- Signal Spotlights: New Britain Citywide Traffic Signal Modernization
- Tips from Tony: Sharing the Road with Equestrians
- Town Crier: New Milford Public Works Participates in Fire Safety Day
- New Tailgate Talk: High-Visibility Safety Apparel
- Innovation Station: T2 Center Attends EDC-5 Summit in Albany
- Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS)
- New Traffic Signal Brief: Connected & Automated Vehicles
- New England Chapter APWA's Snowplow Roadeo—CT Town Places First!
- Explore New Haven and the 24th Annual Fantasy of Lights
- Tips from Tony: Answer
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Signal Spotlights: New Britain Citywide Traffic Signal Modernization
With the opening of the CTfastrak Downtown New Britain Station and various developments throughout New Britain, the City recognized the need to upgrade its traffic signal equipment and had implemented a Citywide Traffic Signal Modernization program.
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Phase I
Under Phase I of the $3 million CMAQ-funded project, the City of New Britain evaluated existing equipment and selected new standard equipment for all future installations. ATC traffic controllers and video detection capable of detecting bicycles were among equipment selected. Loop detection at many of the city's intersections failed, causing unnecessary delay. The proposed controller and vehicle detector upgrades to video detection will allow bicycle detection while increasing reliability.
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Also under Phase I, the City reestablished an abandoned closed loop system along Main Street in the city's downtown center and created the start of a centralized transportation system.
To learn more about Phase II of this project and New Britain's new Traffic Signal Management Plan (TSMP),
click here
.
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If you have traffic signal systems questions, please contact:
Theresa Schwartz, P.E., P.T.O.E. - Traffic Signal Circuit Rider
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Tips from Tony: Sharing the Road with Equestrians
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This past year we had a community ask about equestrian use on roads. Do you know the relevant laws related to riding animals on highways and responsibilities of motor vehicle operators when approaching equestrians?
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Find the answer at the bottom of the newsletter.
If you have roadway safety questions, please contact:
Anthony Lorenzetti, P.E. - Safety Circuit Rider
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New Milford Pubic Works Participates in Fire Safety Day
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This past October, crew members from the New Milford Public Works Department visited the Northville Elementary School in conjunction with the Northville Fire Department for their Fire Safety Day. The Fire Department brought trucks for the kids to see and touch, including their smoke trailer to teach the children what to do in case of a fire. The New Milford Public Works crew brought three plow trucks and the crew talked about snow safety with the children—what not to do when you see a plow truck coming down the road, not to build snow forts next to a road or in a cul-de-sac, and not to throw snowballs at the drivers.
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This is the third year the New Milford Public Works Department participated in the Northville Fire Department's Fire Safety Day. Each year the Public Works crew brings different equipment to teach the children about what public works agencies use in their communities and what the equipment is used for.
Thank you to Jeff Fleet, Eddie Burns, and Mike Sweet of the New Milford Public Works Highway Department for taking the time to spend the day educating these children. Great job guys!
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New Tailgate Talk: High-Visibility Safety Apparel
The T2 Center has published our newest Tailgate Talk informational brief. Each Tailgate Talk focuses on one on-the-job safety topic and is designed to be shared with your crew at the beginning of their day. When employees are presented with safety material in small chunks, in a setting in which they are comfortable, they are more likely to retain that information and put it into practice.
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The need to be seen is critical for worker safety. Low visibility is a serious hazard for all workers who perform work tasks near moving traffic. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Work Visibility Rule;
"All workers within the right-of-way of a Federal-aid highway who are exposed either to traffic (vehicles using highway for purpose of travel) or to construction equipment within the work area shall wear high-visibility apparel."
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T2 Center Attends EDC-5 Summit in Albany
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The T2 Center was very excited to be included on the team that attended the recent EDC-5 Summit in Albany, NY. The summit introduced the latest round of Every Day Counts innovations. Several of these innovations are applicable to local agencies including: Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) and Reducing Rural Roadway Departures. The T2 Center looks forward to including information on these innovations in future educational resources.
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Along with the T2 Center, the EDC-5 team from Connecticut included the CT Department of Transportation, CT Federal Highway Administration Division Office and the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG).
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Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS)
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Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS) provide real-time road condition data to highway agencies to support timely decision making and improve public safety. As of December 2018, the CT Department of Transportation will have 39 RWIS sites operational online. Municipalities can access the sites to support their decision making.
If a town wishes to gain access to the RWIS system, they should send an email to
[email protected]
, requesting access. Please note that one username/password will be issued per town.
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New Traffic Signal Brief: Connected & Autonomous Vehicles
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With a host of new vehicle technologies emerging, it's common to see news articles discussing automated and connected vehicle technologies. Though at times these terms are mistakenly used interchangeably, there is a clear distinction between the two concepts. This technical brief provides an overview of the two technologies.
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New England Chapter APWA's Snowplow
Roadeo—Connecticut
Town Places First!
On October 17th, the New England Chapter of American Public Works Association (NEAPWA) held their Snowplow Roadeo in Boxborough, MA. The top two teams from the CASHO-CIRMA Snowplow Roadeo (held on October 11th) attended and participated in the NEAPWA's Snowplow Roadeo. The Connecticut teams competed against other teams from around New England.
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On behalf of CASHO, CIRMA and the T2 Center, we would like to congratulate Michael Degan and Adam O'Neill of the Town of Bloomfield, for their 1st place finish. They will attend the APWA National Snowplow Roadeo next September in Loveland, Colorado.
Congratulations, guys, and we wish you luck next year!
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Explore New Haven and the 24th Annual Fantasy of Lights
The 24th Annual Fantasy of Lights in Lighthouse Point Park, New Haven, CT runs from November 16th through December 31st. Fantasy of Lights, presented by Goodwill of Southern New England, has become a holiday tradition for thousands of families. This bright and colorful light display illuminates Lighthouse Point Park for the holiday season.
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For more information on the 24th Annual Fantasy of Lights,
click here
.
To find other fun things to do, see and eat while you're in New Haven,
click here
.
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Tips from Tony: Answer
Sec. 14-293a. Riding animals on highways
. Any person who rides any horse or other animal upon a public highway shall conform to the provisions of this chapter (chapter 248 Vehicle Highway Use) and chapter 249, unless such provisions clearly do not apply from the language or context or such application would be inconsistent with the manifest intention of the statutes. The fines established in accordance with section 51-164m for violations of the provisions of this chapter and chapter 249, with respect to a motor vehicle, shall apply if the same violation of a provision is committed in the riding of a horse or other animal.
Sec. 14-293b. Responsibilities of motor vehicle operators when approaching equestrians
.
(a) When an operator of a motor vehicle is approaching a person riding a horse on a public highway, such operator shall reduce speed appropriately or stop, if necessary, to avoid endangering the equestrian or frightening or striking the horse. (b)
No operator of a motor vehicle in the vicinity of an equestrian and horse may blow a horn or cause loud or unusual noises, in a manner to startle or frighten the horse. (c)
A statement concerning such responsibilities shall be included in the instruction manual for motor vehicle operation of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
In addition, CTDOT provides information and resources on safely
sharing the road
,
including a helpful brochure on "Road Safety for Motor Vehicle Drivers and Equestrians" produced by the Connecticut Horse Council, Inc.
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Use these links to get more information about the Connecticut Technology Transfer (T2) Center:
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If you have any ideas or suggestions for future
Connecticut Crossroads
topics, please feel free to email the designer Regina Hackett at
[email protected]
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