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Stamford Mayor: Downtown Traffic Safety Measures Taking Shape

STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Stamford officials are making strides toward improving safety for drivers and pedestrians on downtown streets, but there's still much work to be done, the city's mayor says.

Mayor David Martin told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau that since the initiative began in September there have been notable improvements, including better visibility for motorists and pedestrians. Critical to that, he said, is that drivers can no longer make right turns at red lights.

Stamford Mayor: Downtown Traffic Safety Measures Taking Shape

When asked to give the effort a grade, the mayor that noted, for the past 20 years, the city had been barely above a C.

"The stuff we're doing so far is incomplete," Martin said. "But it looks like a performance of at least a B-plus, A-minus," he said. "And if we get it all the way, then I'm shooting for an A-plus."

Synchronizing the flow of traffic is also an important goal.

Stamford police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher, who heads the traffic enforcement unit, said patrol officers are stressing pedestrian awareness to the changing traffic patterns since, he said, no one wants to ticket a pedestrian.

"Because, unfortunately, we know that that's something that a pedestrian who visits our downtown will remember more than the wonderful restaurants and shops and the good experience they will have in downtown Stamford," he said. "But they certainly would remember that they got hit with a $92 jaywalking ticket."

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