Fixing this lighting problem will solve a host of other problems in this location, from the broken glass endangering the health of pedestrians and canines, to the muggings happening in this dark area. Complaints about this dark bridge have been cataloged on SCF for over a year. Please fix!

More lighting is needed here. It's a dark and dangerous place after dark.

Lighting is needed all the way up Court to OIive as well as more lighting in the parking lot.

Lighting is extremely poor from State Street to Olive Street. This is an area of high pedestrian traffic & the problem needs to be rectified!

I frequently walk to my home on Court and Olive Sts. from the train station after dark. That stretch is very dark and unpleasant to walk after dark. A simple fix is to have some lights installed to make it safer.

with the downtown renaissance, it makes sense from the economical stand point to bring walking potential income. However, a dark bridge deter people to walk over.

this whole area needs love and has been hugely neglected. from water to grove, state over to hamilton, and beyond. this area has huge potential. and the last comment was right on.

yes please more lights needed in this dark & dangerous spot

I couldn't agree more. This bridge is the only part of my walk home where I feel unsafe. It seems like an easy fix though.

let's light up the neighborhood and keep it safe for our pedestrians...

Now that it's dark at 5pm I don't go downtown to dinner or drinks as much because I have to walk this bridge to get there and back. I'd be spending a lot more money downtown this winter if I felt safe getting there! With 360 State nearing completion, it's a no-brainer: this bridge has got to be a safe and more inviting conduit between neighborhoods! Please fix.

agreed!

Yes, more lights please, this bridge is scary.

It should be an important goal of downtown New Haven to be connected to the surrounding neighborhoods to encourage people to walk into town for shopping and dinner. Lights on the Court street bridge is one way to encourage a feeling of safety and welcome.

Would the neighborhood be willing to chip in for some new lighting? The kind of lighting infrastructure that would be ideal here (i.e. pedestrian level, like on Chapel Street around Yale) can be extremely expensive.

If the neighborhood found a way to chip in, I would be surprised if the utility companies, private foundations/institutions and the city did not provide a match.

definitely needs improvement - it's dark and scary at night

we definitely need more light there-it is too dark

My daughters call this bridge the "spooky bridge" -- it really is scary when you have to walk home after dark, either from down town or the train State Street train station.

Even more importantly, will the new Grand Avenue bridge (the one that has been closed for rebuilding) have pedestrian level lighting? If not, why not? Who signed off on the plans?

I'm one of the people who has been mugged there. Yes, please fix this.

Please fix this issue

It's a shame that the couple of blocks linking our fantastic neighborhood with downtown make most of so uncomfortable that we drive! Please fix this as well as the chapel street bridge.

Yes, this is a liability. Is it Amtrak property? The sidewalk in front of the UI substation is also in terrible shape and could do with re-pouring....

Add me to the people wanting more lighting on this bridge. As for pedestrian level lighting, another option would be spotlights that were mounted from poles but aimed downward to light up the area. It might be less expensive. To the person asking about pedestrian lighting at the grande avenue bridge, from what I can tell, it actually has pedestrian lighting built INTO the bridge, which should be fantastic.

How about something like this bridge in Dusseldorf?

Pedestrian lighting in Broward County, Florida

Also, the streetlight before the bridge on the corner of State and Court is out, making the whole area darker than currently necessary. This at least should be fixed immediately while we're waiting for bridge lights to be put in.

Please light up this area. Light will make it safer and deter loitering and the tremendous amount of bottle smashing that goes on there after dark.

Yes please fix!! ...I always try to avoid this route when walking home to Wooster Square for this same reason

Yes, still dark. Especially lonely on holidays. Could use lights and/or downtown ambassadors as escorts.

more light on and near the bridge, please! it's scary to walk there after sunset, and drivers entering and leaving the smoothie parking lot can't see us. (the parking lot traffic can be treacherous in broad daylight, but that's a different complaint.)

Please light the bridge.

Absolutely this would be helpful. between the out of control traffic at Olive and Court and the dark bridge and streets to Chapel, it really feels unsafe to walk between Wooster Square and downtown even relatively early in the evening.

