Please see http://www.newhavensafestreets.org/2008/08/response-from-mayor-destefano-on-in.html for link to Mayor's response on the New Haven Safe Streets request for in-street crosswalk signs to be deployed citywide. We are hopeful that this intersection, in particular, will receive a sign because of the high pedestrian volumes and excessive traffic speeds. City of New Haven Dept of Transportation can be contacted if you have locations to recommend, or feel free to copy me or your local Alderpersons. Longer term measures to improve this intersection, such as traffic calming measures and parking policy changes, are also currently under consideration.

The City has agreed to test the In-Road Pedestrian Right of Way signage at this location - lets hope that it helps add a little civility/awareness to this truly terrifying location.

Hopefully the city will also consider rumble strips, speed humps, narrowing of the intersections with bump-outs (which increase pedestrian visibility), etc., along with speed limits posted at 15 miles per hour.

Otherwise we're pretty much guaranteed to see additional injuries and fatalities, not to mention inconveniences preventing pedestrians from having a truly pleasant experience in our city, at intersections like these.

A couple resources:

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/PED_BIKE/univcourse/swless08.htm
http://blog.tstc.org/2008/07/28/dont-fear-the-speed-hump/

I hope the pedestrian right-of-way signs are coming soon!

State Street should be getting one tomorrow right in front of ST Stanislaus.
The upper State Street Association will also be purchasing two for the city to place in the other crosswalks on State Street.

The pedestrian right-of-way signs were at this intersection for what seemed like all of 15 minutes before they were graffiti'd and struck by vehicles. Guess the signs don't have any better luck than pedestrians and cyclists.

Dear Mr. Kirkpatrick,
Did this just happen recently, or were you referring to last fall? If they haven't already, I hope the city puts the signs back out soon. I imagine the last of the heavy snowfall is behind us and thus snow plows should no longer be an issue (knock on wood).
Thanks!
Brian Tang

I heard a rumor that signs would be coming out this week...looking forward to those little guys,

I hope they are installed soon.

Will it just be the five rolled out in October/November, or the complete set for each intersection in the city?

It's also worth pointing out that these signs are used year-round in and around Boston, which gets 2X the snow of New Haven. Next winter, they should really be kept up all year, at least at the highest-volume crossings.

How do they keep the snow plow drivers from running them over?

Here's a cool idea from Needham Mass:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/06/a_kinder_gentler_approach_on_traffic_signs/

I've heard positive feedback from residents about the new sign. However, ultimately a raised crosswalk is probably needed because drivers blow through Trumbull Street after coming off I91 and still don't always yield.

I cross here every day to get to and from work. Drivers coming in both directions are much more deferential to pedestrians when the sign is there. I love the sign!

I like Ben's idea. A bold sign saying "Kill Your Speed, Not a Child" also would work.

need two pedestrian crossing signs here - one for each of the two crosswalks on each side of the Lincoln St intersection. I almost got mowed down this a.m. by a car that was barreling towards Orange St. that barely stopped while I was in the crosswalk and in his lane.

Can we get two signs here?

How would two signs work any better than 1?

These are the reasons I have heard people cite when requesting two signs:

1. Vehicles don't always see the sign if there are cars blocking the view, e.g., during rush hour (which is the time of day that pedestrians are likely to be injured, particularly after the daylight savings shift) or if they are making a turn. Two signs would address this issue.

2. Generally speaking, two signs provide greater visibility than one.

3. More objects in the road = greater chance of drivers traveling at a reasonable speed. Reflective signs designed to warn drivers before speeding through the intersection at rush hour are particularly effective at this.

4. Best practices. Two signs are often used in other towns, at similar crossings -- probably for the reasons cited above.

Acknowledged by CTLS

I saw that in-road pedestrian signs have been placed all around Southern Connecticut State University. I saw several there this past weekend.

What's taking these so long for these?

At http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/12441 one user writes, "I propose a sign for traffic exiting the highway. "Residential and school zone. Speed limit 15 mph.""

Combined with more physical traffic calming, like curb extensions (temporary if funding does not allow a permanent one), would this be another good solution for improving pedestrian safety?

From http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010931.html

"I think we need to recognize that the idea we can "balance" cars and sidewalk life is a dangerous illusion. The only way to make pedestrians and bikers safe and welcome is to slow cars down, to make it clear that the place through which they're driving is one in which they need to pay attention, and, whenever possible, to get those cars off the streets and out of way of trains, bus, bikes and strollers."

"Assert the primacy of people enjoying the act of walking, and density begins to become community, transit begins to become an essential amenity rather than a safety net, and life begins to orient around experiences and access rather than accumulation and convenience. The act of walking is, I think more and more, at the very foundation of every other bright green possibility."