Petition calls for changes on Fairfield street after 2 fatal pedestrian crashes; town officials to discuss solutions

Denise Fernandez started a petition that already has close to 1,000 signatures in an effort to get stop signs with cameras installed.

Jun 28, 2023, 3:54 PM

Updated 465 days ago

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Some Fairfield residents are pushing for the implementation of safety measures on Redding Road following two fatal pedestrian crashes in recent years.
Denise Fernandez started a petition on Sunday that already has close to 1,000 signatures. The petition calls for the installation of several stop signs with cameras.
"The issue here really isn't the sidewalks as is the speed," Fernandez said.
Fernandez's soon-to-be sister-in-law, Marileady Morel Araujo, 32, was killed by a hit-and-run driver while walking her dog in the 2000 block of Redding Road on July 4, 2020.
"There's not a day that goes by where we don't think about her," Fernandez said.
Nearly three years later, 45-year-old Meghan Raveis, of the William Raveis Charitable Fund, was fatally hit by an SUV while going for a walk in the 500 block of Redding Road Friday.
Police said the driver in that case stayed on scene. Police are still trying to determine what caused that crash.
"One fatality was more than enough," Fernandez said. "We've got Dwight School two doors down from me. This is not an option anymore."
Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said she plans to meet with the police, public works and engineering departments next week to find a solution.
"Look at the data, see what the speeds are," Kupchick said. "Take a site visit and go out there a few times. Walk it and even talk to the neighbors as well."
Kupchick said the town will refer to its Complete Streets policy to determine the best course of action. The policy was created in 2018 and updated a few months ago.
"It's ideas, it's initiatives, it's different, innovative, creative ways to control speeding and make safer access for motorists and pedestrians," Kupchick explained. "We are definitely going to take a look at Redding Road because this is something that has rocked the community."