Description

The intersection of State and Humphrey Street in New Haven is very pedestrian unfriendly. There are several very active businesses and restaurants in the vicinity, additionally the probate and probation building have great pedestrian activity. I cross this intersection back and forth at least three times a day on foot and have seen and experienced many close calls. Typically after pressing the pedestrian pole button it take 2-3 cycles or cars in both directions before the pedestrian crossing is indicated, even if there is little or no vehicle traffic. If there are two or three fellow pedestrians at adjacent corners pressing the buttons sometimes it will trigger a little faster. One side of the intersection is quite a bit wider than the other and the pedestrian timer gives barely enough time to get across without breaking into a trot. Most of the time drivers make right turns on reds while the walking man signal is up anyway and ignore the pedestrian crossing lights all together. I have learned to simply cross when there are no cars coming and it's safe, not by the pole indicators. Perhaps additional signage to alert drivers that they need to yield to pedestrians when the crossing lights are active would be helpful. It's really only a matter of time before someone is hurt at this intersection.