New Haven Independent

That was one of many traffic-calming ideas raised as Westville planner Chris Heitmann and a new neighborhood coalition met to devise the Whalley Avenue of their dreams — in hopes of convincing the State Department of Transportation (DOT) to revise its plans.

Heitmann and several dozen other Westville neighbors locals gathered at Congregation Beth El Keser Israel Thursday night to strategize for a public hearing next Thursday night with DOT officials. The state will be answering questions about its 30-year-old plan — on which construction is now about to begin — to widen Whalley Avenue between Emerson Street and the 69/63 junction. Some neighbors fear the plan will make the deadly stretch more of a speedway rather than a pedestrian- and bike-friendly road.

Heitmann (pictured) and the new community group, Coalition for a Livable Whalley, hope to work with the state to incorporate “traffic-calming” changes.

The purpose of Thursday’s meeting, attended by State Rep. Pat Dillon and Westville Alders Ina Silverman and Sergio Rodriguez, was to refine that vision, so neighbors they have a clear picture to present to the DOT. Heitmann reported that officials told him DOT’s plans are not yet “set in stone.” He’s hoping that there is still time to change them to include the suggestions of locals.

The “Community Workshop” is part of a recent wave of citizen traffic-calming activism in New Haven. The movement was galvanized last month by the death of Gabrielle Lee. The 11-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car at the corner of Davis and Whalley, part of the section that is now scheduled for widening.

Heitmann began the meeting with a summary of what it known about the Whalley plan. The state plans to widen the street by an average of four feet, making it a total of 48 feet wide. “Curb radii” will also be widened, making for faster turning and longer pedestrian crossing distances. The road will be made into a total of four lanes in some spots. (More details about the plans here.)

Heitmann explained that the current design was based on 15-year projections that see a large increase in daily traffic on Whalley Avenue. Heitman presented statistics showing that the DOT’s projections for Whalley traffic have not historically proved to be accurate. Furthermore, he argued, with gas price continuing to rise, traffic is not likely to increase.

Heitman voiced the biggest question for the state: “If traffic counts are flat, why increase the roadway?”

What We Want

After a PowerPoint primer on the basics of traffic calming, meeting participants got a chance to brainstorm and come up with their picture of an ideally redesigned avenue. Breaking into small groups, neighbors scribbled on printouts of satellite images of Whalley, drawing in rotaries and dedicated turn lanes, and “reverse angle” parking.

The group reconvened to discuss its desires for the future of Whalley. A “What We Want” list included improved parking, workable public transit, a reconsideration of the necessity of four lanes, improved timing of traffic lights, bike lanes, consistent sidewalks, and a “safer and more pleasant” avenue.

Heitmann presented the widening of Whalley Avenue as ripe with possibility. “There’s a lot of interesting things you could do with 48 feet,” he said.

“This is a once in 40 years opportunity,” he added, explaining that these kind of traffic projects take a long time to plan and then last for years and years. “We just want to make sure we do it right.”

Honey and Ice Cream

Heitmann closed the meeting with a call for diplomacy for next week’s meeting. “‘You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,’” he quoted.

After the meeting Heittman said that he was optimistic about working with the DOT.

One Whalley resident, who asked not to be identified, said she had been impressed with the DOT when they came to her house several years ago and listened to her concerns about traffic.

Parking is available right in front of her house on Whalley, but several years ago she started parking around the corner and walking to her house. Her parked car had been hit too many times by cars speeding past her house, where two lanes merge into one.

“I want to get it safe, get it slowed down,” she said. “I want to be able to walk across the street and get an ice cream cone.”