COMMENTARY
by Ed McKeon
When the mayor, the city planner, the P&Z and the Chamber of Commerce decided a strip mall between High and Pearl on Washington Street was a good idea, they probably weren't thinking how bad the traffic, and safety hazards already are. Here's proof, within a week, that things are bad enough without making them worse. One accident at High and Washington, one at Pearl and Washington, and one between Broad and Pearl on Washington. At least four individuals taken to the hospital. Do you want a crash helmet with that latte?
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30 comments:
Not seeing the correlation.
Anon @ 1:28:
Then perhaps you've never been on Washington St.
I'm glad you posted this. I really don't understand the value more commerce could bring to that area versus the congestion it will cause. In fact, I already avoid that intersection and cut through Wesleyan's campus (via the road near the cemetary) to get to my home off Bow Lane. Downtown Middletown is so charming and unique, the town should look to encourage economic development in more creative ways that benefit the majority of folks.
So, there are accidents of Washington street and there is no "strip mall" there. There are going to be accidents regardless, are you going to blame every business for every traffic accident?? Get over yourselves.
It took my husband 25 minutes to travel the 2.7 miles from Broad Street to our home last evening. Great amounts of air pollution, wasted gas, wasted time, and the "heat island" effect in downtown gets worse every day.
If there are cars, there will be accidents, with or without new development.
The commenter who said, "If there are cars, there will be accidents, with or without new development," reminds me of the hackneyed NRA article of faith that "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." The problem is that there are already too many traffic accidents on Washington Street already. Add a strip mall with a drive-thru and the added traffic, and many more traffic crashes are a guarantee. Why make an already bad situation worse?
I agree. That portion of Washington St. is notorious for a backlog of traffic anyway, and I avoid it at all costs. Adding a strip mall w/a drive-thru is simply absurd. I will never visit it. It will only add traffic to an already congested, well-traveled road. Take a drive by during rush hour. Imagine how they could possibly put a strip mall there. What, another red light? Pathetic move, Middletown.
I agree. That portion of Washington St. is notorious for a backlog of traffic anyway, and I avoid it at all costs. Adding a strip mall w/a drive-thru is simply absurd. I will never visit it. It will only add traffic to an already congested, well-traveled road. Take a drive by during rush hour. Imagine how they could possibly put a strip mall there. What, another red light? Pathetic move, Middletown.
Route 66 is a state highway with over 22,000 cars a day passing between High and Pearl Street. Red light runners, speeders, and, oh yes, texters are the cause of most of the accidents. Did the recent additions of two new pharmacies, a new grocery store, a new Taco Bell each cause an increase in accidents? Check it out. At best, it's a problem of enforcement. Congestion is traffic, accidents are a function of poor driving.
As it is written, Broad Street and Washington will be the epicenter of great controversy in Middletown .
http://www.lulu.com/shop/john-kilian/downtown-drive-thru/ebook/product-20981727.html
I agree. Accidents are accidental. Accidents are actually good for the economy. They make work for car repair shops, hospitals, insurance companies and the police and fire departments. Without accidents there would be a whole lot more of people out of work. Get real, liberals, next thing you'll be asking to do is license drivers.
Let's frame this for what it is, any reason to rail against the zoning decision. If there was a pothole or the sudden appearance of an apparition of the Madonna in a tree on Washington street, I'm sure that would be P & Z's fault too.
Let's see, anon 11:02:
I don't see anyone claiming these accidents were the fault of the P&Z, unless you know something I don't. What I'm "saying" is that the area is a hazard to begin with, and the decision to rezone is only bound to make it worse.
As for the appearance of the Madonna, I'd blame her agent.
I feel that this is a poor correlation to something that has nothing to do with the proposed site. Poor driving is definitely the reason behind accidents. Until Middletown starts enforcing the no text rule and hands free for phone use, accidents will continue. All drivers need to become aware of their surroundings and pay attention to the car in front and behind them, not the small phone display in their lap.
I'd opt to change "Accident" to "Crash". Accident implies it was no one's fault.
The article in the Press is misleading- all the downtown business people want is NO competition. Brewbakers lady is just afraid no one will want her $5 bagels. Bet this comment won't get posted- cause KidCity generates traffic too and so does Oddfellows but lets not mention that
To Conshr's comment about "all drivers need to be . . ." is like saying "all people need to be smart" - it just ain't gonna happen. More to the point is that the proposed plans will only exacerbate an existing problem and it is the antithesis of wise planning.
Using this logic any development any where in town will bring more traffic into town which will mean more accidents. So does that mean no more economic development anywhere in town? If you have it on Main Street, you will get increased traffic on Washington and/or Broad to get there which will more accidents using this theory.
Anonymous 10:38, you're concept of the logic is flawed because every site is different, and, in fact, it is the charge of P&Z to factor in safety and how it will be affected by changes they grant. This particular site, and these intersections are problematic, and the development will send added traffic through residential neighborhoods. Added drive-thrus with entrance and egress from Washington Street is completely different than a similar development in, say, your neighborhood.
When you throw in people juggling their latte along with their phones, driving, etc., this is going to be more of a mess!
Next thing you know, these liberal village people will be wanting to block off streets to create pedestrian malls. Pedestrian malls on Washington Street - that'd be like closing lanes in Times Square. Never happen.
LOL, anonymous at 2:42 on pedestrian malls! Perhaps our mayor should take a taxpayer-funded trip to Burlington, VT - or, ever better, Bolder, CO - and see a closed to vehicular traffic, downtown pedestrian mall in action.
But, no, we can't dream that Middletown should be a great small city such as these. Rather, let's aspire to turn it into the Berlin Turnpike. If anyone would like to see just what a combination Chipotle and Starbucks might look like for Middletown, they've just put one in there (near Stew Leonards). It is amazingly sad that such development has been made a priority for our City.
typo above: Boulder.
Right. Boulder and Burlington. Hippie towns. Pot smoking in the streets. Tie dye. Craft beers. Locavores prowling. Like we want that here.
Yes, to be like Burlington, VT - what a terrible aspiration! Burlington, VT: Named a top city for outside activities, the arts, safety and overall quality of life by Outside, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, Arts & Entertainment, Traveler and other national media.
people who complain about the pollution should maybe live elsewhere then downtown Middletown. Southside of Middletown is lovely and less congested then "The Village district".
I agree. All those village folk who, in their obstinacy, won't buy McMansions in the burbs or forested estates in Maromas, where the air is pure and the driveways long, should just shut their whiny traps and be grateful for the privilege of breathing deep the exhaust from the tailpipes of the famously idling rich.
Personally, I love "hippie towns" like Burlington, Boulder and Northampton, MA, Asheville, NC., etc. They're usually associated with the arts and universities - smart, creative young minds. That's what makes those towns so unique and interesting and a special destination. That's one reason why I like Middletown so much and why others like it too. The more "hippier", the better!
You've got to be a (village) idiot to live where there's pollution, crime and traffic. The Village People are there for the culture, and the community. What a bunch of liberal horse crap. I suppose if you consider crackheads and hookers culture, you've got it made. Downtown is a nice place to get a meal, but I wouldn't want to live there.
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