The City of Norwalk, Norwalk Bike/Walk Commission, and Norwalk Community College (NCC) worked together to address pedestrian safety issues on Richards Avenue. The result was a cost-effective project that increased public safety by reducing vehicular speeds in the area.
As a street nearly 40-feet wide, Richards Avenue offered few cues to reduce speed. Motorists often approached NCC along Richards Avenue at speeds that were greater than posted and higher than recommended for pedestrian areas. Vehicles approaching NCC pass through low-traffic areas, such as cemeteries and single-family neighborhoods, before entering a section of Richards Avenue that bisects the campus where students regularly cross. The project created more than 30 new on-street parking spots and included the installation of speed monitoring signs.