The City of New Britain recently developed a Vision Zero Safety Action Plan to build a safer transportation network and offer recommendations to improve road user safety. Working as a key subconsultant partner, VHB collaborated closely with the project team to develop conceptual improvements for several intersections and roadways in the City.
Supported by a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the plan marks the next steps in New Britain’s ongoing commitment to its Vision Zero Goal, which is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries and increase safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all residents.
By conducting a comprehensive analysis of the City’s crash trends, the project team identified a high crash network of 34 locations across New Britain. The Safety Action Plan establishes a set of suggested actions for implementing Safe Systems Solutions, including physical changes to the City’s roadway, education opportunities for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians on safe roadway usage, recommendations to support and develop policy changes, and a regularly scheduled review and refinement of transportation safety measures based on data-informed insights.
VHB supported the Vision Zero group meetings, incorporated input from the project team, and developed meaningful conceptual improvements to address the crash trends at several intersections. These enhancements include roundabouts, road diet, traffic signal, and pedestrian mobility improvements. The City intends to pursue funding for the next phase of development for these road improvements.
“We’re excited to have played a role in supporting the project team and the City to implement the plan,” said Director of Transportation Systems Joe Balskus. “This effort rounds out New Britain’s Vision Zero efforts to advance transportation safety, and we look forward to seeing the City's vision for enhanced safety come to fruition.”
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