Main Street in Beacon Falls has turned into quite the speedway, mainly due to Woodland Regional High School and the rushing along that comes with it. Students and parents are often seen speeding through town during the early morning hours, as well as after school.
CT Insider states “Many residents want something done to slow traffic down. Town officials are looking to install a speed camera to prevent reckless driving, making Beacon Falls one of the first towns in Connecticut to use the technology.”
The Board of Selectmen held a public hearing and town meeting at 7 p.m. on February 20 at the senior center, where residents had the opportunity to voice their opinions and vote on the option of having a speed camera installed in the center of town according to Beacon Falls Town Meeting Minutes. Many individuals shared their thoughts to advocate for change.
If approved, the camera would be installed under a new town order with the goal of making roads safer for drivers and pedestrians. It would also provide a safer environment for students, some of whom are new drivers, to get to their destination slowly and safely. Jaren Hoffman, Vinny Messina, and Sam Rabano have noticed the excessive speed that students are traveling at on Main Street going to school, as well as coming home.
Beacon Falls Public Hearing Notice states Beacon Falls officials have been dealing with speeding for years, mostly on Main Street and South Main Street. The town has tried different methods to slow drivers down, like speed humps, but some believe they aren’t enough.
A speed study last summer on South Main Street near Ace Auto Sales showed that nearly 5,000 vehicles traveled through the area, where the posted speed limit is 40 mph. The results showed that most cars were going between 50 and 60 mph, and four vehicles were clocked at 77 mph, according to First Selectman Gerard Smith. says CT Insider.
“People are not just driving a little over the speed limit,” Smith said.
In 2022, Beacon Falls installed speed humps on Burton Road, but Smith acknowledged that while they helped in that particular area, they haven’t reduced speeding in other areas of town.
The exact location of the speed camera is still being decided, but officials believe it will likely be placed on Main Street or in the town center, where speeding is most common.
The town is working with Traffic Logix and Dacra, two companies that specialize in speed enforcement technology, to install and manage the camera according to Beacon Falls Town Meeting Minutes.
Before the camera can be installed, the Beacon Falls Police Department must decide on the location and obtain state approval. If the proposal passes, the first camera is expected to be installed within six to nine months.
While town leaders are hopeful the camera will reduce speeding and prevent unnecessary accidents, some officials fear that it may cause drivers to avoid Main Street altogether.
“As soon as people realize there are cameras on Main Street, they’re going to bypass that road and drive through the side streets to avoid it,” said Selectman Michael A. Krenesky states CT Insider.
Smith also described a recent experience where he had to change lanes to avoid a pickup truck speeding at 60 mph near the Beacon Hose Co. No. 1 firehouse, an area where speeding issues have been identified. Jennifer Genthe and local resident Paula Delmedicco also had to abruptly change lanes due to excessive speed.
“I’m just like, ‘How fast do you people need to drive?'” Smith said.
The first speed camera will cost $1,000, but if the town decides to install more, each additional camera will cost $23,000 explained Beacon Falls Public Hearing Notice.
Beacon Falls is following in the footsteps of Washington, Connecticut, which was the first town in the state to approve speed cameras last year. However, Washington’s installation has been delayed due to equipment delivery issues.
Town leaders say they will monitor the effectiveness of the camera before deciding whether to expand the program to other areas.
Beacon Falls residents had the opportunity to weigh in on the proposal at the February 20 town meeting. If approved, the Beacon Falls Police Department will determine the camera’s exact location and seek state approval before installation in the coming months according to Beacon Falls Town Meeting Minutes.
Officials hope the move will make roads safer for everyone, including residents and those passing through.
“We need to make Beacon Falls a safer place,” Smith said.
Residents interested in sharing their views were encouraged to attend the February 20 meeting at the senior center.
