New Haven Independent

Posted by: charlie | January 9, 2008 3:34 PM

"and the fate of a proposed pedestrian bridge as part of the Ferry Street bridge project (it's been put on hold because Miller said the $2 million estimate was way to expensive)."

How come the city cares about cars more than pedestrians? The projects should have been tied together, so you couldn't have one without the other. Also, any reconstructed bridges should include better bicycle lanes and sidewalks. If the city wants to have a chance of competing for 21st century jobs, it needs to make itself more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. People decide where to live and create new jobs primarily based on quality of life issues like this.

Posted by: Fedupwithliberals | January 9, 2008 6:01 PM

Wasn't this bridge rebuilt just 8 yrs ago?

Posted by: Chris | January 9, 2008 6:09 PM

The community has been engaged by the city in the redesign of Q Ave for a decade. The project has been delayed do to the protracted Ferry street bridge. Every assurance from the Mayor on down has been "construction starting upon completion of the Ferry St Bridge". New Haven regularly receives the bulk of the COG funds, only another New Haven priority can push this off. Have the right of way acquisitions started (the first step in the process) which were to begin last spring?

On another note- the pedestrian access for the Ferry street bridge was a top priority for the community at every meeting and we were assured that it would be there- now neither the link under the bridge or Q park to the bridge are in. But the City of New Haven medallion is up.

The community has been more than reasonable, The "City" needs to follow through on commitments- we follow through on paying our taxes and choosing to invest in this City.

Posted by: Hartford Johnson | January 10, 2008 10:27 AM

Repair is a waste of money. A new bridge was built just down the street! The number of people inconvenienced is quite minimal -- surely not enough to justify the expense of $11 million!

Stop spending! Return that money to the taxpayers!

Posted by: charlie | January 10, 2008 12:07 PM

I agree Chris. This is just an outrage.

Posted by: Fairhaven Dave | January 10, 2008 3:52 PM

I hope the parties drafting these changes make this street re-design as low impact as possible. Moving vehicles any closer to homes or forcing us to sacrifice portions of our yards for "traffic calming" would be extremely irritating considering we already have speed limits and other laws that should keep drivers "calm". (Under enforced as they are...)

Historic lighting? Sexy... I hope this means those cast iron rigs that focus light DOWN onto the street instead of SIDEWAYS into our windows.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | January 10, 2008 8:31 PM

"Moving vehicles any closer to homes or forcing us to sacrifice portions of our yards for "traffic calming" would be extremely irritating..."

Well, traffic calming design doesn't typically call for widening the streets, taking yards, and moving parking closer to homes. I am not an expert, but I would guess it does the opposite. Look at Fair Haven, Alderwoman Erin Stugis-Pascale's street across from her house. They had the street narrowed, which increased their yards, and also removed the parking on the side of her house. So, you should probably expect your yards to gain some size and see the street narrowed a bit like hers.

Anyway, living about a block from the Grand Ave Bridge, I cannot wait for the Ferry St Bridge to open and for the Grand Ave Bridge to close. Findlay is absolutely right when she said, "Traffic has increased, quality of life has decreased...", the quality of life degradation due to traffic is almost as absurd as the homicide rate going up 200% in 2007 (in Fair Haven).

Posted by: Dean Moriarity | January 10, 2008 11:17 PM

Fairhavener, I'm intrigued about your view of the Grand Ave. bridge closing. I've been looking at it differently, thinking it would only cause the same problems here on Quinnipiac. I'm thinking people north of Quinnipiac who regularly use the Grand would now be travelling down our fair boulevard to get to the Ferry. But I'm not sure on this. Have any flow plans been studied for when this happens? I may be looking at this flawed. Which is why I'd like to hear your views. I'm really looking for something to make me look forward to this happening, instead of dreading it.

Posted by: DEZ | January 11, 2008 11:39 AM

There are many projects going on in Fair Haven that must be connected. The Ferry Street bridge is a puzzle piece which includes the Q Ave re-do, the Grand Avenue bridge, Q River Park, Dover Beach park, the River Street project, the Q Terrace Hope VI project, ECCO housing at Front and Lombard, not to mention other nodes including Lewis Street park and Chatham Square. For the city to fall short on any one of these projects creates gaps in the puzzle. With no plan to rectify the gap, tax paying citizens are left with the inconsistencies. I am ever amazed that the city does not realize the importance of a decisive plan to link these projects flawlessly. I'm not asking for perfection, just a few yards of concrete sidewalks, maybe a curb. The Fair Haven community was slapped with a traffic nightmare overnight when the Ferry Street bridge was closed, and has lived with it for many years. Can the city in its infinite wisdom and ability do its job to see that these separate projects, or puzzle pieces are rightly joined to add to a vibrant, diverse neighborhood? The Ferry Street bridge, once operational, will increase traffic to the collector roads of Ferry St, Chapel St, and Grand Ave. These roads are wide enough with sufficient, safe on-street parking to handle the load. With the bridge closed, traffic "island side" has diminished on these larger colletors and has all been forced one way to Q Avenue and East Grand. There is at least one study that was done for traffic on the "island side" of Fair Haven. It was completed in 2001 I believe. I've seen it, any extra copies floating around?

