Westbrook police say Haskell Street speed study shows most drivers comply; council weighs targeted enforcement and dynamic signs

Westbrook Police Chief Lally presented two 20‑day speed studies on Haskell Street at the Facilities and Streets Committee meeting on June 15, saying most drivers travel within the 25 mph limit but that a small number of higher‑speed outliers persist.

"Back in October, we measured 11,371 cars over those 20 [days] and the average speed was 21 miles per hour," Chief Lally said. "The 85th percentile ... is 27 miles per hour." He said a second study in June measured 10,367 cars, with the average speed rising to 23 mph and the 85th percentile to 29 mph.

Those findings frame a mix of technical fixes and enforcement options the committee discussed. Lally said peak volumes on Haskell occur between 7 and 8 a.m. and between 5 and 6 p.m., making those windows the most effective times to deploy limited traffic‑enforcement resources. "If we have limited resources, when should we deploy them? The answer is between 7 and 8 and 5 and 6 based on sheer volume," he said.

Lally urged a layered approach: targeted patrols during peak windows, resident reporting of repeat offenders and a rotating list of traffic‑priority streets so officers can focus attention across problem areas. "If you're a resident of the street and you notice the same car every day ... call the police department and let us know," he said, describing outreach to drivers' households as a way to gain voluntary compliance.

Councilors pressed for tools to catch repeat high‑speed drivers. Councilor Chow asked whether the speed‑measurement trailer provides time stamps that would identify repeat offenders; Lally replied that the trailer captures speed and volume but not dates, times or plate numbers, so it cannot be used to build an incident‑by‑incident log. "It doesn't put down the date and time," he said, noting privacy and technical limits of the device.

Several councilors expressed interest in radar‑activated dynamic speed signs as a behavioral tool. Lally described those devices as effective but noted drawbacks: upfront cost, maintenance, vandalism and the need to budget for replacements. "You buy a sign and you still have to pay to maintain it," he said, adding that the department has experienced vandalism of its speed trailer.

Council discussion also considered street design. Committee members and Lally said parking on both sides of Haskell can narrow the roadway and slow traffic, and they debated whether bumpouts or new sidewalks could improve pedestrian safety. Lally noted sidewalks are only present on parts of Haskell and that the south side lacks sidewalks, which can increase pedestrians' perceived exposure to fast‑moving vehicles.

Councilor McCambridge thanked the department for redoing the study and supported targeted, intermittent enforcement during peak periods. Vice President Shaughnessy suggested exploring bumpouts and other physical measures to slow traffic while acknowledging tradeoffs with parking. Several members asked Lally to repeat the study in the summer to check for differences when school is out; Lally said he would "put that on my list."

No ordinances, resolutions or binding votes on traffic measures were taken at the meeting. With no further business, the committee adjourned.

The committee discussed next steps informally: consider a summertime repeat of the speed study, gather cost estimates for dynamic signs, and continue targeted enforcement during identified peak hours.