you want to put it). The usual response from powers that be and others is that Westville has it pretty good so quityourbitchen or as the (un-named local print media) inelegantly referred to the “Westville Whiners” in an article last year. I’m not saying people shouldn’t try to get the attention of their city services, I’m just saying you can almost hear the eyes roll downtown when a complaint comes from Westville. Just pay your taxes and shut up willya?

I posted this months ago and since then have witnessed 2 more (!!!) accidents at this intersection. Photos attached. What will it take to simply make this a 4-way stop? You can see from the second photo that the car destroys a mailbox and nearly makes it to the home on the corner. Will it take hitting a pedestrian or destroying a home or property? Come on New Haven! Even the responding emergency officers have consistently said sarcastically, "Good luck, nothing will happen." Let's prove them wrong.

And here is a picture of the outcome of another accident.

thanks Alyson. I'll call dir of TT&P again.

The poor visibility from all approaches to this intersection is key part of the problem. No parking enforcement occurs. Need a 4 way stop here - no doubt!

Thank you for documenting the wrecks here. This is a great way to advocate for a fix.

It would be great if the data on crashes vs. enforcement activity were easier to understand and use, so that citizens could pinpoint dangerous intersections like these.

Slowing speeds would be the most surefire way to reduce the number of crashes. If the city can't afford curb extensions, why not use temporary curb extensions like those used in many other cities?

Agree that there is poor visibility due to the trees, but it is not a parking offenders problem. Curb extensions not likely the answer, but a 4 way stop is an easy and cost effective fix. There is already a bus stop at that corner and I've seen cars blindly go around the buses. Alden could use some stop signs to slow the speeding traffic. What's the cost of 2 new stop signs ... ?!

Installing a plaque that said cross traffic does not stop would be extremely inexpensive.

I'm not sure it would solve the problem of the crashes though -- stop signs are considered ineffective and have even been phased out in many countries because they tend to cause more crashes than they prevent:

"Vanderbilt visits with celebrated Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman, who created the "intersection heard around the world." Monderman redesigned a congested four-way crossing in the city of Drachten by basically removing all of the traffic signs. The lack of signals created uncertainty and forced drivers to slow down, cooperate with one another, and watch out for bicyclists and pedestrians. It also allowed traffic to flow more smoothly."

http://www.slate.com/id/2198494

This isn't just a crazy Slate article -- much of the rest of the world has actually been using these principles for many decades now.

That said, I do strongly support putting up a warning plaque until the city gets its act together on preventing crashes more generally. A small piece of metal may at least make people feel that things are in order, which is a major plus in its own right :)

What if someone was standing there??? I live a block away and see problems at this intersection all of the time! there should be no parking on the corners and a 4-way stop sign

The only way to ensure no parking at the corners is to install a curb extension. Widely used elsewhere throughout Connecticut and standard practice in many places beyond -- hopefully we can get one here (if too costly, go with a temporary one).

The Dir of TT&P and I visited this corner and several others yesterday.

He will schedule the required traffic study at this intersection asap. This is the next step before anything can actually be implemented control wise. He will also try to re-stripe this intersection and a few others which won't hurt.

The City is indeed working toward a solution at this intersection. I'll keep on this and keep folks updated.

Actually, walking past that intersection every day, I have to say that cars on Alden rarely violate the no parking areas on the corner of that intersection because there are a 10ft bus stop and fire hydrant no parking zones on either side. There is, however, a physical obstruction of a tree in the line of vision. Only one half of the issue is that cars on Willard street don't see cars on Alden. The other, more important issue is that cars on Willard THINK the cars on Alden will be stopping. They THINK it is a 4-way stop. So let's put in 2 stop signs to make that happen.

Greg, I sincerely thank you and the Director of TT&P for taking the time to come out to the intersection, but how long is a traffic study going to take? Honestly, 4 accidents in 3 months - isn't that enough data to warrant a simple, easy, cost efficient solution of 2 stop signs to make it a 4-way stop? Re-painting the intersection will not make a difference. Having that pedestrian crossing sign did not make a difference because the Alden traffic coming from the post office side only sees that once they are already IN the intersection. They could easily look at the records of the responses of emergency and police visits to those 4 recent (if not more) accidents. 2 stop signs or an even less demanding, but easier solution, signs on the existing 2 stop signs that say "cross traffic does not stop." This feels like ridiculous bureaucracy for what could be such an easy solution.

I think traffic engineering is more science than bureaucracy, but I understand your frustration to what seems like a simple solution.

City can't just install stop signs without car count data, official accident data, etc.; hence the study.

I'll ask about the "cross traffic doesn't stop" signs.

I agree with Alyson there should be no reason to delay this.

If it is taking this long, perhaps our policies should be reviewed. In many cases in other cities, responsive safety improvements are made within 24 hours of a serious accident but I think it has to do with having stronger monitoring and policies.

scf is great. but please stop complaining here. I've shared the City's response. CALL TT&P Dir or Dep Dir directly if you believe the time-line can be different.

stop complaining here?! maybe people just shouldn't care too much about Westville, Greg? wow, glad I didn't vote for you.

I live in the area - the worst part IS when all the people park along the sides. Its impossible to see traffic - and I do several looks before proceeding over Alden. Installing 2 stop signs is CHEAP and SMART to do - so what is the freaking hold up? Arent lives important? Come on now!

And for the record, people illegally park along there ALL THE TIME beyond the legal limits...even double parking when picking up their spawns. Parents are the WORST!

Has there been any progress on this sign?

I was talking today to someone from out of town and they were astonished that you would have a situation like this without at least the warning (two way stop) placards.

Is this really how we want people to view our city?

