NHV TTP Discusses Storm Preparedness

Douglas Hausladen, Director of Transportation, Traffic and Parking hosted a live chat event.

"We've bought 8 new trucks so that our 21 out of 22 snow routes have heavy machinery on their routes. What we did last year was we had taken our small trucks and put them on the 'big truck' routes in order to accomplish that. So what we have this year is we have 21 out of 22 snow routes that are filled by DPW heavy machinery equipment. The one remaining snow route is going to be covered by a contractor. In addition to that, we've stepped up our communications of course, you're actually witnessing part of that communication.

"Just Friday night, when this storm was supposed to be light rain on Tuesday, I was talking with the head of our evening supervisors, and he said that he was receiving a lot of positive feedback on Grand Avenue, and Whalley Avenue from our businesses. Tonight, the early indication is that Whalley Avenue is clear of cars and we are doubling our efforts in our PA system in our notifications to make sure that Grand Ave and Ferry St. and other snow routes know that we're coming."

You can stay in touch with when these events are happening in the future by keeping tabs on the official Twitter account from that department.

Tweets by @NewHavenDOT

Ask the New Haven DOT on Monday (Link)

Details (click for link to this event)

On Monday at 7pm, you can hang out with Doug, the director of Transportation, Traffic & Parking department - to talk parking policies and transportation. It's a free and open conversation to the public, using the Google Hangouts technology.

The Event will take place online.  Bring your best ideas and share in participation of the process. This will be a very Government 2.0 way to communicate between citizens and city officials. See Calendar for more events.

PARK(ing) Day.

SeeClickFix.Com  

Mayor Harp and the City of New Haven are proud to announce that it will be participating in PARK(ing) Day again this year. PARK(ing) Day is an annual open-source global event where citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places. The project began in 2005 when Rebar, a San Francisco art and design studio, converted a single metered parking space into a temporary public park in downtown San Francisco. Since 2005, PARK(ing) Day has evolved into a global movement, with organizations and individuals (operating independently of Rebar but following an established set of guidelines) creating new forms of temporary public space in urban contexts around the world.

The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat … at least until the meter runs out!

On Friday September 19th, several New Haven businesses, organizations and artists will be creatively illustrating that the streets can be for more than just cars. This is the sixth year in a row that New Haven has participated. There will be spaces reserved throughout the City, all doing something different.

Whitney and Audubon Bump-Out Nears Completion

New Haven Department of Transportation Director Doug Hausladen was on site today visiting the installation of a much-needed pedestrian walkway at the intersection of Audubon Ct and Whitney Avenue. For the past few days, this intersection has been closed to traffic due to the road construction, but it looks as though the situation should be ready to handle vehicles by tomorrow morning, said Hausladen today, in so many words. The bump-out idea is supposed to make it safer for people to cross, and to slow down traffic a little bit in that area. We look forward to seeing the completed project. In the meantime, we can reminisce about what it used to look like, over on Google Maps.
View Larger Map

Video from Facebook.

Night Shift Gets the Job Done.

“@mjpisci: This night shift gets the job done: building #NHV complete streets & tearing down R34 @NACTO @NewHavenDOT pic.twitter.com/Cw3ajcALwP”
— NH Economic Dev (@NewHavenED) July 11, 2014

How Our City Plows Snow (+PlowGame)

Here's a fun game you can play.  

Have you ever wondered what goes through a plow driver's mind when he skips your street?

Have you ever fully examined your local neighborhood to identify not just the overlooked streets, but the exact reasons for why they seem to be ignored by the city when it's snow time?

The temporary answer is the Snow Plow Game, which uses Custom Google Maps to plot points on the map. First, you should learn some things about the way that the city plows their snow before you play this game. Then, you can play.

How does our city snow response measure up?

Calculations involved in Data Acquisition.  

City Hall in 2014 is experiencing the aftershocks in the wake of the shakeup of the 20-year long DeStefano administration, with the election of Toni Harp, the area's long-standing state Senator who took the helm on Jan 1st (see inauguration). In addition to a new mayor, we also have a new director of Economic Development Matthew Nemerson (who at the time of Night Rainbow was a candidate for mayor himself), and a new Traffic and Parking director, Doug Hausladen, formerly Alderman in the City of New Haven. In 2013, we also saw the departure of PublicWorks dir. John Prokop with the appointment of Douglas Arndt.

There are many new faces to the crowd of people in the best positions to lead the charge against snow accumulation with the dispatching of snow removal vehicles throughout the city.