How do we move action from this clicket to an actual resolution? Does anyone know if this has been acknowledged yet by City officials or UI, or anyone who can make the improvements?

There are multiple clickets open for this issue, and Ben posted a great photo of what it looks like in the dark on this clicket: http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/1254. If you just looked at the picture, you'd never guess this was the main thoroughfare between two vibrant neighborhoods. It's just too dark!

Erin: Hold a rally, write letters to the editor, get nearby schools or employers involved, call a reporter, make a flyer, create a special interest coalition of people interested in similar issues across New Haven or across urban communities throughout the State and write an advocacy report that details the problem (there are many... maybe New Haven Safe Streets or the city-wide management team would sponsor one?); meet with local politicians, start a formal petition engaging nearby residents (and/or use this site to do that), put up lawn signs, develop a community action plan, hold a public art contest or other event about the issue, create evening patrols and invite a NH Indy "bike beat" reporter :) , or many more...

city capital budget is limited... so start the organizing!

City and Parking and the State DOT, looking at the list to the right, both of you have received every email about this.
Question #1, which one of you is responsible for the lighting on this bridge.

Question #2, whoever it is, could you please post to SeeClickFix and let us know what the status of this problem is? It's fine if you have no plans at the moment, but let us know so we can do what Mark suggests and get people motivated to get this fixed.

If you DO have plans, also please let us know so that we don't have to hold a rally for something that's already happening.

PS- if there's no response on this, Mike Piscitelli's (director of traffic and parking) email is
mpiscite@newhavenct.net

so it might be worth emailing or calling him directly to find out next steps.

Last night a mugging occurred in this dark area. Four men mugged someone at the corner of Court and Olive Streets. Two of the muggers had handguns. They took a cellphone and a
black wallet with $25. What is is going to take to get lights in this area?

I agree with Querty - the first step is to find out what the status here is. My guess is that it would be an economic development issue, so calls would best directed to that department.

This from Alderman Smart,

"To Ms. Brady and other concerned neighbors:

Alderman Smart has asked me to brief you on your concerns about the lighting issue on the Court Street bridge between State and Artizan and the action he has taken. He is aware of the serious problem here with the extremely poor lighting on that bridge which goes over the trains tracks on Court St. It is very dimly lit and a real public safety hazard. Staff has been in consultation with Seb Asadourian (the city's streetlighting manager) and with City Engineer Richard Miller to see how this problem can be remedied at the earliest possible time. They have heard your concerns and those of Ald. Smart and are very aware of the problem here. Director Miller assured that they are actively exploring all options to provide better lighting on this bridge. It is taking some thought because providing lighting on a bridge, especially one over train tracks, is particularly tricky. However, again, they know this is a serious public safety issue and are examining all the possibilities for improving the lighting on the bridge as soon as possible.

Hope this information is helpful.

-Mike Abeshouse (Legislative Services at 946-5800)
for Alderman Michael Smart, Ward 8 "

Lights here would be outstanding.

The New Haven Independent is covering this issue today. Please come and show your support for this issue at 4pm at Court and Olive.

I'll Be There!

I can't get off work early but will be there in spirit, and I will check it out shortly after 5pm if NHI is still there. They should at least watch what it's like for the evening commute! And be sure they know about this clicket if they don't already!

A citywide campaign is being established to advocate for low level and pedestrian-scale lighting. Lighting, economic development and personal safety is clearly an issue throughout New Haven, both along retail strips and elsewhere.

Many successful models of community coalitions can be found in other cities.

Please continue to speak up about lighting on State Street (and elsewhere) and encourage your neighbors to post on this website. Additional details will be posted here in the coming weeks; approximately 5-10 volunteers who can dedicate 2-3 hours per week towards research and advocacy will be needed in order to make the campaign a success.

If articles are written about the issue (e.g., in the Independent), please post the links here.

in the meantime, you can call the downtown ambassadors fof an escort if you feel unsafe:
203-773-9494 (correct me if i am wrong on the chapel st # to be the one to call?)