Posted by: -fairhavener- | January 12, 2008 1:12 AM

Dean Moriarity - I am not sure if any "flow plans" have been studied. But, from what I have observed over the past two years is that the majority of traffic flows as follows:

It seems a lot of traffic crossing the bridge (into Fair Haven Heights) turns right after crossing the bridge. So much so that many times (MANY) you see rude drivers driving on the wrong side of the bridge (in the left oncoming lane) seeming to want to go into the left hand turn lane at the light only to instead cut people off and turn right (or less frequently go straight). This happens almost at all "rush hour" times, morning and evening.

The only time I ever see a real back-up coming down Quinnipiac (North heading South) to turn right on the Grand Bridge is around 5pm or so. Usually, I see traffic built up the other way to turn left on the bridge. But, I am not usually around the bridge at this time, only once and awhile.

Overall, it seems to me that most traffic crossing the Grand Ave Bridge is heading south or coming from the south. Since the Ferry Bridge is south of the Grand Bridge, it is my opinion that traffic on Quinnipiac between Grand and Foxon will decrease significantly and an increase in the quality of life due to a huge decrease in traffic will follow if the Grand Bridge closed.

I think all of the people going south (across the river) will hit the Ferry Bridge and all of the people going north will take Middletown. That is why I think Grand to Foxon will be quiet. It is also why I think less people will cut down side streets north of Grand (where I live) because these streets serve no purpose (or very little) to get to the Ferry Bridge. (My street dumps traffic out on Grand right before the Grand Bridge.)

I cross the Grand Bridge every weekday morning and turn left on Quinnipiac Ave before I go to work. I am also a (walking) patron of Grand Vin. So, I am not entirely looking forward to a closing of the Grand Bridge, however, I do believe in the medium to long range it will help to shape traffic a little better and cut down on the quality of life issues degraded due to it. I am willing to drive a bit more in the morning and have to drive to Grand Vin to see the traffic cut down due to a Bridge closing. I am so tired of cars racing down my street to cross that bridge. I wish it was pedestrian only.

My best guess is, if you live North Quinnipiac, between Grand and Foxon, things are going to get a whole lot quieter and pleasant regarding traffic if the Grand Bridge closes. If you live South Quinnipiac, past the Grand Bridge, it probably will not be that great, but it probably isn't already.

This is my best guess, if you have any input I'd love to read it.

Posted by: Fair Haven H | January 13, 2008 2:29 PM

Regardless of what bridge is open or closed, the traffic in Fair Haven will remain a disaster until ALL of these project are complete. I think some in the City are working (slowly) at making this happen, but after 5?6+? years of suffering (and no, I am not being melodramatic) I, and many many others, think it is OUR TIME and we are tired of being pushed over and down. For instance, at this meeting Mr. Miller stated that the funds are in place for the Q. Ave re-do, but not locked in. This translates potentially into this project being sidelined AGAIN because the City feels something else is more important/pressing/or whatever word of choice the City comes up with for another delay. I don't think this neighborhood would stand for that AGAIN.

The Grand Ave Bridge (ONLY 20 years old...young in bridge terms) is only in "fair" condition and needing serious repairs because of the Ferry Street Bridge closure, never mind the fact that design talks concernign the Q. Ave re-do began far in advance of the Ferry St. Bridge closure. ALL of these items are linked as DEZ stated and HAVE to be remedied. this is not a wish list, this is for survival, plain and simple. The City will tell you that Fair Haven has had many of the funds directed our way, but when we do have a project started by the City that often means that they finally HAD to act because whatever road, bridge, etc. was in such dire straights that repairs, etc had to be made....

We are such a vibrant community and goldmine for the City yet, they continually treats us as second class citizens. I cannot figure out why.

Posted by: JackNH | January 13, 2008 8:45 PM

I live on Front St north of Grand; it will be a pain in the neck if/when the Grand Ave bridge closes for repairs, but it DOES need repairs-- every time I see it swing open for boats, I wonder if it will get stuck. Just imagine traffic problems then!

I'm a walking patron of Grand Vin too, and I wonder about his business if the bridge is closed. I'd hate to see him go out of business, he's a real ray of a sunshine in a neighborhood with more downs than ups.

Posted by: Dean Moriarity | January 15, 2008 12:02 AM

Fairhavener, thank you for a very concise view. You make very salient points, and your analysis have relieved my anxiety a bit. Yes, I'm between Grand and Foxon. And I've had a hard time visualizing the outcome of this new project. But, after reading your post, I am feeling a bit more optimistic.

I've had that same experience, with right-turners using the left lane of the bridge to bypass traffic. Complete arrogance, and always makes me wonder if traffic laws are enforced at all in this neighborhood. In forty-plus years of driving, I've never felt so nervous about it as I now do in my own neighborhood. And that's sad. It's a race-track, bumper car mentality here, and only seems to be getting worse. The only solution is stepped-up enforcement, but I don't believe we're going to see that happen. It's terrible as it is, and it makes you change your habits. This month I came within about three inches of being t-boned by a pickup truck at Clifton/Quinnipiac. Now I'm inclined to alter my driving patterns, even going out of my way, to avoid that point. And that's just ridiculous. But...there's NO enforcement of traffic laws. I've taken to keeping a mental tally of CC's (Close Calls) every day when I drive out. Without failure, on a short trip (Quinnipiac, then up RT. 80, or over the bridge, down Front, Clinton, etc) there are usually at least five CCs. And not due to my actions, but rather outrageous behavior by other drivers. And the number of times someone is 10 inches off my rear bumper is uncountable. Sadly to say, I pull to the side and let them speed around me. Who needs that stress?

Anyway, getting off my soapbox, the points you made were very logical, and went a long way to helping me see the picture better. Thank you Fairhavener!