Description
Something must be done to slow traffic on Olive Street. Unhampered by any stop signs or lights, cars zip down the street, often ignoring posted pedestrian crosswalks. Dolores Dogolo was struck and killed in October trying to cross the street; it’s now February, and nothing has been done to slow traffic or to secure additional, well-marked crosswalks. Compounding the problem now is the total lack of snow removal from sidewalk curbs; people still need to cross the street, regardless of weather. In order to do that now, we have to climb over snow or take a dangerous, circuitous path. We need new stop signs at the intersection of Court and Olive Streets.
At the neighborhood meeting last night, many of us discussed how we could slow traffic and ensure the safety of our pedestrians. A worker from the city claimed that a raised crosswalk would be too expensive; the crosswalk at Whitney and Audubon, for instance, cost $300,000. So: two new stop signs should be installed, replacing the “YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS” signs that are currently there and that are currently ignored. The crosswalk-sign that stays in the middle of the crosswalk until it is hit and destroyed by a car should be installed properly.
In addition, there should be crosswalks painted on all sides of the intersection; as is, only the northern crossing is painted. The sidewalks need to be prepared with proper ramps for wheelchairs and baby strollers.
This is not a cost-prohibitive project, but it is a mandatory one that must be done as soon as possible. Unfortunately for our community and for the Dogolo family, it is not proactive enough; stop signs and crosswalks should have been installed and painted long before October.
Thanks.
Your neighbor,
Alex
31 Comments
Janna (Registered User)
Anstress Farwell (Registered User)
Myron M. Gaines (Registered User)
Myron M. Gaines (Registered User)
My comment above was complete satire. I did not realize I couldn't delete it. This is a superb idea, and anything that would prevent further loss of life is a task worth undertaking.
Not actually your neighbor,
Myron M. Gaines
Jon (Registered User)
LocalMusician (Registered User)
Ben (Registered User)
LocalMusician (Registered User)
I often use the crosswalk at Court/Olive and who drive down Olive. As a driver, it's difficult to stop at the crosswalk because sight-lines are short (you can't see people at the intersection from very far away), and the speed of traffic through that stretch is quite high most times of day.
By the time a driver sees a pedestrian waiting to cross, they're going too fast to safely stop before the crosswalk. It's an issue of speed control AND clear visibility of the sidewalks/crosswalk from the street. I hate to suggest tree removal, but that's a major contributing factor. As is visibility around cars parked on Olive St.
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
Fixing this by installing new stop signs will slow down traffic, making cars, bikes, and pedestrians safer in our neighborhood.
A crosswalk doesn't discriminate based on socio-economics, Jon. This will benefit the entire neighborhood.
richtherrn (Registered User)
abgoode (Registered User)
Also there is going to be a $125,000 transit study looking at our neighborhood -- the 'powers that be' are currently recruiting folks for a neighborhood advisory council to help guide the study. Serving on this council would be a good opportunity for anyone interested in traffic safety issues such as improving this intersection.
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
Jon-
Dolores Dogolo was not jaywalking. She crossed the intersection of Olive and Green Streets responsibly and regularly for nearly 20 years. Emphasis on "intersection" meaning across/at the corner of Green Street. Pedestrian Crossing at this location is not prohibited, it's legal.
She did not cross from the middle of the block on Olive, between Court and Green Street. That, would be jaywalking Jon. The accident is still under investigation by the NHPD.
Once they complete their report the DA decides wether to charge the driver with vehicular manslaughter.
Witnesses are convinced the driver was both speeding and distracted based upon the extensive damage to the drivers vehicle, injuries to the victim Dolores Dogolo and the fact that there were no skid marks evident. Also the drivers visibility was not hampered by anything on the street.
We can only wonder if Dolores Dogolo's death could have been prevented had the Slow Down for Pedestrians planter street sign not been removed from the Court/Olive Street intersection.
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
Frank, as you've pointed out, that planter sign disappears regularly. That's just another reason why we need to do more to ensure that the crosswalk is safe for pedestrians!
As several have pointed out, some drivers are using Olive Street as a way to bypass State Street and several other "busier" streets on their way to 95. They're tired and they're eager to get home -- and some speed in their rush homeward.
It would be nice to hear from the city on this!
Thanks again,
Alex
Not Nemerson (Guest)
Guy in the Neighborhood (Guest)
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
These comments have been so helpful -- and each paints a picture of a crosswalk that is currently neither respected nor seen by drivers. As a result, cars speed dangerously down the street and pedestrians feel unsafe. Putting stop signs at this intersection will make it safer for all parties involved.
The city needs to respond in some fashion to this thread -- and soon. We've been talking about this since October, yet nothing has been done.
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
Why should they when the New Haven Police Department concluded Dolores Dogolo
the pedestrian killed, is at fault for her own death!!!.
Based upon their press release, driver Putricia Cofransesco, has a halo, sprouting wings and no doubt on her way to being anointed for Sainthood!
However do not underestimate the intelligence and tenacity of her four children. Believe me
they will not rest until the truth of their mother's death is revealed to all.
abgoode (Registered User)
Jon (Registered User)
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
Jon -
Even the good Dr. Lee's expertise was sometimes faulty. Quite famously so during the OJ Simpson Murder trial, when he erroneously determined that a second shoe print (different from OJ's Bruno Magli's) was left on the walkway at Nicole Brown's home.
This conclusion was disputed by FBI special agent William Bodziak. He explained the so called other print was actually created by mason trowel's rubbing on wet cement.
So Jon have you driven at 25 mph? If not I invite you to do so. It's really slow. It's so slow you would have time to break and avoid killing a pedestrian. Unless you failed to keep your eyes on the road!
Jon (Registered User)
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
25 miles per hour speed limit is like driving in slow motion. How could a driver fail to see a pedestrian, who according to police, was in the middle of the street, one foot over the double line?
Unless you're afflicted with a temporary medical condition such as blindness, or seizure etc.or you were speeding, distracted or both.
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
It will be interesting to see the results of an additional investigation. I don't want the details of that, though, to delay an intersection that badly needs attention.
Again: the City needs to respond to this -- at the very least acknowledge that they have read it.
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
Good Evening Alex-
The Downtown Wooster Square Management Team Meeting , Tuesday the 17 th @6:00pm. City Hall 2nd floor meeting rooms. May be an appropriate forum to broach the subject. Also the NHPD will be discussing the vehicular fatality that occurred October 30th.
Should be a rousing discussion and from what I have heard, the media will be present and hopefully the family of the victim, Dolores Dogolo, and their attorney. They really need to issue a statement of their own.
It's my understanding that the State police can conduct a second investigation. Maybe the State police will conclude differently. They may just possess the wisdom to conclude that the driver, traveling at a sightseeing speed of 25 mph, must have been either going much faster and or distracted.
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
LocalMusician (Registered User)
It looks like the city came through and cut all low hanging branches on Olive all the way from Chapel to Grand. The visibility, especially at the Court Street crosswalk, is GREATLY improved.
Bravo to the city for taking this small step for a big benefit! Hopefully more to come.
Alex Werrell (Registered User)
Frank Colombo (Registered User)
Yes Alex it is both shocking and unfortunately the norm. Failure to comunicate IS the Hallmark of this administration.
Regarding the pedestrian fatality- Now that the DTWSMT has obtained a copy of the police report, intelligence and common sense will challenge the official preposterous conclusion to fault victim Dolores Dogolo for "reckless use of a highway by a pedestrian".
The only reckless actor in this fatal scenario is the driver.
Heidi Downey (Guest)
Closed Manager of Operations, Process Improvement - Transportation, Traffic, & Parking (Verified Official)