Politics & Government

Byram Traffic Pattern Reversed

Byram residents prevail in traffic situation on New Lebanon Avenue.

 

A 90-day trial that had a one-way traffic pattern on New Lebanon Avenue apparently created more problems than it was intended to solve.

After listening to concerns about an unintended increase in traffic on the hilly Wessels Place that intersects with New Lebanon, the Board of Selectmen has approved the return to two-way traffic on the short, one-block long street off Delavan Avenue.

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that runs from the Byram Veterans hall at the corner of Delavan and New Lebanon became a northbound-only traffic pattern to help improve pedestrian safety and increase parking  on both sides of the street.

Unfortunately, the neighbors on Wessels Place, which is to the east of New Lebanon and Williams Street, experienced an increase of traffic seeking a shortcut heading towards the Connecticut Turnpike.

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With the return of two-way traffic on New Lebanon, there also will be a change in parking patterns, according to James Michel, a traffic engineer for the Department of Public Works. According to Michel, there will be parking allowed on one side of New Lebanon, and parking added behind St. Paul's Lutheran Church on William Street. To help ease traffic flow, the town obtained state Traffic Commission permission to eliminate the 'No Right on Red' restriction on Mead Avenue at Mill Street, one block away.

The creation of parking will be done in conjunction with the repaving project of the area that began last week. The traffic pattern change was to become effective immediately. To increase motorists' awareness of pedestrian traffic, crosswalk signs are to be installed on Delavan Avenue at Chestnut Street, near the veterans club.

Michael Bocchino, chairman of the Byram Neighborhood Association, said while residents appreciated the return of two-way traffic, they are "completely and utterly frustrated with that the town and the DPW missed the boat on all of these items…they didn’t notify the police department for enforcement. ... It took 2½ weeks for the sign vandalism (to be repaired) … the community has asked me to ask you ….we the people in Byram deserve a little bit more." Bocchino suggested the town should have used its reverse 911 system to notify residents of the changes.


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