STAMFORD — Through June, Stamford averaged about 10 motor vehicle crashes per month involving pedestrians and bikers — about the same rate as last year, according to data from the city’s Vision Zero crash dashboard.
In an effort to minimize those crashes, the city now has $800,000 in state grant money to upgrade roadway and pedestrian infrastructure in the Belltown neighborhood. The funds are aimed at enhancing safety around Burdick Street, Belltown Road and Upland Road — the roadways closest to Barrett Park and retail on Belltown Road.
“I want to thank our Transportation, Traffic, and Parking Department for their work on this important project and the Connecticut Department of Transportation for their partnership and investment in these efforts,” Mayor Caroline Simmons said in a news release announcing the funding.
The three streets around the park have a “significant volume of pedestrian activity,” but they are disconnected from each other by current infrastructure, officials said.
“With this funding from CTDOT, we will improve access to Barrett Park, build new sidewalks, slow traffic and improve overall safety and mobility in the Belltown neighborhood,” said Frank Petise, who heads the city’s Transportation, Traffic and Parking Department.
The money will pay for raised and decorative crosswalks, new lighting, pedestrian islands in the road and filling sidewalk gaps. The city will also install bump-outs, which extend curbs to lengthen the distance between sidewalks and roadways, making streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, officials said.
The mayor has called pedestrian infrastructure one of her “top priorities.” Last year, during one of the deadliest years for pedestrians in recent memory, Simmons made Stamford the first Connecticut municipality to sign onto Vision Zero, a project that set a goal to eliminate deadly traffic crashes by 2032.
In the past year, officials have installed more than 20 pilot pedestrian safety projects across Stamford aimed at slowing down drivers as they make turns.
Through the pilot projects, the city has been testing out bump-outs with traffic delineators. Grant funding will help the city build permanent bump-outs with concrete, said Luke Buttenwieser, the city transportation planner leading the projects. He said officials set up projects at areas with a history of pedestrian crashes — near schools, parks, businesses and transit stops.
“This allows us to make immediate changes that were discussed with the community so residents don’t have to wait until construction starts,” Buttenwieser said in a text message. “It also helps us in the design process to know what works and what doesn’t.”
Buttenwieser said city officials hope to expand the program in 2024.
Also, this week, the city received $25,000 in grant money from Bloomberg Philanthropies to add painted curb extensions between the West Side and Downtown Stamford. The project aims to “narrow crossing distances and encourage safe driving speeds on neighborhood streets,” spokesperson Shannon Durazo said in an email.
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Simon Fraser Bridge in Prince George recently reopened following the completion of significant upgrades. These improvements were
The EU should create a new, separate entity to ensure more independence from incumbent interests in the crucial task of designing a future-proof hydrogen infras
Everett, Washington, USA Commissioned by the City of Everett, LMN Architects and Everett Parks & Recreation collaborate to revitalize the G
Arab Finance: The Egyptian real estate developer GV Developments has partnered with the construction firm BLY Holdings to implement key infrastructure projects
