Week of 2/9/09-2/13/09

Enforcement
Infractions 217
Misdemeanors 2
Written warnings 16
Total 235

Violations
Cell phone 41
Red light 59
Stop sign 28
Speeding 68
Seat belt 22

Locations
Elm-York 61
Kimberly Ave. 41
Dixwell-Bassett 20
Whalley-W. Park 19
Ella Grasso Boulevard 15
Whitney-E. Rock 13
State-James 12
Chapel-Yale 9
Frontage-York 9
Howard-Sea 5
Townsend-Tuttle 4

As far as I can tell, people run stop signs when traffic volumes are too high for a stop sign to make sense. In the case of Howard Ave and Sea St, volumes are a bit high for stop signs, but much too low to necessitate a traffic signal (which should always be your last resort).

The textbook answer in this situation is to put in a mini traffic circle.

However, because it would be very difficult for the city to justify the expense of installing a mini traffic circle at this intersection, you may want to consider asking the city to get rid of the stop signs on Howard and replace them with an in-street crosswalk sign.

The third option is to continue with the enforcement efforts.

Has the city actually done a traffic volume study here, i.e. where cars drive over a counter, to determine that volume is, in fact, too low for a signal? The traffic circle installed awhile ago along the shore in Milford is quite nice. Angered residents initially because they found it confusing [not used to circles in CT] but works fine now.

We have been at the last resort to have a traffic light installed for years now. Get with it!!!

OK. I get it. All I'm saying is that traffic signals ain't all that great. They cost an absurd amount to install (properly) and tend to encourage speeding. The point that traffic calming advocates (myself included) like to make is that while signals reduce fender benders, they tend to increase serious accidents and fatalities by enabling higher speeds. As a pedestrian, I despise downtown New Haven's traffic signals.

So be careful what you wish for.

Acknowledged by CTLS

I agree that i don't want a traffic light since green / yellow lights will just cause people to speed through the intersection at high speeds.

What would be really great would be a median or a bike lane down Howard Ave to narrow the street and force cars to slow down (and also discourage trucks to use the area).

Beware, the CT DOT has plans to close exit 44 (Kimberley Ave. exit) and direct all of that traffic onto the Boulevard, exit 45, which will mean a ton of extra traffic on Sea St. and Howard Ave. That unnecessarily huge Howard Ave bridge, which the CT DOT built over I95, can easily accommodate trucks and tons of cars. CT DOT - ruining Connecticut for the past 50 years...

Why not add speed bumps and ban trucks and vehicles based on weight? If CityPoint is truly some sort of "historical" area permitting trucks to roar thru makes zero sence and endangers the stability of the older homes.