New Haven Independent

Posted by: resident | June 19, 2008 3:49 PM

How about putting something like this in on Frontage Road between Park and College Streets before someone else is killed? Do we really have to wait a few more years for a redesign, and see another dozen people seriously injured along there?

Posted by: David Zakur | June 19, 2008 4:03 PM

The word 'bollard' is derived from the French 'boulard' and describes a post or a more or less cylindrical form that was used on the quays for the mooring lines of ships. Call these what they are; ugly, jersey barrier neck-downs. I can only hope that they are a temporary quick fix to a traffic calming nightmare. I would have been happier with total road closure. I hope the drag racing doesn't turn into games of 'chicken'!

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 19, 2008 5:00 PM

"I hope the drag racing doesn't turn into games of 'chicken'!"

That's exactly what I was thinking - who can make it first, loser smashes into barrier. I'll be sure to check it out after the first weekend installed to check for car pieces all over the place. I wonder how many crashes it will take for it to work. At least there will be less of those carppy, fake wannabe fast & furious race cars with dumb mufflers on the road.

Unfortunately, there are still a plethora of other streets to race on. Some were mentioned, but let's not forget Q Ave, and the elaborate races that run a course around town on multiple streets (usually around Fair Haven).

You know, I wonder what is cheaper, spending money to have all these T&P guys out there measuring and determining where the choke goes, installing the barriers, consulting with businesses, and whatever else went in to this, or renting a cop on the race nights to watch the street. Don't bother with lame comments about booh hoo we don't know when race nights are (there are flyers for cryin' out loud!!). I call the police every time. Usually no one at the NHPD cares (if I can even get through), so I end up having to call the State Police. The State Police (w/ the forced into it NHPD) ended at least a couple of the events last summer before they even began.

Usually these clowns meet up around the MickeyD's and Lowe's on Foxon Blvd. That is where the retarded versions of the fast & the furious typically begins (and with prompt police action ends). Last year, one race drove a car up onto a lawn on Pine St and almost hit the house. Another race, which many will remember, caused a truck to drive into the building on Q Ave at the intersection where Stillwater Restaurant is.

I am looking forward to this year's races.

Posted by: anon | June 19, 2008 5:17 PM

How about a city ordinance with a $20,000 fine for anyone caught drag racing and a $10,000 fine for anyone driving more than 20mph over the speed limit? Post the notice conspicuously. That's what they do in Canada and it works.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 19, 2008 6:11 PM

That's a great idea, but since it is highly unlikely any of these clowns would have $10-20k to pay the fine (otherwise they would be driving real import race cars like modified STi's and Evos etc, etc, instead of the plethora of Civics and other little, random hatchbacks with annoying mufflers that we see/hear), how about if you get caught your car is taken, forever.

I'll bet an ordinance or law like that would end this real quick.

Since the cars are pretty much worthless junk, the city can sell them as scrap metal and use the money to pay for all the traffic calming designs everyone wants.

Posted by: anon | June 19, 2008 9:44 PM

Fairhavener, that's apparently exactly what other states do - take your car, crush it, sell the scrap for city revenue.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 19, 2008 10:10 PM

Fairhvener

You never cease to amaze with your stories. You should change your name to Mother Goose, with all the stories you tell.

You called the State Police and they responded to an inner City complaint, along with the city cops?????, boy that's a good one, so if I don't like a response time I can just call the State and they will respond, wow are you sure this isn't Jodi Rell, because sh'e the only one that can send the State to help out in a crisis, like what's going on in Hartford. Fairhavener grow up!

Posted by: JMS | June 20, 2008 7:35 AM

I have read about other parts of the country dealing with this problem by building quarter mile race tracks to get the drag racers off the streets. It's organized and safe(er) then the uncontrolled mayhem of street racing. They follow safety guidelines... make the kids modify their cars with 5-point harnesses and wear helmets, etc. There are emergency crews on staff and the whole thing is much more controlled and contained. Who pays for it? They charge a small race entry fee and/or admission fee to watch the racing. They also sell advertising, signage, etc. Seems like a pretty reasonable solution.

Either that or start laying down speed bumps all over the city.

JMS

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 20, 2008 10:06 AM

Hooligan,

What are you my new trolling fan boy? I'm glad you like my stories. It is amazing that not everyone is a complete bore in real life eh?

