Derby discusses Division Street safety after pedestrian death
DERBY — The recent hit-and-run death of a pedestrian on Division Street has drawn increased attention to the congested four-lane road that forms the border of Ansonia and Derby. But local residents say the street has long been unsafe for pedestrians.
Susan Lanzaro-Schoeder, 66, who regularly walks in the area, said the issues range from lack of sidewalks to cars entering and leaving the road through the numerous entries and exits to parking lots. The designated crossing areas offer little relief from vehicle traffic, she said.
“I’m just tired of having car grills at my knees in the middle of a crosswalk,” Lanzaro-Schroeder said.
She spoke out after local police confirmed John Jepson died on Dec. 23 as a result of injuries sustained in a hit and run crash occurring on Dec. 15. He was 61. While she said the street is unsafe for walkers, Lanzaro-Schroeder noted that the area is frequented by many pedestrians on their way to work or for recreation.
Her son, she said, frequents the area since he likes to walk. But she said he doesn’t bother with the crosswalk at Pershing Drive because of the number of lanes he has to cross there.
“He knows that the drivers are maniacs on the road. It’s changed his whole outlook over the past four or five years. He’ll go out of his way, away from the crosswalk,” she said.
The street has multiple businesses in the area with entrances and exits alongside the road. Pedestrians must navigate four lanes of traffic, with cars entering and exiting multiple parking lots on both sides. The road also lacks sidewalks on the stretch that features a McDonalds and Stop & Shop, requiring pedestrians to either walk on a patch of dirt and grass or in the street itself.
Rick Dunne, the president of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, said his organization has notified the state Department of Transportation of its concerns over the lack of sidewalks and the other safety issues.
“We have raised concerns with CT DOT over the years requesting the installation of proper sidewalks and pedestrian crossings on Pershing Drive,” Dunne said.
State DOT spokesperson Josh Morgan said the department takes safety complaints seriously.
“Anytime a COG or a municipality reaches out to the DOT, we take that seriously and we evaluate it and look into it,” Morgan said.
Despite those dangers, many people still take that path according to Linda Fusco, a resident and the chair of the Derby Housing Authority.
“Division (Street) is pretty heavily trafficked most of time and there is no sidewalk or pedestrian lane,” she said. “Walking there, especially at night, doesn’t seem safe but a lot of people do it.”
The reason people continue to walk there at night despite the danger is pretty simple, according to Derby Alderman Ron Sill, who represents the area.
Sill said it was the only way to get where they need to go.
“You’ll notice during the day many people walking in that area walking up the hill walking across the street, that don’t have cars and are going to CVS or going to Kentucky Fried or the businesses in the area,” Sill said.
Sill said he plans on reaching out to state representatives in the area to see what can be done. State and grant money could help with alleviating these issues, he said.
But first, he will check the area out firsthand.
“I personally am going to go down there within this week when it gets dark and take a look down there,” he said. “I want to go down here and see what that looks like and then report to the state rep.”
While Sill and other officials said they were looking into the incident, Walt Mayhew, chief of staff for Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan, said he had no knowledge of any complaints.
“Plus, the street is half in Ansonia, half in Derby,”
Mayhew said.
Ansonia Economic Development Director Sheila O’Malley similarly said she had not heard any safety complaints, but the city was looking into making improvements.
“We are always trying to improve safety,” she said. “We may look at extending the riverwalk path down Pershing and up Division.”
Adding a walking path of sidewalk was also a possibility, she said.
Anything would be an improvement, according to Lanzaro-Schroeder, who said she was willing to travel to Hartford to tell state officials about her experiences walking in the area. And she would have company, she said.
“We would love to testify in Hartford for what we have seen over the last four to five years,” she said. “I’m not the only one I know that would do it.”