West Hartford will receive $3,178,100 for implementation of the ‘Vulnerable User Safety Program,’ part of the town’s Vision Zero Action Plan.

By Ronni Newton

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) 2024 program grants have been announced, and the Town of West Hartford will receive a portion of the nearly $17 million in grants allocated to Connecticut for traffic safety projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

West Hartford officials learned that a grant of $3,178,100 has been awarded to the town for the “Vulnerable User Safety Program,” a critical component of the Vision Zero Action Plan adopted by the Town Council in February 2024, which has the goal of “eliminating fatalities and severe injuries on West Hartford streets by 2033.” West Hartford was the first municipality in the state to adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan, and that adoption was the culmination of a year-long effort in response to multiple tragedies that occurred on the town’s roads in 2022, including five fatalities in an eight-day period alone. In 2022, there were 48 crashes in West Hartford that resulted in death or serious injury.

Ghost shoes hang from this post at Boulevard and Whiting Lane, commemorating the death of an 89-year-old woman at this location in a hit and run incident in December 2022. The crosswalk now has a rectangular rapid flashing beacon installed. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

An analysis of data during the process of developing the Vision Zero Action Plan indicated that more than half of the fatal or serious crashes occurred on the same 17 miles of the more than 200 miles of roadways in town. Among the recommended action items which will receive support from the SS4A grant are measures to protect the most vulnerable users – including children, pedestrians, and bicyclists – and to focus safety improvements on eight corridors with the highest incidence of serious crashes as well as in schools and commercial areas with high pedestrian activity. Areas in need of urgent attention are identified as in the “High Injury Network” as well as in Transportation Equity Zones.

Department of Transportion

The nearly $3.2 million grant will fund 28 of 70 identified actions outlined in the Vision Zero Action Plan, according to the town’s application for the SS4A grant, including some measures already being implemented, such as the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons – which are now in place at 10 locations – retroreflective backplates on traffic signals, and a raised crosswalk on Boulevard at Wardwell Street, which was under construction on Wednesday afternoon.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor expressed her deep gratitude for the SS4A grant. “This grant is more than just a financial boost. It is recognition of our town’s commitment to Vision Zero and represents a critical investment in the safety and wellbeing of our community,” she said.

“With this funding, we will be able to implement targeted solutions that create safer, more accessible streets for all of our residents. I am very proud of town staff and our elected leaders for the prioritization and commitment to improving road safety for all and want to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation for this generous award. I also want to acknowledge the support we have received from our community partners, advocacy groups, and residents, whose input have helped shape and strengthen our approach to safe streets.”

A crosswalk will be painted on Raymond Road where pedestrians often cross to Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Other actions to be funded by the grant will include conducting additional Road Safety Audits, planning associated with safe routes to school and in pedestrian safety zones, and a review of signal timing and the installation of Dynamic No Turn on Red signage that can be activated by pedestrians.

A planning study study will also be done to determine possible demonstration project locations for automated red-light enforcement.

In the application for the 2024 SS4A grant, the town said the funds would be used to “improve the safety of priority road segments, develop education and a Vision Zero awareness campaign coordinated with West Hartford Public Schools (WHPS) and the West Hartford Community Interactive (WHCI) and leverage a strategic road safety audit (RSA) program to inform future design, engineering, and implementation efforts.”

The scope of work being funded by the 2024 SS4A grant should be completed within five years.

“We were thrilled to have been awarded this grant from the DOT,” said Town Manager Rick Ledwith. “I want to thank our Community Development team for their efforts in helping to secure this grant. With this funding, we will not only be improving the safety of our roads, but also enhancing the quality of life in our town.  Through improvements such as raised crosswalks, traffic calming measures, upgraded lighting and road safety audits, we will create an environment where safety is prioritized.”

West Hartford previously received a SS4A grant in 2023, which will be used for a speed management pilot program. While it is taking longer than anticipated, the process of receiving approval for the locations of automated speed cameras is underway.

A pedestrian uses the RRFB before crossing Tunxis Road at Spring Lane. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

Connecticut’s legislative delegation announced the awarding of the nearly $17 million in SS4A grant funds to the state, which will also support projects for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the University of Connecticut Safe System for All Road Users, and the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments for the MetroCOG Regional Safety Action Plan. The largest share of the state’s grant funds – just over $11 million – was awarded to the City of New Haven for the Chapel Street Safe Streets Implementation Project.

“This federal support will help stop catastrophic crashes on our roads and streets – one of the biggest, most preventable causes of death and injury,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “Nearly $17 million is a solid step toward safety for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as car drivers and passengers. Just last year, there were more than 300 deaths on Connecticut roadways, and many of these deaths could have been prevented with safer traffic measures and upgrades. I am proud that this federal funding will support five major projects that will transform road and pedestrian safety so our residents are protected.” he said.

“This $17 million will support major upgrades to roadways in New Haven and West Hartford with high crash rates, making some of our most dangerous roads much safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy. Funding will also lay the groundwork for better public transportation and help local, regional, and Tribal communities develop action plans to target crash hot spots and reduce preventable deaths. This is all thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I look forward to seeing their impact on our state,” he said.

“This year, we have tragically lost more than 200 drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, to accidents on Connecticut roads,” said U.S. Rep. John Larson. “We passed the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to improve traffic safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries. I am glad to see more than $3 million from this program coming to West Hartford to implement safety measures like sidewalks, bike lanes, flashing beacons, and expanded school zone speed limits. I remain committed to working with state and local partners to improve roadway safety for everyone.”

Traffic fatalities are at their highest level in decades, and the announcement from the legislative delegation stated that the “SS4A program supports the Department of Transportation’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways.”

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