There's an enormous need for low level, human scale street lighting in the thickly populated sections of New Haven, e.g. Wooster Square, State St. parts of East Rock, Cedar Hill, etc., etc.

CT Environmental Headlines recently posted this note and link on street lighting. It's good to know that the most environmentally friendly lights are also the best choice economically and aesthetically. Good illustrations at the link:

"A recent report shows fluorescent street lights improve safety and security and save energy

http://environmentalheadlines.com/ct/2009/11/16/report-shows-fluorescent-street-lights-improve-safety-and-security-and-save-energy/#more-25446

By replacing traditional, yellowish high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights with ‘cool’ white light sources, such as induction, fluorescent, ceramic metal halide, or LEDs, we can actually reduce the amount of electric power used for lighting while maintaining or even improving visibility in nighttime conditions, according to “Mesopic Street Lighting Demonstration and Evaluation Final Report, for Groton Utilities, Groton, Connecticut” (pdf). “The results from the range of studies conducted to date dramatically underscore the benefits of the unified photometry system for improving visual performance and reducing energy consumption,” according to the report.

Also from the report: “Replacing a 100-watt HPS light source with a 55-watt induction light source or a 70-watt halide lamp saves considerable amounts of energy. Using either increases maintenance costs. The increased costs for the induction lamp are offset by doubling the life expectancy of the induction lamp compared to the HPS lamp.”

The results of the study, which showed that streets appear brighter and more comfortable with fluorescent lighting, the lights cause less glare, colors of traffic signs appear more clearly, vegetation looks more natural, pavement visibility and pedestrian visibility and perception of safety while driving were improved, facial recognition and perception of security while walking were improved — supports the use of unified photometry in a street lighting context."

Reality Check: Not only is it dark and threatening walking over the main brideg/artery to the Wooster Square neighborhood, but also has proven to be injurious. In the last few months we have had a huge spike in muggings with bodily assault - beatings and broken bones. While a long term well-planned lighting solution would be most welcome, we also need immediate quick fixes. Is it possible for the city to work in partnership with the Smoothie and Friendship House owners to put crime lights or large spots on top of their structures beaming down on the bridge area?

Hey Anstress,

I actually disagree.

If they are going to use Metal Halide hopefully it will have some kind of color filter on the lens.

If you have seen downtown East Haven or Edgewood Ave and you'll see how white light can really can take away from the charm of a neighborhood at night.

SeeClickFix just launched a feature to generate flyers of issues in your neighborhood. See the top of this page or this link:
http://www.seeclickfix.com/issues/9603.pdf

The flyer also includes instructions to vote for the issue via text messaging!

I agree that installing super bright lights over the housing complex will take away from the charm of Wooster Square and not be fair to the residents of the complex. Having low level lights over the bridge will be helpful, but what I think would be more helpful is having a beat cop walking up and down Olive Street. There is a nightly group that deals drugs from the picnic bench outside the law office on Court and Olive after rush hour is over. I agree that the policeman who pulls people over for not coming to a complete stop around Wooster Square Park should refocus his efforts.

Please, don't remove the policeman from his stand on Wooster Square! I believe he does a LOT to discourage crime on the square.

Frankly, I don't know what kind of charm is to be found getting mugged in a dimly lit park at night. If bright lights will keep the creeps out - then go with bright lights! I can deal with "charm" during the daylight hours and safety after dark.

Article in the New Haven Independent here: http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2009/11/ashley_kremzer.php#018179more

Unified photometry is by far superior, Ben.

One reason why it is the standard on all new Yale projects and elsewhere.

Let's hope the city gets with the times here.

What does unified photometry look like?

Will it give me cancer? Sounds cool!

We're architects here in WoosterSq. From my perspective, it's clear that better lighting on all the bridges (Church, Grand, Olive) would make it much better for pedestrian use. We're currently caught in a catch22, people won't walk because they're afraid, and people are afraid because nobody else is walking there. If there was better urban lighting it would definitely make it pedestrian friendly environment. That said, I'm doubtful that anyone is really paying attention to this issue. I

Hey Michael,

Totally agree.