Admittedly, you can't please everyone; side streets get overlooked and issues are not addressed for days as the laundry list of tasks surmounts into a queue that is unmanageable.

In order to assist, Nhv.Org writer Ian Applegate has the following suggestions to make, with regard to the approach of snow removal, for a better system:

Weather Response Strategies For Traffic & Parking

Doug Hausladen is the newly appointed Director of Traffic and Parking for the City of New Haven. He has yet to sit still for a moment in his new seat as Traffic and Parking Director, and has taken to the internet to increase help crowdsource information that can help not just his department, but also Public Works, to get the right streets plowed.

In a recent Tweet, he called out to the local internet for help with a "flow of information" experiment:

I'm hoping the internets can help @NhvOrg @SeeClickFix @zbeat @benberkowitz @StreetSmarts_NH @urbandata Really a way to crowd source streets
— Doug Hausladen (@doughausladen) February 11, 2014

A Two Way Conversation About Downtown / Chapel West

The Double Yellow Line: Part 1 from #NHV on Vimeo.  Music by SpacePirate.

"My point is, if you drive in, you're not driving the whole entire time.  At some point, you're getting out and becoming a pedestrian." -Jim, NHDOT

All the above are downtown one way streets.

Citizens across the city are being asked to participate in a conversation about whether to make one way streets into two-way streets across the city.  Civil engineering service Fuss and O'Neill will be at hand and accessible until Thursday to provide support to residents interested in discussing the conversion.
The issue most pertinent to the discussion is the topic of Downtown Mobility.  Jim Travers, director of Traffic and Parking, talked about it when asked what provided the idea for initiating the conversation.

Dine Well, Park Free

Click for ParkNewHaven Site.  

Until as recently as last year, parking downtown was only until 7pm.  Currently, the meters run until 9pm which has caused some stir, but it's about to get easier.

Certain restaurants are to allow their customers access to nearby free parking in the Temple or Crown Street Garage (see map).  This will allow patrons of those restaurants to have access to park nearby, for free, and enjoy the night life in New Haven from 4pm-10pm.


View Free Restaurant Parking in a larger map

A Choice of Vegetables

Photo by J. Travers (NHDot)

You'll notice a few additional places to lock up your bicycle this morning.  In the photograph, that's Allan Appel (left, in fishing vest), from the New HavenI ndependent, writing his story on Department of Traffic and Parking intern Ben Green (right, leaning on broccoli sculpture).  Ben helped to design and install these custom-made bike racks, which are meant to look like a squash, carrots, and broccoli (from left to right).  Ben also helped to integrate the new ParkMobile application into the #Nhvparking landscape.  Jim Travers, the director of that department, shared accolades for Ben's proactive role in the department this summer.

If you're looking for real squash, carrots, or broccoli, then look no further, because Claire's Cornercopia is adjacent to the new bike racks.  In fact they were designed to work in conjunction with the vegetarian restaurant, giving a sense of comprehensive cohesion to the semi-urban landscape, as bike racks that look like vegetables was an intentional decision.

Maybe there'll be a fish rack in front of Miyas, a coffee bean rack in front of Willoughby's, or a pizza rack in front of Pepe's or Da Legna.  Although in that case, I'm not sure how one would lock up their bike to a pizza.

You'll find the new bike rack on the corner of Chapel St. and College St.

Special thanks to Jim Travers for providing the inside scoop pic of Ben with NHI reporter Allan Appel
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Public Works: Dialing It In

Traffic and Parking worker replaces traffic light 

If you're a fan of amazing weather, then today's the day for you.  Lots of things happening this week; from the Shakespeare in the Park plays going on until Sept.1 to an opportunity to help plan a new neighborhood with some architects.

You'll also find that tomorrow at 3pm, the Dream Project will be happening on the Green. Declare your dreams there; I'm sure that to say it will be interesting is an understatement.

Get to know this place, because, if even for the time being, you call it home.  ET Phone home!


Elsewhere in town, there have been some minor other traffic lane closures.  This one is on Park and Chapel Streets.  It appears that there is a Ninja Turtle excavation project under way at that location.  There were also some lane closures on Howe Street; all in the name of civic improvement.  It takes much effort to keep a city running.  Stay tuned and we'll try to keep you informed on the latest developments, opportunities, and news in town; all in the same high definition quality of video and imagery, with all links functional and most of the spelling and grammar correct.

