Description

This photo was not taken today and does not show the usual morning or late afternoon heavy vehicular traffic, but it does illustrate the intersection at Blake and Valley. On the right, is the Elm City Montessori School with a current preschool through elementary student population of approximately 270 kids. On the left is a surface parking lot that is often used as a cut-through by irate motorists who are frustrated by the frequent traffic back ups that occur here in the morning. Many of the students, including mine, walk to ECMS and cross this dangerous intersection at least twice a day. I have personally been hit three times over the past two years by vehicles piloted by drivers who either run the red light with the cross walk sign illuminated at this intersection or speed through the surface lot in their attempt to short cut the right turn from Valley to Blake. Thankfully, the incidents so far have been minor with no injuries beyond bruises and strained vocal cords. The recent addition of an illuminated "No Turn on Red" sign for those turning right from Blake to Valley has made a noticeable improvement. However, those coming from the opposite direction attempting to turn left from Blake to Valley, do not have an arrow, and often ignore the red light which endangers any pedestrians in the crosswalk. Similarly, those who use the surface lot as an auxiliary right turn lane, often do not watch for pedestrians on the sidewalk along Blake. My kids were almost hit this morning by someone speeding through the lot. I have witnessed near misses by other families crossing this intersection and have spoken to parents with similar concerns regarding the dangers here.

The convergence of significant vehicular and pedestrian traffic at this intersection, particularly in the mornings and late afternoons, warrants an immediate and comprehensive traffic engineering study by the City of New Haven. At a minimum, a left turn arrow for those vehicles turning left from Blake to Valley could be incorporated into the signalling system and would greatly reduce the danger to pedestrians at the crosswalk, as well as facilitate better and safer vehicular movement there. Removing the entry/exit and corresponding curb cut along Blake from the surface parking lot would regulate entry and exit to the lot from Valley Street and thus, eliminate the vehicular cut-through at that location. One could argue for a school crossing guard here, but I would contend that without the application of these two aforementioned basic changes to the intersection and parking lot, the underlying problems will continue to endanger those who use the crosswalks.

Apologies for the long-winded description, but these recommendations are reasonable and achievable. Immediate action needs to take place at the intersection of Blake Street and Valley road before we are faced with an avoidable tragedy.