As a matter a fact, it is true. Why don't you try calling 911 after calling 946-6316 and not getting an answer after 30 minutes (sometimes never). Guess who picks up. That's right, the state police something or other. Do I care exactly who it is? NO. All I do know is that it is not the NHPD. Do I need to bore all the readers with every detail of who I spoke to before the State Troopers arrived on the scene followed by the NHPD.

Anyone who knows what the protocol is regarding calling 911 and anything with the State Police is welcome to explain. I don't know, I don't pretend to know, I don't even care, I only know what happened on that one call.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 22, 2008 10:45 AM

Fairhaven

Or could it be that you have an over active imagination ( to put it kindly ). I asked a patrolman , just out of curiosity, if that were possible and he did not know.

He did find it highly unlikely that if you call NHPD, and you don't get a response on a non emergency number (x-6316), you would switched over to the State. As do I, but I could be wrong, are there any dispatchers that can answer this question?

Posted by: Hooligan | June 22, 2008 10:49 AM

One more thing I wanted to add to Fair Haven, for a person so critical of the NHPD, you call them an awful lot.

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 22, 2008 9:27 PM

I've called 911 a few times and if memory serves I get the state police. Maybe this happens all the time, maybe sometimes, I don't know/care. Why you care so much is beyond me.

BTW, maybe the reason I am so critical is because I have to call them so much. That hurts doesn't it?

Posted by: Alphonse Credenza | June 23, 2008 4:53 PM

This reminds me of another driving hazard:

Bicycle riders need to learn

NOT TO RIDE SIDE BY SIDE IN THE STREET.

Posted by: Hooligan | June 24, 2008 12:20 AM

Fairhaven

I've lived in this neighborhood for almost 20 years and have called maybe once for a blocked driveway, so I can't relate. Don't get so testy when your called on one of your lies, it's not my story. And why would I feel hurt ?, if you feel the need to call the cops for every little incident , by all means call.

Posted by: Ali | June 24, 2008 8:32 AM

Hooligan and Fairhavener-
The three times I've called 911 I've ended up with the state police, once after being transfered by the dispatcher. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that I was calling from a cell phone or the fact that it depends on where you are.

Once I was transfered back and forth between the city (no one answered which is frightening) and the state police while they tried to figure out who should take the call. Maybe they aren't even sure.

Just my experience.

Posted by: joey | June 24, 2008 9:32 AM

FYI when you call 911 from a cell phone your call will always go to the state police regardless of where you are in the state. If you are calling with an incident in your area the state pd will transfer you to your home town and or the area you are in. if you are calling and the incident is on a state road or property then the state may respond as well as local Pd.

Posted by: Uhappy in Fair Haven | June 25, 2008 8:17 AM

I go home everyday over the Grand Avenue bridge and almost everynight a little suped up civic or other small junker cuts me or someone else off. They then cut back into the right hand lane with no regard for the vehicles going up East Grand.

I have gone so far as calling the NHPD who tell me I need to get the license plate numbers of these vehicles which I do.

These ongoing complaints regarding the Grand Avenue traffic have not helped with obtaining an officer onsite. I think it would help if they had an office onsite one day a week to ticket these drivers.

This racing through Fair Haven also goes on along Lexington Avenue where vehicles fly down the street at speeds of 90 mph and higher.

And, regarding the NHPD, on one instance I called the NHPD, waited quite a long time for a dispatcher to pickup, was transferred,then told the speeding issue was a "Traffic & Parking issue".

I have even been hung up on by a dispatcher when calling in shots being fired info, have waited well over 4 hours for a patrol car to show up to take a statement, etc.

Lastley, when called in a complaint about illegal mexicans selling drugs, drink 24-7, etc. was told to call Liveable Cities. With that called them & informed them of neighborhood problem and was asked why I didnt move from street, which I fouond to be a shocking statment since I do pay my car taxes, property taxes, etc. which is more than I can say for the illegals living on the street.

Posted by: sk | July 13, 2008 7:54 PM

I agree. The racing along Lexington Ave. is out of control!! The revving, the car alarms, the speed. I called the non-emergency police number 6 times and they never once showed up. The heights is nothing more than a unpoliced drug neighborhood covered up some pretty trees and houses.