Norwich council explores options for speed radars
A traffic speed radar on Rexford Street in the City of Norwich Museum District. The City of Norwich Common Council is working with the Traffic Commission to explore their options for additional radars to be installed in the city over the next two years. (Photo by Sarah Genter)
NORWICH — The City of Norwich Common Council has been looking into the city's options for speed radar signs to supplement the radar on Rexford Street and the city's mobile radar trailer.
City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver said he has been speaking with the city’s traffic commission to determine which streets are most in need. He said the commission identified the entry into Norwich on South Broad Street and Plymouth Street on Route 23 as the biggest concerns.
The radars look similar to road signs, but with digital screens that display the speed of oncoming traffic. The devices are meant to make motorists more aware of their driving speed and curb speeding.
"It’ll show your speed as you’re getting closer. So if you’re going above the speed limit, it starts to blink at you," Doliver explained.
The goal is to install two fixed speed radars over the next two years using Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funds.
"They would be permanent there, and we’re looking to use our CHIPS money from the state to do that. We verified that we were able to do that, and that way it wouldn’t be any local tax dollars," said Doliver. "We’re going to try to be a little conservative. I would only ask to do one speed radar one year, and then the next one the following year."
The city primarily uses CHIPS money to repave local streets. However, Doliver said as of next year, every street in the City of Norwich will have been repaved in the last ten years, freeing up CHIPS funding to be used on radars.
In addition to controlling speeds on the roadway, the addition of two speed radars would also free up some time and manpower for the City of Norwich Police Department.
"We’re trying to help alleviate some police work. They found that the speed radars are very effective," said Doliver. "It gives the police the ability to work on other things. It’s not that they wouldn't be there or writing tickets, but it would free them up to do other things, possibly."
"I’m always trying to think outside the box. What can I do to help alleviate them from some of the normal things that they do? Which they obviously will continue to do that, but we have some major challenges in our community and I’m trying to help them to be able to work on other things," he added. "So anything we can think of to try to do that, and this is just one really small piece of that. But hopefully it would help a little."
Doliver said the City of Norwich Traffic Commission is currently deciding which location has a higher need for a radar, which would be installed next year while the other location would get a radar the following year.
In the meantime, the council is exploring options for different models and price points. They'll be able to vote on which model to use, and then will have to wait for the traffic commission's recommendation on location.
"We’re actually looking at prices right now, so we would go back to the council for final approval. But at this point, they seem to be amenable to doing something. We’re just waiting for the traffic commission to come up with a location," said Doliver. "We like to go through our committees with everything. They’re part of our community and they help us do a lot of the work."
The commission doesn't meet in July or August, so a decision on where to install the first radar isn't expected until later this year. But, as the device won't be installed until next year, Doliver said there is plenty of time to research options and come up with a plan.
"What we’d like to do is have an idea, like a picture of what we were going to do so we can take it to the traffic commission, and then we can also take it to the joint committee and show them what we’re doing so they can see what we're going to do and a price," he explained. "If everyone’s amenable to moving forward, we’ll probably budget that in our CHIPS budget for next year."
"I probably will take it to council and if they agree to the price we’ll probably have to wait for the traffic commission for their final advisements," he continued. "It would be for next year anyway, so there’s not a huge hurry for this."
City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver said he has been speaking with the city’s traffic commission to determine which streets are most in need. He said the commission identified the entry into Norwich on South Broad Street and Plymouth Street on Route 23 as the biggest concerns.
The radars look similar to road signs, but with digital screens that display the speed of oncoming traffic. The devices are meant to make motorists more aware of their driving speed and curb speeding.
"It’ll show your speed as you’re getting closer. So if you’re going above the speed limit, it starts to blink at you," Doliver explained.
The goal is to install two fixed speed radars over the next two years using Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funds.
"They would be permanent there, and we’re looking to use our CHIPS money from the state to do that. We verified that we were able to do that, and that way it wouldn’t be any local tax dollars," said Doliver. "We’re going to try to be a little conservative. I would only ask to do one speed radar one year, and then the next one the following year."
The city primarily uses CHIPS money to repave local streets. However, Doliver said as of next year, every street in the City of Norwich will have been repaved in the last ten years, freeing up CHIPS funding to be used on radars.
In addition to controlling speeds on the roadway, the addition of two speed radars would also free up some time and manpower for the City of Norwich Police Department.
"We’re trying to help alleviate some police work. They found that the speed radars are very effective," said Doliver. "It gives the police the ability to work on other things. It’s not that they wouldn't be there or writing tickets, but it would free them up to do other things, possibly."
"I’m always trying to think outside the box. What can I do to help alleviate them from some of the normal things that they do? Which they obviously will continue to do that, but we have some major challenges in our community and I’m trying to help them to be able to work on other things," he added. "So anything we can think of to try to do that, and this is just one really small piece of that. But hopefully it would help a little."
Doliver said the City of Norwich Traffic Commission is currently deciding which location has a higher need for a radar, which would be installed next year while the other location would get a radar the following year.
In the meantime, the council is exploring options for different models and price points. They'll be able to vote on which model to use, and then will have to wait for the traffic commission's recommendation on location.
"We’re actually looking at prices right now, so we would go back to the council for final approval. But at this point, they seem to be amenable to doing something. We’re just waiting for the traffic commission to come up with a location," said Doliver. "We like to go through our committees with everything. They’re part of our community and they help us do a lot of the work."
The commission doesn't meet in July or August, so a decision on where to install the first radar isn't expected until later this year. But, as the device won't be installed until next year, Doliver said there is plenty of time to research options and come up with a plan.
"What we’d like to do is have an idea, like a picture of what we were going to do so we can take it to the traffic commission, and then we can also take it to the joint committee and show them what we’re doing so they can see what we're going to do and a price," he explained. "If everyone’s amenable to moving forward, we’ll probably budget that in our CHIPS budget for next year."
"I probably will take it to council and if they agree to the price we’ll probably have to wait for the traffic commission for their final advisements," he continued. "It would be for next year anyway, so there’s not a huge hurry for this."
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