From: NewHavenSafeStreets <newhavensafestreets@...>
Date: Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Subject: [New Haven Safe Streets Coalition discussion] New Haven Safe
Streets Newsletter 070909
To: new-haven-safe-streets-coalition-discussion@...


­Posted below is the monthly newsletter of the New Haven Safe Streets
Coalition. The update is also posted online, along with other relevant
files, at
http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/new-haven-safe-streets-coalition/safe-streets-update-070909.
Help advocate for safer streets in New Haven: please join the group online
to receive future newsletters, roughly once every 4-8 weeks.­  ­

--

* ***LOCAL ACTIVITY****

* + July 19: York and Cedar Street Community "Intersection Repair!" Project*

Come paint the intersection!! On Sunday, July 19th from 10 am - 2 pm we'll
be turning the intersection at Cedar and York Streets in New Haven into a
beautiful community space. We'll be painting an elm leaf design right in the
middle of the intersection. There will be food & music and no artistic
talent is required! Rain date: Sunday, July 26 (10 am - 2pm). Questions?
Contact paintelmcity (at) gmail.com.­

* + July 9: Future of Whitney Avenue: Neighborhood-Wide Meeting*

Thursday, July 9, 7pm, Wilbur Cross High School Cafeteria, 181 Mitchell
Drive, New Haven

>From Justin Elicker of Friends of East Rock Park: "Whitney Avenue is
thankfully being paved as many of you have noticed. That said, there has
been great concern among residents that virtually no additional pedestrian,
bicycle or traffic-calming infrastructure has been included in the plan. As
such, Roland Lemar, David Streever and I are hosting a meeting open to all
concerned residents. The meeting will focus on creating a vision for the
future of a Whitney Avenue that is safe and community-friendly. I urge you
to attend this meeting to highlight the level of concern by residents. If
you are unable to make it but wish to be heard, please respond [directly to
Justin, or to newhavensafestreets at gmail . com and we will forward your
email to him] and I will make sure to voice your concerns at the meeting." ­

For coverage and links to background articles on the repaving of Whitney
Avenue, please see
http://www.newhavensafestreets.org/2009/06/whitney-avenue-paving-everything-youd.html
.

* + NHPD Enforcement Activity Continues to Increase, New Reporting System In
Development­*

The NHPD issued nearly 2,200 M/V enforcement moving violations in May 2009,
compared to roughly 1,000 in May 2007 and 1,200 in May 2008. NHPD Chief
Lewis has said that he intends to continue this throughout the year, with a
goal of "well over" 20,000 tickets this year (about double the 2007 figure).
 Based in part on the advocacy of the New Haven Safe Streets Coalition, the
city is also currently working on a much more comprehensive system for
evaluating crime, crash and enforcement activity by neighborhood -- which
will help our communities work with the city to target traffic safety issues
more specifically.

* + City Reports Increase in "Smart Driver" Pledges and In-Street Crosswalk
Signs*

The City of New Haven has collected over 1,100 "smart driver" pledges as
part of its ongoing program to educate road users.  Also, over 30 "yield to
pedestrians in crosswalk" signs are currently deployed at various crosswalks
in the city (compared to 0 signs in July 2008), and more are on the way.
 These signs function as a traffic calming device and have been proven to be
highly effective.  Tens of thousands of these signs are currently being used
in other states and cities around the Northeast; please contact the City if
you wish to request them in your area.

* + Local Candidates Sign Safe Streets Petition*

Additional candidates for local office have joined over 2,000 individuals
and all 12 New Haven Community Management Teams in signing the New Haven
Petition for Safe Streets. Please see
http://www.newhavensafestreets.org/2008/06/updated-list-of-petition-sponsors-and.htmlfor
an up-to-date list, and encourage your local candidates to lend their
support.

--

* ***STATE ACTIVITY****

* ­+ It's the Law: SB735, An Act Improving Bicycle and Pedestrian Access*

The bill has adopted a statewide "complete streets policy," created a
bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, and required that a minimum of 1%
of state and municipal transportation funding is devoted to programs that
improve bicycle and pedestrian access (e.g., bikeways and sidewalks with
curb cuts or ramps). An 11-member Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Board will report to the governor, transportation commissioner, and
the legislature’s Transportation Committee on actions, policies, and
procedures that improve the bicycling and walking environment in
Connecticut. This legislation is a first step towards encouraging
non-motorized transportation access for users of all ages and abilities,
which promotes healthful lifestyles, smart growth, and reduced road
congestion.

This bill made it through the Senate by a 31-4 margin, and the House,
123-20, and was signed by Governor Rell in July 2009, taking effect
immediate­ly.  The Governor's press release on the bill is available at ­­
http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A675&QD2950.  Congratulations to
the CT Livable Streets Campaign and everyone else who lobbied in support of
the bill!­

Additional policy-level changes, including some suggested in coverage by the
Tri-State Transportation Campaign at
http://blog.tstc.org/2009/07/07/gov-rell-signs-complete-streets-bill-into-law/
are still needed to ensure the success of this effort.   Although
SB735
gives advocates powerful new tools for creating "complete streets," local
organizing efforts in cities and towns across the state will continue to
play a crucial role.

* ­+ ­SB149, An Act Concerning the Installation of Red Light Cameras*

Despite a large amount of positive testimony from New Haven citizens, local
and state elected representatives, city public officials and law enforcement
officers, the bill to create a pilot program within New haven did not
advance to a vote during this year's busy legislative session.  Please
contact us if you are interested in working on the issue prior to next
year's legislative session.

--

* ***NATIONAL ACTIVITY****

The Transportation for America (T4A) Coalition (see
http://t4america.org/who-we-are/ for a list of coalition partners) continues
to lobby for change in Washington, DC.  New Haven Mayor DeStefano was the
first elected official in Connecticut to sign on as a partner in the group's
platform for reform, which proposes a 21st century transportation network
including strong accountability measures for reducing traffic injuries and
fatalities.

Please contact us, any of the T4A coalition partners, or T4A directly if you
wish to become involved in ongoing lobbying efforts.

--

* ***CONTACTS AND PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS****

For previous monthly updates, visit
http://www.livablestreets.com/projects/new-haven-safe-streets-coalition/project-home

 * New Haven Safe Streets Coalition: newhavensafestreets (at) gmail.com, 203
500 7059, http://www.newhavensafestreets.org/

* CT Livable Streets Campaign: http://www.ctlivablestreets.org/

* City of New Haven Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department: 946 8078

* City of New Haven Traffic Safety Hotline: trafficsafety (at)
newhavenct.net, 946 6956

* New Haven Board of Aldermen:
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/aldermen/index.asp (look up your alderperson
here)

* SeeClickFix (please report nonemergency issues such as potholes and
dangerous public space conditions here): http://www.seeclickfix.com/