A commuter and high school student were hit by cars recently, while they were walking on roadways where people have already died. Can’t our town government do better?
Last month, a young man told the Board of Selectmen that he was hit by a car near the Old Greenwich Train Station. He lived to tell the story; however, he noted a 62-year old woman was not as lucky and died from her injuries after crossing a nearby poorly lit corner in 2019. The crossing is still dark and dangerous seven years after she was killed, he pointed out.
Victims of traffic injuries come before the Board of Selectmen because traffic safety is the responsibility of the First Selectman. Accidents continue to happen, where serious, and sometimes fatal, incidents have happened in the past. In some cases changes have not been made, and in an area such as Byram, the “fix” has caused more problems.
Selectwoman Rachel Khanna raised concern over the issue. “Pedestrian safety has been a recurring concern for residents all over town and we continue to see serious accidents,” she said. “Until our leadership identifies it as a priority and develops a plan to really address pedestrian safety, we will continue to see residents come before us recounting their injuries.”
Accidents are repeating
Earlier at the same December meeting, another resident told the board that a high school student was hit near the corner of Anderson Road and Millbank Road. This corner is only blocks away from where pedestrians died from their injuries in 2020 and 2018. It’s also only steps away from a Rapid Flashing Beacon on a crosswalk to Julian Curtiss School with its buttons taped off, which would otherwise signal drivers a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.
The danger of Greenwich’s streets is well-documented. There were 83 accidents involving pedestrian and bicyclists, between Feb. 2022 to Aug. 2025, according to data extracted from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository.
In February of last year, a man died from injuries after he was struck in a crosswalk at the intersection of Henry Street and Mill Street in Byram. Later in the year, the town installed bump-outs in the area, hoping the narrower street would slow people down. However, the “fix” has caused multiple head-on crashes, two cars veering off the road hitting buildings, and many drivers experiencing tire blowouts, after their cars scaled the curb, according to Byram Neighborhood Association Chair Liz Eckert.
Eckert has been raising concerns about the roadways in that area ever since her husband was hit by a car in 2019 on the corner of Delavan Avenue and Veterans Way.
Last year, Greenwich secured a $450,000 Urban Action Grant for pedestrian safety in Byram, thanks to it being championed by Selectwoman Rachel Khanna, when she was state rep. and state Rep. Steve Meskers. But, this money has not been used for pedestrian safety as expected.
Piecemeal fixes are not the solution
What’s missing is a comprehensive plan to improve the safety of our streets, such as Complete Streets. Many streets were designed with only cars in mind, but our streets have to work for all of us: pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, and people of all ages. Greenwich is lagging CT towns like Stamford, Norwalk, Hartford and many others that have integrated Complete Streets into their city planning. Leadership must come from the top, by making pedestrian safety a priority and working with DPW to make it happen.
Act locally
Did you know Greenwich has its own legislative body—one that’s nearly a century old? Every two years, residents elect neighbors to serve as their voice in local government. Earlier this week, the 230-member Representative Town Meeting (RTM) was officially sworn in for a new term.
The RTM is made up of representatives from 12 districts, with seats allocated based on the number of registered voters. It’s one of the largest legislatures in the country and one of the most direct forms of representative democracy you’ll find anywhere. Chances are, someone you know in your neighborhood, in your book club, from your church, or at your kid’s school, is serving.
What the RTM does
The RTM plays a central role in shaping life in Greenwich. Its responsibilities include:
- Adopting resolutions that encourage other town bodies to take action
- Reviewing and voting on the annual town budget transmitted from the finance board (with the power to approve or cut items, but not add)
- Accepting gifts to the town
- Approving changes to town property through the Municipal Improvement process
- Confirming appointments to town boards, committees, and commissions
- Passing ordinances
- Adopting resolutions that encourage other town bodies to take action
Your voice in town decisions
Importantly, RTM members serve as your representatives. In recent sessions, the body heard extensive feedback from residents on issues ranging from neighborhood flooding, school building projects, gas-powered leaf blower regulations, a retail plastic bag ban, extending dog season at Tod’s Point, and sidewalk bump-outs on Greenwich Avenue.
As RTM member Myra Klockenbrink notes, “If a resident is seeking clarity on an issue or feels stymied by town processes, a district member could help with answers or flag an issue for the appropriate committee.” Find out who your district reps are and how the RTM voted. They were elected to serve you.
What we’re reading
We can make a difference by showing up, as evidenced by the following stories.
Avelo Airlines, the biggest carrier for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced it will no longer be used for deportations. This is thanks to the efforts of concerned citizens organizing boycotts, demonstrations and political pressure.
Local activists educated the public on 19 actions and attitudes in Trump’s administration that are consistent with fascism to people driving by. Most signs individually may not be new to many of us, yet the sheer number is a compelling reminder of just how profound the changes that are afoot in our country, and how much we are straying from the ideals that we learned in grammar school.
Connecticut residents can breathe easier, as citizens across the country face hiked up medical insurance costs, after Republicans in Washington failed to extend the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. Gov. Ned Lamont announced last month, the state will give financial help to eligible residents who are enrolled in the Access Health CT insurance plans.
Action Calendar
January 22. Learn.
Annual Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. Conversation: Third Spaces: Building Belonging Beyond Home and Work. A comprehensive discussion with sociologist Eric Klinenberg. YWCA Greenwich, 259 East Putnam Avenue. 7 – 8:30 p.m. Register here.
January 27. Engage.
Proposed town and school budget presentations from the First Selectman and Board of Education. 6:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room (101 Field Point Road) and streamed on Greenwich Community TV (YouTube and cable). Have your say on what’s important to you during the Public Hearing which starts at 7:00 p.m.
January 30. Converse.
Join Selectwoman Rachel Khanna for coffee and conversation at The Cafe at Greenwich Library. Hear about what’s happening in town and bring your feedback and questions. 101 West Putnam Ave. 1:00 p.m.
| Volume 4, Number 30 • January 22, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |