Crash Overview

Location Description

In some circles, Ella T. Grasso Boulevard is known as "Death Boulevard". For a long time, the four lane stretch near Columbus Avenue has been notorious for its perilous conditions. The area is a hodgepodge of commercial spots, like the Boulevard Flea Market, and essential services such as the Columbus House homeless shelter.  Residential zones are sprinkled in, but the disjointed layout and lack of cohesive planning suggest that additional urban planning could do this area well. 

For road users behind the wheel, the boulevard is a mix of drag strip and obstacle course. The road’s design encourages speeding, and with minimal pedestrian infrastructure, drivers may be caught off guard by unexpected foot traffic.

On the flip side, pedestrians face a gauntlet of challenges. Many sections lack sidewalks, forcing walkers onto makeshift dirt paths littered with debris. Crossing the boulevard may feel like a high-speed game of chance, with cars often ignoring non-existent pedestrian signals.

Why was this crash selected? 

• There have been multiple crashes on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard; both crashes examined during this session were fatal to pedestrians. 
• This strip of the Boulevard is of interest because there were substantively different responses to the north section and south section crashes.
• The section of the Boulevard north of Columbus Avenue received a road diet and quick-build interventions in 2023 as a response to the crash that occurred there in 2020.
• The south section has not been modified significantly since 2020. 
• As a result of the north section crash and several non-fatal crashes, the state Department of Transportation implemented a quick build to reduce the number of lanes from four to two on the north section of the Boulevard.

What additional information is available? 

• A redacted police report from the south section crash. 
• Diagrams to assist you with visualizing and understanding the measurements of the crash location.
• A folder containing the speed study and processed speed data. 

• Ella T. Grasso Southbound (North Section).png200 KB
• Ella T. Grasso - Southbound - (South Section).png200 KB
• Police Crash Report - Ella T Grasso REDACTED.pdf3 MB