News release from Communications Director Brett Broesder:
As Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch continues working with Police Chief Gaudett and the Bridgeport Police Department to bolster the safety and security of kids and families across the state’s largest city, on Tuesday they’ll announce a new traffic and pedestrian safety initiative. The event will take place at the intersection of State Street and Howard Avenue in Bridgeport, Conn. on Tuesday and 10:15AM.
The new traffic and pedestrian safety initiative will include enforcement as well as traffic-calming efforts that have proven to reduce the speed of vehicles both on main and secondary roads. Education is another major component of the initiative. The city has consulted with the National Highway Administration and adopted a campaign aimed at educating both motorists and pedestrians about safety. The theme of the campaign is “Think of the impact you could make.”
“Traffic woes and pedestrian safety are major concerns in nearly every city across the country, and Bridgeport, Conn. is no different,” said Mayor Finch. “In addressing these issues, it’s key to keep in mind that this is not just a police problem. This is a community problem, too. In order to find solutions, police will work with our traffic engineers, other city departments, and community leaders to develop strategies aimed at keeping kids and families safe.”
Click here to view samples of education materials: bit.ly/1CeN49M.
Police Chief Gaudett noted that the police department has already taken steps to enhance pedestrian safety, including the launch of SafetyStat, and looks forward to doing even more through the new initiative.
“When it comes to pedestrian safety, one phrase comes to mind: ‘Think of the impact you could make,'” said Police Chief Gaudett. “That’s the mantra we’re communicating to people across the city. And, we’ve already taken steps to further ensure the safety of pedestrians. We have instituted SafetyStat. Modeled after CompStat, we analyze traffic incidents and conduct data -driven enforcement. We are meeting weekly to analyze statistics to ensure we are deploying our resources in the locations that will best help reduce motor-vehicle and pedestrian accidents. The bottom line is that one pedestrian injury or fatality is too many. This new initiative seeks to further curb pedestrian incidents in Bridgeport, making our city a safer and more secure place to live, work, and raise a family.”
As part of the campaign, the City has used grant funds to invest in equipment that will help improve safety. With these grant funds, the City has purchased three additional speed trailers that remind motorists of their speed and slow down traffic as well as three new speed radar guns to enhance enforcement for motorists who don’t get the message.
Another component of the effort is neighborhood involvement. The city will continue to work with community groups to identify areas where continued speeding exists.
Residents also have the ability to report safety concerns via the BConnected system. You can use it through a phone app, go on the web and visit www.bridgeport.gov/, or call (203) 576-1311.
This is just so much BS. When was the last time cars were pulled over in a neighborhood for speeding, blowing through stop signs and such? I had one of those machines that tell you how fast you are going next to my house. People started to use it to see how fast they could go. I told this to the PD and asked them to remove it. They did. The PD asked me when these infractions happened the most and I told them the times. The response I received was the traffic division does not work the hours I told them.
If Finch and Gaudett are so invested in public safety, they’d better get their precious selves to the booming downtown where there is an accident almost weekly at the intersection of Lafayette Boulevard and State Street. Try that speed monitor there, hopefully it will help those new residents at 333 State Street sleep at night.