Curious why you are doubtful that anyone is paying attention?

We just had another mugging tonight 11/30. A man was slammed against a wall at Artizan and Court Street.

There is regular drug activity at Artizan and Court Street. There is a nightly group that hangs in the parking lot of the Law Office on Olive and Court at the blue picnic table. They are there right now and are there everyday after rushhour is over. Lighting the bridge will be helpful, but brighter lights on Olive Street and increased police presence will also be helpful.

Please explain to a naive neighbor.

If they're there every night, why don't the police just bust them?

It sounds rather basic to me.

Because no one is paying attention, Ben, we have had muggings week in week out on the same spot for months with little or no reaction from the police. The criminals know what police pressure looks like--they aren't feeling any, obviously. Meanwhile, we sit in our homes and wonder which of us is going to become Wooster Square's own Christian Prince. This situation is seriously out of control and I frankly don't understand the lack of action.

Mayor's Night In, tonight, 5PM at City Hall - will Wooster Square neighbors hold a "die in" in his office?

Another person wants this fixed!

I am going to Mayor's Night tonight. No need to "die in" yet.

What's a die in?

I emailed Mike Piscitelli this afternoon and soon got a return call. He was very supportive and assured me that a number of departments are aware and working on the situation. He also said that a few suspects have just been caught.
I hope that everyone will show up at the neighborhood meeting on the 16th. In the meantime, I hope the NHPD will station a patrol car or unmarked during the evening hours to curtail this dangerous criminal activity.

How was the Mayor's Night?

Great. He was open and receptive to the issues in Wooster Square. I suppose all the residents calling his office all day didn't hurt. He said they would work on both a temporary solution to the lighting issue and a long term solution. He also made other suggestions to remedy the mugging issue. We have a meeting on dec 16th with folks from his office where they hope to present some of their solutions and the expected timeframes.

The culprits probably reside in that pink / grey row house on olive street ,with the backyard on Artizan.
Not to pay some inebriated homeless person or some hapless disoriented person to stand there and stick him out and drag him thru the center of Rome like some jester of ancient rome.
But i believe there were City Hall affiliates that resided there. And the cops are sitting back ,watching, identifying them ,running to City Hall first, collect a winnings for wussings. And looking for a fall guy or there packing up and moving

We need this bridge lit up!

Read the posted signs! Light the BRIDGE! Keep calling the Mayor's Office - 203-946-7808!

temporary lighting needed ASAP - please help safety in the area by lighting this important connector between two vibrant neighborhoods -

What's the hold-up, Mayor Destefano, on addressing this serious issue? Action, please.

A new streetlight has been added on the northeast corner of the Court-Artizan intersection, which is great (don't know who's responsible for that). However, it's still pretty dark on the bridge itself and there needs to either be a light there or on the west side of the bridge.

This is probably the "short term" solution from the Mayor's office. We have a meeting tonight where they will report on both short and long term solutions and the time frames associated with each.

Thanks to the nearly 50 people who attended Last night's Wooster Sq Watch mtg. Our guests were Rob Smuts, Chief Administrative Officer for Mayor DeStefano, Seb Asadourian, City Engineer, Lt. Rebecca Sweeney and Officer Pete Krause from NHPD.

Rob Smuts updated the group on the short term and long term solutions for our lighting issue on Court Street.

Short Term Solution
The short term solution is a “light the night” light on an existing post on the corner of Artizan and Court. If you have walked on Court this week, you should have seen it. While it doesn’t throw a lot of light on the bridge, it does brighten up the area and the city has contracted for this light for the next year.

Long Term Solution
Because the Court Street Bridge is over the railroad track, lighting the bridge is particularly challenging. Seb Asadourian explained that there is a high voltage system under the bridge which complicates using electric lights to light the bridge.

Instead, they have proposed solar lighting. These are maintenance free and the city may be able to use stimulus money to pay for them.
They are already in the design stage and would be the first if this kind in the city. They have done a photometric analysis and determined that 3 light solar light fixtures will provide light all the way across the bridge. Questions came up asking about the effects of snow and low sun light. Seb explained that these lights have been used in both New Hampshire and Vermont and the angle of the battery pack helps avoid snow collection. Also, the solar battery lasts approximately 14.5 hours. The longest night in Connecticut is 13 hours. Even in low light, the solar battery pack starts recharging at the first sign of any kind of light.

