Flashing Signs To Be Placed At 5 Rail Trail Crossings In Vernon

VERNON, CT — The Vernon Town Council Tuesday gave the go-ahead for sets of flashing signals at five crosswalks along the Vernon Rails to Trails system.

The amount approved is not to exceed $60,000.

Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne and Town Administrator Michael Purcaro had forwarded to the council a request from Vernon Police Chief James Kenny for signs and "rectangular rapid flashing beacons" to be installed in places the trail crosses roadways.

The signs are battery-powered and have a solar panel to recharge the batteries. People using the trail would activate the crossing lights by pressing a button, which causes yellow LEDs to flash as a warning to oncoming drivers that a pedestrian is using the crosswalk.

"We are constantly evaluating the safety of every facility in town, including our parks and trails," Champagne said. "We decided to move forward on these five crossings because of traffic volume and the number of people who use them."

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Kenny and Vernon police Capt. John Kelley said the recommendation was based on vehicle accident data, crossing sightlines and other historical data.

The five crossing locations are:

• West Street (on the hill at the fringes of Rockville)
• Hartford Turnpike (at the crossing near the Rose Commons shopping plaza and Hillside Avenue)
• Dobson Road and Birch Street
• Center Road
• Phoenix Street and Warren Avenue

The West Street and Hartford Turnpike lights would require approval from the Connecticut Department of Transportation because both are classified as state roads.

The estimated cost of a set of lights for each location is $9,070.

Installation could begin this spring, Purcaro said.

Residents have been increasingly calling for such a measure in the wake of several serious traffic incidents. Purcaro said the outcry expediated the process.

"We've heard the people and we're responding," Purcaro added. "It's a proactive measure regarding public safety. We want these crossings to to be as safe as possibly."

There is also another motive.

"And of course we want to slow down the cars," Purcaro said. "The data shows that, with the volume of cars we have in these areas and the speed at which they are traveling, installing these crosswalk improvements is warranted."