Archive for the ‘Traffic’ Category

Golf cart issue kicked to Stratford’s Traffic Authority

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by:Brittany Lyte

Stratford’s Traffic Authority will have to decide whether to allow golf carts on the town’s roads, freshman town councilman Craig Budnick said in a phone interview Wednesday.

At a public hearing before the Town Council early this month, about a half dozen residents — most from of the Lordship section of town –requested an ordinance allowing residents to drive golf carts on town roads marked with a 25 mph speed limit or lower.

Residents who spoke at the hearing said golf carts are a convenient mode of travel for short trips to the beach and around the neighborhood. Driving a golf cart is better for the environment than driving a car, one resident pointed out.

“The Town Council as a body does not have the right to regulate golf carts,” Budnick said. “The residents who may be concerned or want to have golf carts allowed in the Lordship section of town can submit a Traffic Authority request online on the town website.”

Budnick, a republican representing the seventh district, said residents who would like the town to draw up a golf cart ordinance can request that the Traffic Authority take up the issue by filling out this online request form. Residents may also contact the Traffic Authority via fax (203-381-1234) or email (mdunbar@townofstratford.com).

“At the end of the day, it’s really up to the citizens concerned about the golf cart issue to contact the town’s Traffic Authority,” he said.

Bridgeport resident struck by vehicle in Westport

Thursday, November 24, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

A Bridgeport resident was struck by a vehicle about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday while attempting to cross Post Road East on foot near Bulkley Avenue in Westport.

When police arrived on scene they found Aja Barksdale, 19, lying in the street, according to police.

Barksdale was transported to Norwalk Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening, injuries, police said.

Police said their preliminary investigation shows an 18-year-old Westport resident struck Barksdale as she attempted to cross the street.

Speeding does not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said. It was dark and raining at the time of the crash.

The incident is under investigation by the Westport Police Department.

State trooper hospitalized

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

A state trooper is being treated at a local hospital after his cruiser was hit by another vehicle on Interstate 95 near Exit 27A in Bridgeport, police said.

The cruiser was towed back to the state police barracks in Bridgeport.

It’s unknown whether the trooper is seriously injured, police said.

Early trains out of New York smooth sailing

Saturday, August 27, 2011 by:Tim Loh

New York — Hours before the unprecedented shutdown of New York subways, buses and commuter-rail lines, the city that never sleeps was eerily quiet.

A Starbucks was vacant at Astor Place (sign in window said ‘Blame mother nature’), the Bowery Whole Foods was closing at 10 a.m. (though open early for business, which appeared little known) and — most conspicuously — no crush of commuters was jockeying for train position at Grand Central Terminal.

Indeed, the 8:07 a.m. New Haven express pulled out of the big city with people hogging whole rows to themselves (myself included).

That came as a surprise to this reporter, who woke up in a slight stress, turned on the morning news and panicked as an MTA official proclaimed: “Do not wait for noon! We may not be able to accommodate you!”

All it took was a rush outside to cool the nerves.

The Spring Street subway station (6 train) was mostly empty, save for the attendant behind the window.

“We have to stay here till noon, when the trains stop,” the worker complained. “But who’s going to bring us home?”

I asked where he lived.

“Connecticut,” he said.

Luckily, his mother lives in New York and he could walk or cab it to her place when the public transit stopped.

With time to spare, I made the 20 minute walk to Union Square, making the unsettling observation that the streets were mostly empty, the tragic observation that the Starbucks at Astor Place closed.

But the coffee shops at Grand Central were open for business, so I made a purchase, picked up a newspaper and settled in for an unexpectedly comfortable ride back to Bridgeport — with ample time left to prepare for tonight.

Stratford preps for Irene with parking ban, shelter

Friday, August 26, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

Press release:

With Hurricane Irene forecasted to heavily impact the area this coming weekend, the Town of Stratford is prepared to implement its emergency operations plan.

Mayor John A. Harkins has been meeting with all pertinent personnel in preparations for the storm, and he has signed a declaration of emergency in order to allow town government to have maximum flexibility to protect its citizenry.

“This storm is not to be taken lightly. Forecasters are united in their belief that Hurricane Irene presents a significant risk of potentially severe flooding and wind damage in Stratford. I am urging all residents to take every conceivable precaution and to use common sense in determining the best actions to protect their families and property,” said Mayor Harkins.

In addition to declaring the state of emergency, the following actions have been taken to respond to the forecasted hurricane conditions:

1) Effective immediately, residents along the immediate shoreline and in low-lying areas that have a tendency to flood are requested to evacuate and seek higher ground. At this point, evacuations are voluntary.

2) A town-operated shelter will be opened at Bunnell High School at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27. Stratford residents without a place to go for refuge may go to Bunnell to ride out the storm. Residents with medical needs are encouraged to seek help at area hospitals.

3) A town-wide parking ban will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27. Residents are asked to move their vehicles off the road to allow emergency personnel to respond as quickly as possible where necessary throughout town. School parking lots (other than Bunnell High School) are available to residents who do not have driveways, etc.

4) The town’s Emergency Operation Center will be fully opened and operational at Noon on Saturday, Aug. 27.

5) Residents are asked to monitor the Town website, print and electronic local media outlets, local radio stations, and to pay attention to any Reverse 911 calls that may be placed to households with further instructions and information.

Mayor Harkins is also asking residents to be mindful of their pets and neighbors while preparing for the storm. Those who are in the area of catch basins can assist Public Works by keeping them clear of debris in advance of the storm.

“Our town government is prepared to help out during and after the hurricane in every way it can be,” Harkins added. “We are asking all residents to do their part as we ride this storm out together.”

Man shuts down MetroNorth after stealing car

Friday, July 15, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

Contributed by WTNH

Matthew Miranda shut down MetroNorth for a half hour while he hid after stealing a car in Southport, WTNH reports.

Rollover on I-95 in Westport

Saturday, June 25, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

Press release from Westport Fire Department:

At 7:20 this evening the Westport Fire Department responded with Westport EMS, AMR and State police to I-95 northbound between exits 18 and 19 for a car off the road and down an embankment. Upon arrival units found a Red Volkswagen Corrado that had struck a street lamp post and several sections of guardrail and then come to rest about 30 feet off the roadway along the bank of Sasco Creek. The driver’s side door had been ripped off from the crash, and the driver was able to get back up onto the roadway by himself with only minor injuries.

Firefighters checked the driver for injuries until the arrival of EMS, and then the vehicle for leaking gasoline due to a heavy odor in the air. Only a minor leak was found that was absorbed by the soil under the car. Once deemed safe, a torch was use to removed the damaged guardrail to provide access for the towing company to removed the vehicle. The driver was transported by AMR Ambulance to the hospital for observation due to the mechanism of injury.

One lane of traffic was blocked for just over one hour causing a minor traffic backup.

The last fire department vehicle left the scene at 8:38 PM

Man on scooter suffers severe head injury in Milford

Monday, May 30, 2011 by:Brittany Lyte

An adult male on a scooter suffered a severe head injury when he collided with an automobile on New Haven Ave. in Milford.

Police said the head-on collision occurred at 12:24 Monday near Merwin Avenue.

The man on the motorized scooter and an occupant in the vehicle involved in the crash were treated for injuries on scene before being transported to local hospitals, police said.

The identities of the involved parties have not been released.

The Milford Police Department Traffic Division is currently investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information related to the accident to contact 203-783-4739.

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