Queen Street Area Traffic

Study Planned

By Andrew Gorosko

In response to concerns about Queen Street traffic problems, Police Commission Chairman Duane Giannini has assured a Queen Street resident that the town plans to have a traffic study performed on that area with the goal of improving the situation.

Resident John Boccuzzi of 61 Queen Street told Police Commission members at an August 2 session that motorists’ speeding remains a problem on the street, with sports cars and motorcycles traveling there at an estimated 50 miles per hour, well above the posted speed limit for the area.

The mile-long north-south Queen Street links Church Hill Road to Mile Hill Road. The Police Commission is the local traffic authority.

Mr Boccuzzi thanked commission members for the police department’s use of radar patrols to monitor travel speed on the street, but said that the speeding problem remains.

People simply feel that they can speed on Queen Street, thus creating unsafe conditions, he said.

Mr Boccuzzi said he understands that Queen Street is in the center of town and thus carries heavy traffic because of its geographic location. He urged, however, that the commission develop some solutions to deal with the speeding problems there.

Mr Giannini said the commission has funds budgeted to conduct a traffic study on the Queen Street area and expects that a firm will be chosen in 2012 to conduct the study.

Installing broad speed bumps known as “speed tables” is not the only solution available for reducing vehicle speeds, Mr Giannini said. Devices known as “neckdowns” also could be used, he said. Such devices funnel the traffic flow on streets to hold down speeds.

“We have not forgotten it,” Mr Giannini said of the Queen Street traffic issue.

The commission has frequently discussed Queen Street area traffic problems during the past decade, with several studies having been conducted in seeking to solve the problems.

“Anything that works, people will be grateful for, “ Mr Boccuzzi said.

Police Commission member Bruce Walczak suggested that Mr Boccuzzi pursue traffic improvements in the Queen Street area by following the commission’s formal “traffic calming” process.

Details on traffic calming are can be obtained through a hyperlink posted on the police department’s website: www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_Police/index.

Mr Giannini stressed that the town does not want to take steps to solve traffic problems on Queen Street with the result being the creation of traffic problems on other nearby streets due to traffic flow diversions.

The chairman said that although the police department has made strong efforts to hold down motorists’ speeds on local roads, it is a difficult problem to solve.

“We’re working hard at it. “ he said.