Don’t Criticize Queen St. Residents

For Leading The Way

To the Editor:

I find it somewhat bizarre that Queen Street residents who are concerned about safety and who followed all the proper procedures through the correct channels are now being criticized for their efforts.

If the author of “Queen Street’s Squeaky Wheels” had attended just a few of the numerous Police Commission meetings at which Queen Street residents spoke, he would have heard many comments regarding other unsafe streets in Newtown. Toddy Hill Road was mentioned repeatedly, as well as The Boulevard, Wendover Road, Poverty Hollow Road, Route 302, Route 25 — to name just a few. At the recent public meeting for the presentation of the Traffic Improvement Plan, a Queen Street resident stated that traffic speed is townwide problem and should be addressed as a community.

On page 25 of the Traffic Study, in addressing Study Area Traffic Enforcement Program Proposed Improvements is the sentence: “This could be implemented as a first step to a phased townwide program.”

Many towns and cities in Connecticut have experienced growth similar to Newtown and have taken aggressive measures to curtail speeding. These areas have recognized that maintaining the status quo does nothing to address traffic related safety issues. There is every hope that our town will join this commendable group. Currently, the Board of Selectmen has established a Newtown Traffic Claming Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and members of the Police Department and the Police Commission. If nothing else, The Queen Street Area Traffic Study has brought this subject to the forefront.

Perhaps there is a positive way to look at this issue. Residents of all Newtown roads have the same rights. Recently, a resident of Toddy Hill Road attended a Police Commission meeting voicing her concerns about truck traffic and high automobile speed on her street. This is a good start! Any speed calming measures that are implemented in the center of this wonderful town should be considered a prototype for the rest of Newtown. Queen Street residents have paved the way and opened the door. Anyone may put forth this same effort. Everyone has the right to protest traffic laws being broken on their roadway, whether they have resided there for 50 days or 50 years. Negative comments will not prevent deadly accidents. Working together just might.

Sincerely,

Katherine Geckle

35 Queen Street, Newtown January 6, 2007