34 Connector On/Off Ramp Closings June 10th.

View Air Rights ReRoute in a larger map

Click to view interactive map.

Frontage Rd. and 34 Connector
Expect some lane changes as the first on-ramp and the last exit ramp of the 34 Connector will be closed to traffic starting June 10th, probably in preparation for some introductory building stages beginning in the area around the College Street Bridge.

You can zoom in on the map above.  If you are on a mobile phone, click to view the interactive map.  Notify any changes to NhvOrg@Gmail.

Weekend Forecast: Shamrocks and Road Closures.

St. Patricks Day Parade Route
And Road Closures   [Click Here For Full Page Map]
Parade kicks off on Sunday, March 10th at 1:30pm.
This information is public information available on the Official Parade Website

RED indicates a road closure.  GREEN indicates the actual parade route.  Enjoy!

Road closures for Sunday's St. Patrick's day parade. #NHV #NewHaven ow.ly/issgP
— Vivian(@VivianArtsNH) March 6, 2013

Here Are Some More Helpful Links To Help You Plan The Weekend.

• StPatricksDayParade.Org
  Parade Day Page
  Assembly Map

Parade is likely to include tons of music from various schools and marching bands around the area.  This will be a kid-friendly environment, intended to be fun for children and families so please note the public drinking ordinances and keep that in mind.  There will be time for beer after the parade, when everyone will get belligerent at local pubs around the area.  

You will know it is time to turn the page when you hear the bagpipes on Sun at 1:30.

Please stay informed through this website and the official channels.  This site seeks to make information-seeking easier for the average citizen, by collecting valid information and making it easier to read and understand, putting it in one place, without over-editorializing.

Thanks and enjoy the parade.
-Ian, Editor: Nhv.Org

A version of this map later on (by Friday) will include information from the Assembly Map.

You can learn how to create your own custom maps with GOOGLE.

Morning Commute

• How was yours?  This is a video of a morning commute in #Nhv.  Issues on the road?  Not many other than the usual traffic.  Some electrical work on Orange Street is causing a one-lane situation, but other than that, the cars are moving, the driver isn't filming, and the lighting is good.

Design Challenge!

non-interactive road sign

 Nhv.Org has paired SeeClickFix and MakeHaven on a challenge to improve these pedestrian crossing signs to make them more interactive.

SeeClickFix is a website dedicated to civic improvement, and MakeHaven is a workspace for inventors and thinkers.  It seems only natural to pair these two together for their first combined challenge.

The project is simple:  come up with a design that improves the ability for pedestrians to cross the street safely.  The result?  A  better world!

Why Should Pedestrians Have Priority?

The reason why pedestrians have priority in situations involving crossing the street, even a very busy street such as Willow, is because walking is better for the environment.  Therefore driving should be seen as a disadvantage in strategic crossing situations.  The law is clearly on the side of peds, as indicated by these highly florescent road signs placed auspiciously in the middle of the street.

Challenges To The Designers
Even without electronics, these signs have difficulty withstanding the elements.  The goal is to create a design that is simple, effective, and affordable to manufacture.

Another challenge is potential of theft.  The device has to either be very difficult to steal, or look very unappealing.  One childish rendition of the design is available:

Relation Between SeeClickFix and MakeHaven Aside from the obvious connection between the forces driving both organizations, both seek the goal of improvement of quality of life; one with civic responsibility and the other with ingenuity and design.  Once Makehaven has developed a prototype for the radio sensor, it will be scrutinized by the New Haven SeeClickFix community (as with all things here) and the design will be perfected through the process of testing in real-world situation. The Goal (reward) and Follow-Up If the design is a success and an invention is completed and tested, then Nhv.Org will release an awesome video, for free, about the design and development of this project. Sorry we can't offer you something better!  Maybe in addition "SpacePirate" will throw in a free CD or a USB Zip drive with every nintendo game ever made.

• There is no deadline on this project

New Parking Meters Installed.

The old parking meters were able to report back to City Hall what their voltages were.  It was explained that if the voltage fell below a certain level, they were indicated to the location of the meter so that they could change the battery.  Amazingly high-tech, for a bunch of parking meters, wouldn't you say?

Should the City subsidize or provide vouchers to businesses to give to their workers so that they can drive to work, or would that open the doors to misuse?  How would you extend the offer only to employees of downtown businesses at night, without allowing it to become transferable to a wider audience of recipients?  Also is there a way to encourage more people to bike to work, even if it's at night?