By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — The public got an update on the town’s efforts to improve traffic and pedestrian safety Thursday night, and some were glad to hear that traffic enforcement cameras are coming.

Also, an online survey that allows people to drop pins on problem areas in town and explain their concerns — which so far has about 1,400 posts — will close on May 10. People with concerns can add them here.

There are other ways to convey concerns. To report speeding concerns online, click here. For online inquiries about other traffic concerns, click here. People can also call the Police Department’s non-emergency number, 203-341-6000; the Public Works Department at 203-341-1120; or the Selectwomen’s Office at 203-341-1111.

The meeting included officials from the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works and Tighe & Bond, a consulting firm from Shelton hired by the town to come up with a safety action plan using a $450,000 federal grant the town obtained.

The town hired Tighe & Bond in August 2023 after receiving the “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The consultants explained the process of prioritizing infrastructure projects, which should be complete by February 2025.

“Prior to January of this year the state has not allowed municipalities to have speed cameras or traffic light cameras on local roads or state roads within a town,” Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson said. “That has changed. The state has approved them … now they’re allowing them, with guidance.”

Paulsson said the state has issued guidelines on how towns can qualify for the cameras.

“We are moving forward with this process,” he said.

He said that to use the cameras around school zones, a town would have to first have established school zones.

“We got ahead of that,” he said, saying several school zones have been approved by the Traffic Authority.

He cautioned that there’s still a lot of red tape before Westport might be approved for the enforcement cameras.

“A lot of it is site planning, written justifications — we have to show traffic data, we have to show history of accidents, among the short list of things. We cannot go out and purchase these and put them on a pole, we wish we could, but there is a process.”

“One of the major factors that they require is a safety action plan for the town,” Paulsson said. “Fortunately, we received a grant and we’re doing just that.”

 Most of those who spoke were Representative Town Meeting members, almost a dozen in all. Many highlighted problems in their districts. Some had questions about the process.

“Traffic cameras, I’m so excited, that’s all I’m going to say, thank you,” said Kristin Schneeman, District 9. She said a known trouble spot in her district is the intersection of Compo Road North and Evergreen Avenue, where another crash occurred Monday.

And, she said, she’s seen people crossing into the oncoming lane on small roads in recent weeks to pass people driving slower than they wanted to.

“I’ve seen people speeding, I’ve seen people tailgating, I’ve seen people doing all kinds of things,” she said. “I’ve literally never seen anyone cross the yellow line to go around somebody in the middle of town.”

Marissa Manley of Greens Farms Road talked about problems in her area of town, and was not enthusiastic about the traffic cameras.

“Making people accountable for speeding, maybe it’s a good idea, but I think it’s a much better idea to design the roads so that people are not encouraged to speed,” she said.

She said the roads have been designed “to enable to travel as quickly as possible from point to point. There’s been very little consideration given to other road users and I think a true solution has to take into account the design of our roads.”

Another public meeting on traffic issues is expected in the fall.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.