NORWICH – The Common Council is taking action based on a recommendation from the city’s traffic commission to make things a little safer on Elm Street.
In response to a recent speed and traffic survey conducted by the Norwich Police Department, Police Chief Joseph Angelino handed up a recommendation that the city turn three busy intersections at Elm Street and Conkey Avenue, Elm and Francis Avenue, and Elm and Eaton Avenue into four-way stops.
For a number of years, speeding motorists have been a major concern for residents and other drivers at the southern most part of Elm Street as it’s in close proximity to Perry Browne Elementary and heavy traffic poses a risk for pedestrians, especially for kids walking to and from school. Although the number of accidents near those intersections hasn’t been very high in recent years, the potential for a serious incident is there. That alone is enough to take extra safety precautions, said members of the Traffic Commission.
“We are trying to be proactive to prevent any serious fatality and injury,” said Traffic Commission Chairman Gary Brookins. “We want to use what we know to make recommendations to keep the community safe.”
Recommendations are backed by speed and traffic counts along Elm Street. Recently, the Police Department set up its speed trailer near all three intersections in question and what data showed, explained Angelino, was the number of vehicles traveling on Elm were higher than anticipated – more than 700 over a five-day period, and it’s believed that motorists are using Elm Street as a bypass to South Broad. Survey data also showed that some vehicles were speeding in excess of 50 mph.
“32-33 mph is pretty fast when there are kids in that area,” Angelino said. The proposal was met without opposition from the council, though Alderman John Deierlein inquired about a “downside” to a four-way stop.
“The only downside is that every car would have to stop,” Angelino said. “They’re definitely the safest way to slow down traffic.”
The proposal is welcome news to Elm Street residents like Bryan Loomis, and longtime resident Regina Power, who say that reckless drivers have been a concern for them for a number of years.
“It’s a good idea. And it’s very long overdue,” said Power, a 17-year Elm Street resident. “Every day, people drive by very fast,” she added, also pointing out that the Morrisville State College Norwich campus is nearby and young drivers in particular are of big concern for her and for her two grandchildren. “This is a good way of keeping us safer.”
“People definitely zip up and down the street. Older drivers do it, too,” said Kim Thompson, a six-year resident on Elm. “A lot of people already stop at some of those intersections because they think there’s a four-way stop already there, which is just as dangerous.”
It’s expected that the Common Council will adopt a resolution during the next council meeting on Dec. 18 to make all three intersections four-way stops.