More Concerns from Greenwich Residents about Speeding Cars and Pedestrian Safety at Intersections

At the last Board of Selectmen meeting, two agenda items were requested by residents concerning public safety at busy intersections in Greenwich.

The first was brought by Joel Field who said the four-way intersection at East Elm Street, Anderson Road and Lincoln Ave – adjacent to the Julian Curtiss School playground – was treacherous.

Mr. Field, who submitted letters of support from neighbors, said that on a daily basis, motorists roll through the stop signs.

“This can create confusion and dangerous conditions especially when multiple vehicles try to cross at the same time,” he said. “Often times this happens while pedestrians are waiting at the crosswalks.”

He said children from Julian Curtiss School and their families rely on the crosswalks at the corner of the school property where vehicles frequently approach at excessive speeds.

“Of the four directions, the two that have the highest speed are coming down East Elm from Milbank to the intersection and also coming up Lincoln Ave from Milbank to the intersection.”

 

Mr. Field said the risk was not hypothetical, and that on December 10 a high school student was struck by a vehicle when he was in the crosswalk on his way to school.

He asked if the Selectmen, Dept of Public Works and Greenwich Police would consider targeted preventive measures, possibly rumble strips approaching the stop signs or speed cameras similar to those at other schools.

 

The Selectmen recalled that at the Sept 26 Selectmen meeting, nearby neighbors on Mallard Drive had shared concerns about speeding vehicles on their street.

Bradley Wilpon and neighbors described Mallard as a cut-through between Greenwich High School and Julian Curtiss for cars, trucks and vans all traveling far in excess of the speed limit. Ariel Cohen said a few years earlier a group of teens were speeding on Mallard and crashed into a house. One of her suggestions was for a ground level sign in the middle of the road, warning of pedestrians, that would create a narrowing effect. She also asked for stop signs, speed cameras and “children at play” signs.

In response DPW installed road markings, signage and a flashing sign indicating drivers’ speed.

First Selectman Fred Camillo told Mr. Field, “It helps, but we’re not where we want to be because it’s a cut through.”

Camillo said he had suggested rumble strips in a back country neighborhood where residents had complained about speeding cars, but some neighbors objected to the noise.

Second, he said certain traffic counts would need to be met before speed cameras could be installed

Third, he said the mobile signs that flash each driver’s speed do work, but the town only has a few and they are moved around the community every few weeks.

“The minute you take them away, the speeding starts again. You always want a more permanent solution,” Camillo said. “We have to abide by state law, otherwise I’d be putting in more stop signs and lights, but that whole area has always been a concern.”

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin said drivers approaching the four-way intersection at East Elm/Lincoln, Anderson from the steep hill on Anderson Road can’t see all the cars already stopped at the intersection.

“It’s not a clear four-way,” she said. “You have people just rolling through the stop sign.”

Because no one from DPW was in attendance at the December Selectmen meeting, Mr. Camillo said he’d circle back with DPW and Greenwich Police.

There was also a discussion of pedestrian safety on Sound Beach Avenue by Old Greenwich train station requested by William Frankle who said he was hit by a car a few weeks earlier.

“Luckily, I have not sustained any injuries but if the car was going faster, if the car was bigger I would be in a different situation,” he said. “It’s drawn my attention to numerous safety issues around the area that can be improved.”

Mr. Frankle said currently there is are rapid flashing beacon pedestrians can activate to cross in the area of Station House apartments on the west side of Sound Beach Ave to the strip of retail businesses including Bosco’s Bar & Grill on the east (just north of the train bridge at Station Drive North.)

The RRFBs (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) flash yellow when activated, suggesting to cars to yield, but Mr. Frankle said vehicles should come to a full stop.

“I would like to propose changing those RRFBs to pedestrian hybrid beacons that flash red instead of yellow, which would be more clear especially during the day time and it also requires drivers to stop when it is activated.”

He said station Drive is dimly lit at night and does not have a pedestrian crossing sign. He recalled that in 2019 Regina Dowling was hit by a car when she was walking north on Sound Beach Avenue and had begun to cross Station Drive South. Ms Dowling died a week after being struck by the car.

“I walk there all the time – both the crossing where I was hit, but also here, and it’s very dark and unsafe. I’d like to see the stop sign removed – it’s buried in a bunch of greenery, and a pedestrian sign more visible to drivers that it is a crossing that people use, and also maybe a street lamp because it’s very dark at night and drivers can’t see pedestrians.”

Selectmen meeting agenda items initiated by residents with concerns are fairly frequent, but occasionally the Dept of Public Works propose improvements.

Such was the case a year ago, when the Dept of Public Works proposed a four-way stop, plus advanced warning signage in both directions along Valley Road at the intersection of River Rd Extension, Scofield Street and Valley in Cos Cob, where there is a history of crashes and pedestrians being struck by cars.

At the time, DPW engineer Michael Kiselak said there were 21 documented crashes at or immediately adjacent to the intersection since 2016, of which four involved pedestrians or bicycles, plus a pedestrian fatality in 1997.

The proposal also included removal of 3 parking spaces that customers rely on for the bicycle store and dog groomer. Also Jimmy Santaguida who has about 10 garbage trucks at his hauling business in the residential neighborhood, said he was concerned that a stop sign would result in a back up of cars that would block his driveway.

The “first read” was in mid August 2024, and by November the Selectmen were on their fourth read.

To date the four-way stop has not been created, but signage was installed in the crosswalk as well as flashing signs telling drivers how fast they are driving.