They will go to bid the project in mid January and once they have a bid, it will probably take 6 weeks for the solar lights to arrive and be installed. Rob Smuts said he would keep us in the loop every step of the way, but by my calculation we are looking at early March. Keep your fingers crossed.

Sounds like good news. Eventually, we will need this on ALL three bridges across the railroad tracks. I think the effects will be immediate and have an incredibly positive impact on the area. It will be amazing if the city follows through on providing a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere between Wooster/residential area and the downtown area... 1. crosswalks, 2. lighting, 3. trees/plantings ...

this might be farther off track than just the safety issue, but wouldn't it be a really fun art installation if we wrestled up a few projectors and lit up the bridges with images like these? :) (this one is from vienna)

i love this idea! perhaps we can apply for a neighborhood small grant through the Foundation.

Thank you for the report, Wooster Square Watch!

At our most recent block watch meeting Rob Smuts updated the group that our solar lighting would most likely be installed by late April or early May. Things are progressing toward lighting the bridge, but the issue remains open until there are lights on the bridge.

PMC, the owner of the Smoothie building, is planning to install lights in the parking lot that they own--on the south side of Court Street, just before Olive. They say the electricians will be working on it within a week.

WSW,
Did Rob say the new lights would use unified photometry, like the standard on new Yale projects? Lighting is great, but it would be nice if new lighting were attractive, too.

I walk my dog here daily, but feel very unsafe at night. A light would help so much.

According to WoosterSqWatch, there has been some great progress resolving the muggings that occurred in this area last year:

From issue 11211: "woostersqwatch wrote about 1 hour ago
We had a terrific response from the NHPD. We have installed a camera and lights are coming on the Court Street Bridge. Also, the law office and the Smoothie Building got their parking lot lights on which has helped tremendously. We have not had an incident since Christmas Eve."

However, I think it is a good idea to leave this issue open until the bridge has much better lighting, including pedestrian-level fixtures that create an attractive gateway into the historic district.

It is definitely improving, but there's an opportunity to make this bridge into something amazing that really contributes to property values, encourages pedestrian activity after dark and builds a local sense of community.

I totally agree. It's why I haven't closed the issue and will not until I see lights on the bridge. Thanks for staying on this everyone!

Thanks for adding the "community action" to help address this on the top of the page! Look forward to the event this Saturday morning.

Here's a direct link to the event where folks can RSVP for the action item:

http://www.seeclickfix.com/action_items/15

Any movement on this? Sure, it's dark later right now, but I feel like if we quit harping on this issue, it'll be fall again with no lighting.

The first ever solar lights in New Haven to be installed on the Court Street Bridge have been ordered. They are to be installed this month, God willing. Keep harping, yes, until we see light.

So where are the lights? What's the holdup? Who's in charge of this? Phone number(s), email addresses, please? Let's get this done.

I agree with Steve. Where are the lights?????? May has come and gone. It is time for all of us to once again follow-up with the Mayor's office.

let's be realistic - JUNE has come and gone!

Agreed. I will call the Mayor's Office if I don't see the new lights here by the end of June.

We have been steadily pestering the Mayor's office and the latest we heard was the lights will be here mid-July. The report we received on June 15th was that the lower section of the poles were delivered mid-June and that the upper sections would be delivered July 1st, then they will have to be installed. Please, do call the Mayor's office. I continue to follow up and will continue until I see lights, but every voice helps!

I agree that it's very important to have lighting on the court street bridge. So many people won't walk/ bike there at night due to fear of walking in an unsafe area.

I believe, thanks to the City of New Haven and the Wooster Square Blockwatch, that we can officially close this issue!

Saw the light poles put up this week - are they turned on?

ITS FIXED!!! http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/08/24/news/new_haven/aa1_new_haven_bridgelights082410.txt