Agreed, this stretch of Fountain Street is extremely dangerous to cross. In addition to Sheridan and Chapel Haven students, there is also a public bus stop on either side, plus many folks walking to synagogue and just around the neighborhood in general. Something needs to be done before there is a tragedy.

The key issue to deal with here is traffic speed. A pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalk (see photo and this link http://streetswiki.wikispaces.com/Flashing+Crosswalks) would make a huge difference here, but the speed of traffic along this entire stretch also needs to be dealt with. Otherwise, we'll still have people barreling down Fountain at 50mph, crosswalk lights or not!

Some options for slowing speeds between Forest Road and Westville Village include a wider, perhaps planted, median that provide "pedestrian refuge" halfway across, bike lanes (which narrow the roadway), bump-outs/chokers at all of the crosswalks, more street trees, 10' striped travel lanes, and/or textured/differently colored crosswalks.

The city's new Complete Streets Manual http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/TrafficParking/pdfs/CS-Manual-04-05-10.pdf offers more information on these options and a Project Request Form; see Appendix A on page 75. If you are interested in submitting one for this project, please contact me at 203-285-8539. I know that Chapel Haven and other nearby institutions would be supportive as well.

Another option is to work with Mauro-Sheridan School to develop a Safe Routes to School program, which supports planning, education and infrastructure projects to make it safer and easier for kids to walk or ride bikes to school: http://www.ctsaferoutes.ct.gov/infrastructure.html. Please take a look at what other schools in CT have gotten done. I believe the next round of funding is for 2011 projects and I can find out more if you're interested.

Also agreed that immediate enforcement of speed and the yield to pedestrians law would help matters. I will bring this up with the NHPD district manager, Lt. Marty Tchakarides, but please call him as well at the Valley Street Substation at 946-7560 and request the same.

The pedestrian crossing neon yellow sign on the center divider is knocked down and unable to be seen by drivers or pedestrians. While crossing at dismissal time today with the crossing guard a car coming down Fountain Street (license plate 316.NH) attempted to pass on the right of the car that had stopped. It then proceeded right onto Barnett Street after letting us cross. My concern once again is visibility and safety! Perhaps a blinking " slow school zone" sign on both sides of the street would be a temporary fix...thanks for the great suggestion Chris

My biggest petpeeve is how most people treat the area of Fountain coming down the hill as a two lane at this area when by law, its a single lane. I really wish the city would address all of these issues at this nightmare-spot!

Help please!!! pedestrian crossing sign knocked down and crosswalk light with pushbutton needed cover many of the same issues. how do you get an issue acknowledged by the traffic department in New Haven and some help with this problem?

You can call TT&P @ 203.946.8078 or use the City's Web 311 tool: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Ask/index.asp
I find the 1-2 combo of calling and Web 311 works well to get stuff done.

Thanks!

Fountain is a State route and ct dot cooperation will be necessary.
And this will take time.
I'll work with alderman Lehtonen on this.
I have a call in to state dot regarding the knocked down signs
They did respond recently to my request to paint a crosswalk across fountain at Alden.

Can a traffic study be done at this intersection, because it seems like the Barnett/ Fountain intersection is more of a problem than Fountain/ Emerson? Visibility is an issue pulling out onto Fountain from Barnett as well as cars trying to make two lanes out of what appears to be one lane going southbound. The neon yellow pedestrian crossing sign on the median has been fixed(thanks)...now we need to get the crossing guard a nice tall stop sign to carry until that pushbutton crosswalk arrives.

Stace, Debby, E, Greg and anyone else interested in this issue, please contact me directly at chris.heitmann@westvillect.org or at 203-745-3173 (home) or 203-285-8539 (work). I live around the corner on Barnett Street and would be interested in working with you on improving this intersection/area. I think that a Complete Streets Request and/or a Safe Routes to Schools proposal should be put together to help make any of the necessary changes happen. Both processes could help bring attention and funding to the issue. Fountain as a whole needs to be looked at and re-configured to make traffic go slower (yet steadier), but this is arguably the worst spot from a safety standpoint.

Try crossing here with the recent snow? To wait for a bus you have to stand in the street. The driveways are shoveled, but they are not at the corner. The sidewalks are icy and the road on Barnett is reduced to one lane.The city plowed the school corner while the crossing guard was attempting to cross children...BAD PLANNING! People are walking in the road on Fountain to reach a place to cross because there is no access to the crosswalks on the southbound side of Fountain Street. A pushbutton light would only stop traffic long enough to provide a safe crossing when needed and allow for the regular flow of traffic at all other times!

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

Thank you for all the posts. The engineering staff with TT&P will look into possible solutions.

We are closing this issue as we believe it has been addressed. If it remains a problem, please create a new SCF request outlining the current details of the persisting issue. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.