I live at the intersection of Alden and Willard and can tell you that no signs have been put up. The amount of near misses has actually gone up in the last few months since the city placed the yield to pedestrian sign in the crosswalk which appears to be creating even more confusion for drivers on Alden. Many stop at the sign thinking it is a stop sign and then the drivers on Willard cross in Alden in front of them.

No new changes! I live in this area and that pedestrian sign is in a VERY BAD spot! People almost hit it all the time when making a turn onto Alden, its way past the crossings - How hard is it to install 2 more stop signs? Really now! Give me the signs and I will install them myself!

Thanks for commenting MLM and E... and you're right, in over 6 months, there still has yet to be any progress. From the postings, the last update our Alderman was able to get from the city 2 months ago was that the city needed to conduct a traffic study in order to install new stop signs or make any traffic changes. Despite this posting making it onto the national SeeClickFix as an example of community members using technology to voice the need for safety improvements in our neighborhood, we have yet to see the city of New Haven step up and actually fix the issue. If the Director of Transportation is following this post, we ask you for a response of when we can expect the safety of this intersection to be improved... Hopefully before yet another accident.

E
It would be good if you called and/or emailed the Dir of TT&P.

I have been told that a study must be done before stop signs can be added.

also, please email me directly so we can chat.

A study for a stop sign at a corner near a school?!?!?! In a neighborhood filled with stop signs? Are you serious! Pathetic! Its not like we are asking for a light. This is just one of the many reasons why I hate politics - too much red tape, too much money wasted, too much bs!

The department will be conducting a warrent analysis at this intersection and the results are expected to be completed by October of this year. Thank you for your patience as we continue to follow through this process.

October?!??! How about putting a little speed on this considering its the same block as a school and its the school time that its the worst and most dangerous.

Update - just yesterday I noticed the traffic counters on all 4 streets of this intersection. Good news! Ironically, as you can see in the picture, one of them is attached to a sign that warns drivers on Willard of an upcoming stop sign - at a different intersection. The stop sign that was bent in the car crash 3 months ago was also worked back into shape. This is good to see, although I would like to know what data these machines will need to collect to convince the City of New Haven to install new stop signs on Alden or to add signs that warn drivers on Willard that the cross traffic on Alden does not stop.

And here is the counter on Alden...

Here's the latest:

The initial results did not support a four-way stop. This was a review based on the volume data only. We [TT&P] will now check crash or other factors which would warrant a stop sign. Yes, we did initiate a project to do the crosswalks. I hope this helps in the interim.

Thanks for the update Greg. Unfortunate to hear. Interesting note - the counters were there during a vacation month when the school on the block was not in session and many residents were out of town. Did DOT share any information with you on what level of volume necessitates a 4-way stop? I'm curious why other intersections have 4-ways stops at intersections that are not thorough-ways like Alden Avenue is.

The easiest next best solution, as I suggested in the very beginning, DOT can attach signs to the existing stop signs that say "Cross traffic does not stop." I've seen these elsewhere. Is this a solution that DOT can do?

And yes, have seen the cross walks, thanks.

The data was bogus - why? Because it was done during the time when school wasn't in session.

I hate to say that the city repainting the crosswalks and putting out the pedestrian signs has not done much to help the situation here. There was another accident this morning around 7:45 am. I realize there will always be accidents but the number of accidents and near misses at this intersection is disturbing.

TT&P is still awaiting additional warrant data.
I will check in with them this week.

FYI, there have also been 2 significant accidents at light controlled neighborhood intersections (Alden/Edgewood & Central/Edgewood) in the past couple weeks.

Signs and controls are not the entire solution.

I'll ask Monday about the "cross traffic does not stop" sign possibilities.

Please also see http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/2017-lack-of-stop-signs - very similar reports and promises from TTP to investigate.

The in street traffic calming / pedestrian sign systems that were described on other threads need to be kept in place year round at this location, as other cities with more snow do. If that's not possible, a more permanent median system to slow traffic should be constructed.

If speeding and disregard for pedestrian safety continues to be an issue here, the neighborhood should fill out and submit a "complete streets" request form at http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Engineering/completestreets.asp. Getting these types of requests on the official public record will really help the city improve the safety of these crossings over time, while significantly raising property values. If you need help completing the form itself you may want to contact your local alderperson or newhavensafestreets at gmail.com.
I would be happy to fill out the form.

As others suggest, I would like to see pedestrian medians and other traffic calming systems here, like the one in the attached photo, because of their ability to slow traffic and promote safe pedestrian crossing year-round, not just when the signs can be put in place.

If funding is not sufficient to build a median, a temporary one can be constructed (like much of Boston does) using sand barrels, etc.

Any developments on this?

Nothing has happened - no stop signs and no signs saying that cross traffic does not stop.

No improvements - same stuff different day.

Thanks for the update. Are there plans to fill out Complete Streets request forms for this problem (see below)? I had been to several meetings in Westville where they were planned - not sure if they have been drafted or written up yet.

I had TT&P interim director confirm they've received the warrant study results. They have and it failed. I'll link to the report on my blog soon.
So, 4-way stop signs are NOT on the table.
I do indeed intend to submit a Complete Streets request form. We must now submit a suggestion other than a 4-way stop from the Complete Streets manual.
The manual is available as a pdf on the city's website here:
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Engineering/completestreets.asp

Please email me directly with suggestions. I'm leaning toward "tools" that enhance ped crossing visibility and slow traffic by physically narrowing the roadway (ie "road diet).
Perhaps consider "Crossing Islands" as depicted in the Manual and on my blog.

http://dildine25.blogspot.com/p/westville-complete-streets-project-list.html

email: alderman@dildine25.org

-Greg

My blog is updated.
Please no more dialogue here. Let's be pro-active and use the Complete Streets process now.
Thanks.