New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
City pushes for automatic traffic cameras
NEW HAVEN — It is simply a matter of saving lives, according to city officials.
The officials, including Mayor Justin Elicker, and a number of city residents, among others, made that clear this week when they testified in favor of a transportation safety bill that would allow municipalities to use automated cameras to track speeders, set speed limits and increase the rights pedestrians have in crosswalks in the state.
The bill, H.B. No. 5429, is being considered by the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation and co-sponsored by Rep. Ronald Lemar, D-New Haven, and Rep. Josh Elliott, DHamden, among others. A virtual public hearing was held on the measure.
Elicker expressed “strong support” for the measure, noting that New Haven has seen “a significant number of pedestrian and bicycle deaths in recent years related to speeding and dangerous driving,” including 11 in 2020.
He described automatic traffic cameras as a notable step, saying that it would reduce speeding, lower fatalities and, by only using license plate information to identify vehicles, allow for the law to be enforced in a racially equitable way.
“Passage of this bill will save lives, and do so responsibly,” said Elicker. “The number of people from New Haven testifying today underscore the importance and urgency of this issue.”
More than 100 New Haven residents and officials submitted testimony in favor of the bill, according to the state legislature’s website.
Doug Hausladen, city director of transportation and parking, noted in his testimony that “New Haven has the highest percentage of residents who walk (14%) or bike (4%) to work of the 10 largest cities in New England.”
“These users share the transportation system with thousands of motor vehicles every day, vehicles which can kill them instantly,”
said Hausladen.
Superintendent of Schools Illene Tracey said the bill was “critically important for ensuring the safety of our school children,” particularly automatic cameras, which would send “a clear message to the public that safety around our vulnerable populations is of the highest importance.”
Police Chief Otoniel Reyes noted the department had been called on to deal with a rise in violent crime, thus focusing its resources on that aspect of life in the city. Traffic stops can also pose “a risk to officer safety ...
lead to negative interactions with the public, and can result in disparate impacts to communities of color,” he said.
“I know that there are concerns from police agencies across the state that struggle with adequate staffing and resources. I encourage this committee to hear their concerns and ensure that this bill achieves the goal of greater safety and reduced administrative demand across departments. I believe that on balance, the reduced staffing demands as a result of this bill will be more beneficial than any unforeseen administrative impacts it may create,” said
Reyes.
Kai Addae, a member of the Safe Streets group in New Haven, also voiced support for automated cameras, as well as the creation of a statewide Vision Zero council, which would be tasked with considering the future of pedestrian safety in the state.
“The traffic safety measures in this bill are necessary and far overdue,” said Addae.
Heather Gerkin, dean of the Yale Law School, noted the death of Chris Lim, who was struck and killed while riding his bicycle in October near the intersection of York Street and South Frontage
Street.
“Chris’s death was an immense loss for our community. He was an extraordinarily talented student with a remarkable future ahead of him,” said Gerkin, noting that three people have died at the intersection in the last 10 years. “As a resident of Connecticut, I know that H.B. 5429 will make my community safer. As a parent and a dean, I never again want to console a grieving family after the death of a child that could have prevented by a bill like this one.”