WARREN TMHA board: Reroute traffic to boost safety

The authority previously closed the Arnold Street entrance into Highland Terrace to improve safety.
WARREN -- Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority wants to vacate the Duke Street entrance into Fairview Gardens to improve safety.
The board of directors voted Monday to move forward with plans. The authority's plan must be approved by the city. The entrance has been a source of nonresident traffic and has provided the opportunity for illegal activity.
"TMHA's goal is to maintain and provide a safe and secure environment for our residents to raise their families," Donald W. Emerson Jr., executive director, said in a news release. "By limiting accessibility of nonresident traffic and decreasing the traffic flow through this area, we hope to improve the quality of life for the residents at Fairview while also benefiting the community as a whole."
More illegal activity
He said the area has seen a spike in illegal activity and the authority wants to be proactive in addressing it.
"With the summer, we thought this was an opportune time to address the matter," Emerson said.
Vacating the Duke Street entrance leaves residents and visitors with two routes to enter the development off Niles Road, at Draper Street and Benton Street. The subsequent fencing that will go up in and around Duke Street will be converted into a playground area for children living in that area.
"As proven at Highland Terrace when Arnold Street was vacated and subsequent traffic rerouted, this adds to the security and safety of our residents by telling those wishing to engage in illegal activities that there are no easy escape routes from our development once the police are on your trail," Emerson said. "This more than sends the message to stay away from here."