MIDDLETOWN – Speeding on Middletown City streets, particularly the wide residential Highland Avenue, took up over an hour of discussion by the common council and local residents.
Suggestions from residents included placing stop signs at intersections where there are no traffic lights, periodic placement of a speed trailer and speed bumps.
Highland Avenue resident Michelle Ellerin said the problem has gotten worse over the years.
“We cannot cross the street comfortably,” Ellerin said. “We cannot have ingress and egress out of our homes comfortably. It is noisy on our street. There is drag-stripping going on, on our street. We cheer when we hear the sound of police sirens and we are very grateful for the increased police presence.”
Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt told the residents he is not convinced that stop signs will work.
“We have to affect cultural change,” said Bethencourt. “I don’t believe that simply by placing stop signs at these various intersections that you are going to have a difference in people who abide by the law or don’t abide by the law. I think that the effect then will be that they speed as fast they can between stop signs.”
Alderman Joseph Masi, who brought the subject to the public, said he would be willing to test stop signs and if they do not work, they could be removed.
Mayor Joseph DeStefano said they will dust off a 2001 traffic study and see what might work now.
City officials have also met with State Police officials to gain their input on the issue.
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