Residents press police on speeding, blind spots on Mill Road; commission to re-evaluate traffic calming

Residents of Mill Road told the New Canaan Police Commission on Sept. 17 they are fearful for children and pedestrians because of speeding, narrow lanes and multiple blind spots. The commission and police pledged to reexamine traffic‑calming measures but said options are limited by road design and operational concerns.

"Speeding on the road is quite dangerous," said Neil McMorrow, a Mill Road resident. He described families with young children and multiple blind spots and said past interactions with the school bus contractor produced only temporary change. Lindsay Quinlan, a neighbor, said she has two small children and asked the town to consider speed humps placed strategically: "We would love to just see, you know, from the town more efforts."

Police described previous enforcement and monitoring. "When this complaints first started coming in last year, we did selective enforcement 16 times down there," a department speaker said, adding that two enforcement instances produced violations and others yielded verbal warnings. The department cited an October–November traffic study showing an 85th‑percentile speed of about 28 mph on the road segment studied and noted that a large vehicle such as a school bus will feel faster to pedestrians in confined spaces.

Commission and staff said they do not have a formal written ban on speed humps but have historically avoided them because they can prompt complaints, complicate winter maintenance and, in some cases, be removed by other jurisdictions. The commission agreed to revisit the question, put out speed monitors again, evaluate strategic speed‑hump locations if safe, and confer with the school‑bus company (school bus operations are GPS monitored) to check bus speeds.

Police also urged residents to help by organizing neighbors, share information with the department, and consider sidewalks as a longer‑term, infrastructure solution where right‑of‑way and property impacts can be addressed. Commissioners cautioned residents that road geometry and limited right‑of‑way may constrain improvements and that some changes the community requests may not be feasible.

No formal motion or binding order was adopted; the commission directed staff to reassess traffic‑calming options and report back.