Bridgeport unveils 'safe streets' campaign for pedestrians

Officer Ernest Garcia uses a laser detector to catch speeders on State Street in Bridgeport, Conn. as part of the city's new traffic and pedestrian safety initiative on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 . Officer Ernest Garcia uses a laser detector to catch speeders on State Street in Bridgeport, Conn. as part of the city's new traffic and pedestrian safety initiative on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 . Photo: Brian A. Pounds Buy photo Photo: Brian A. Pounds Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Bridgeport unveils 'safe streets' campaign for pedestrians 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT -- Cops and mayors often talk about making the streets safe, but officials at a Tuesday news conference meant it literally.

"This is 24/7 and citywide," Police Chief Joseph Gaudett said. "Area commanders will have the equipment and technology they need to enforce the law."

The new campaign is a response to the city's rash of pedestrian fatalities and accidents involving vehicles and bicycles, Mayor Bill Finch said.

Seven pedestrians were killed in Bridgeport since 2010, including 4-year-old Jayden Szabo, who was struck by a pickup truck on Boston Avenue while walking with his grandfather and uncle in December 2012. On Aug. 22 of this year, Kaitlyn Doorhy, a 20-year-old Sacred Heart University student, was struck and killed by a car on Madison Avenue, near the sorority house where she lived. The accident happened in broad daylight about 12:30 p.m.

"These incidents are totally preventable, and speeding won't get you there faster," Finch said Tuesday. "All it will do is put people at risk. Our roads are not speedways just because they are straight; they go through neighborhoods."

Finch said funds for the multipronged approach will come from grants and the budgets of the police and public facilities departments.

"This will take place over years, not months, but you'll see redesigned and improved striping, bump-outs that can protect pedestrians and parked cars and even the city's first roundabout," the mayor said.

Roundabouts are an update to the older traffic circles that include bypass lanes and eliminate the need for traffic signals.

A Federal Highway Safety Administration study found a sharp reduction in traffic accidents and injuries where roundabouts replaced traffic signals at busy intersections.

More Information Bridgeport facts:

Speed limit on city streets: 30 mph

Pedestrian fatalities since 2010: 7

Speed radar trailers: 5

Recent grant: "U drive, U Text, U Pay"

Pending grant: Increased DUI enforcement for holidays

George Garcia, director of the city's public facilities department, said crosswalks could be redesigned and other "traffic calming" methods can be employed to make streets safer.

Gaudett said the enforcement efforts will be data driven, allowing police to deploy their five speed-radar trailers and the city's video message boards to crack down on violators in the most dangerous spots.

"We are meeting weekly to analyze statistics to ensure we are deploying our resources in the locations that will best help reduce motor-vehicle and pedestrian accidents," he said.

Another component of the effort is neighborhood involvement, officials said.

The city will continue to work with community groups to identify areas where continued speeding exists. Residents also have the ability to report safety concerns via the BConnected system.

A key component of the effort will be education, officials said, and to that end a series of posters has been designed, including one of a little girl holding her mother's hand as they cross the street.

The tagline says: "Stop for pedestrians. Think of the impact you could make."