But it's REALLY difficult to cross there - and I am a relatively fearless pedestrian (i.e. not a Nervous Nelly). Couldn't there be a push button so that when it's needed most, a solid white appears and then the rest of the time it wouldn't be part of the normal pattern?

It seems like it's a place right downtown where pedestrians don't have the right of way...

The Dept. appreciates your concern regarding this interesection and will look into possible alternatives.

What does the blinking mean legally? If the pedestrian still has the right of way, then the pedestrian light therefore should be solid. End of story.

If a blinking signal head is to be employed, it must be directed at the party who yields the right of way (turning drivers). If special treatment is needed at this intersection, the appropriate measure is to install a flashing yellow arrow for the right-turn pocket. These are increasingly standard practice and are legally much more sound, logical, and intuitive than the flashing pedestrian signal. See attached video for explanation.

I would like this issue to remain open until the city either presents the results of its analysis of alternatives or converts the pedestrian signal head to a solid walk symbol.

Thank you for reopening the issue.

The intersection must be made safe and attractive for users of all ages and abilities, including children.

Please do not re-design it from the perspective of a middle aged male adult. Let's get some progressive standards, like raised and textured intersections - this intersection involves a key neighborhood main street.

This is also a major economic development opportunity (e.g., cafes are opening in this area, in locations where adjacent traffic is under control) and therefore is a perfect place to try them out. New Haven needs more jobs and services and creating attractive places is the only way to do that.

Regardless of what action is ultimately taken, the first step must be to reset the pedestrian signal head so that it displays a solid walk symbol. There is no valid reason why this couldn't happen next week.

Flashing signal heads should never be directed at the party with the right of way. When employed, flashing signal heads must be directed at the party who yields the right of way. In this case, that party is turning drivers.

The flashing pedestrian signal head runs counter to the law and should be reprogramed.

I agree. This intersection is dangerous and poorly designed. Pedestrians crossing Temple Street should have the right of way and a solid white crossing light; cars turning onto Temple should be given a flashing arrow to yield to pedestrians.

This Saturday the Downtown-Wooster Square Community Management Team and Wooster Square Watch are sponsoring a community planning meeting.
Results from the 2010 New Haven quality of life survey are now available and will be a terrific indicator of the areas of focus for improving the quality of life in our neighborhood.

Please join us!

Saturday, May 8th
8:30 am -- 12 pm
(coffee and refreshments provided)
Conte Hills School Cafeteria

I hope many of you can make it to think strategically as a group about how we as citizens can make a difference in the neighborhood within our broader mission of safety through awareness and prevention.

See you there!

twitter.com/dwscmt
http://groups.google.com/group/DWSCMT

I've been a pedestrian at this intersection quite a bit and never had any problems. That having been said, the blinking man is definitely not the most easily understood signal.

From the 2009 edition of the Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part4/part4e.htm)

Section 4E.02 Meaning of Pedestrian Signal Head Indications
“A flashing WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication has no meaning and shall not be used.”

This is true, the flashing pedestrian signal is outdated. The original purpose stated earlier in this issue was why it had been installed but the flashing ped signal is no longer supported by the MUTCD guide as it had been in the past. This pedestrain signal needs to be updated. Thank you for the post.

Drivers need to be slowed down on this corner and have their attention drawn to pedestrians with right of way. I have been nearly hit here many times while crossing Temple St. Cars turn even when I am right in the middle of the road, or most of the way across. I see mothers jerking back their strollers so their babies do not get hit. Some drivers don't seem to see pedestrians, or don't seem to see the crosswalk light. Others glare or yell as they zoom past, so they obviously CAN see pedestrians and choose deliberately (perhaps out of ignorance) to drive unlawfully and irresponsibly.

Maybe a solution could involve reconfiguring all signage and lighting at this intersection so it is less chaotic, and located in natural lines of sight. Reshaping the sidewalk to slow turning traffic would also help. Law enforcement would not hurt either.

Being a busy intersection does not excuse drivers from the yielding to pedestrians who have the right to cross, and any driver in this area should have the common sense to expect that the Whitney Avenue commercial strip will attract pedestrians from all directions. Unfortunately I do not see a good solution for this entire neighborhood short of limiting the overload of traffic that our shortsighted forebears worked to encourage in this area.

This is a crosswalk giving access to an important commercial area. Please make it function like one. I find this pair of intersections (Trumbull/Temple and Trumbull/Whitney) is difficult for pedestrians, we're always being squeezed by fast cars no matter which side of the street we cross on.

Suggestions.
1. Rationalize the confusing web of signs.
2. Make the triangular park into a refuge and thoroughfare by taking down the fences and aligning paths for corner access.
3. Raise crossings all along Trumbull to slow drivers through intersections.

Overall the above writer is right about too many cars in a small, pedestrian-dense commercial/residential/school area. So many people view the Trumbull ramp as being for through traffic to Dixwell and Whitney not as an access point to downtown/Yale/Albertus. Things may get worse when the Prospect St bridge opens again.

I think there are a lot of problems here. A lot of drivers turning right from Whitney to Trumbull don't wait for pedestrians to cross. I've seen drivers even beep and yell at pedestrians that have the walk signal. This is really unfortunate since so many people walk in this area. The section of Whitney from Grove to Trumbull is basically a pedestrian's nightmare.

http://seeclickfix.com/issues/140226?issue_saved=true

As of 2013 City departments have begun to review, acknowledge and respond to SeeClickFix issues. Since your issue is in the category titled "No Service Request" and was submitted prior to 2013, we are going to close and archive it. If this issue still requires City attention, please report as a new SeeClickFix issue. Thank you.

Reopened per resident request.

This issue was recategorized from Uncategorized to Traffic Signal / Pedestrian Signal.

Under design review.