Green light changed – now too short!

[Neener]

Any idea where to go log a request of WSDOT to revert back to past traffic light times? On the corner of California and Erskine, they’ve shortened the green light so now only three cars can get through (between Uptown Espresso and 7-11). In the morning especially, it can take 2-3 rotations of the signal (5-way stop) to get through the intersection.

It’s a karma killer because anyone pulling out of Uptown Espresso or 7-11, or even talking on the phone, will cause me to sit yet another rotation. I’ve changed the route I take, as a result, but I miss my old route! Help!

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[WSB]

e-mail traffic.signals@seattle.gov

That’s the address that has come up in our previous reports about the Admiral/California signal situation.

Here’s the home page for info:

http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/trafficsignals.htm

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[flowerpetal]

You can also use this email to get to a person:

carbina.resendez@seattle.gov

or call 684-ROAD (7623)

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[Neener]

Thank you both so very much. I’ve sent mail to both e-mail addresses. Let’s hope this gets addressed. Nothing worse than bad karma in the early morning before work. =)

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[flowerpetal]

I think it is good to use the available lines of communication that are set up in City, County, State Govt. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be addressed in the way that you want it to be. Good luck!

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[Neener]

I received a response. Turns out that the light was shortened by 10 seconds, and it was supposed to have the same timing as before. Let’s hope they update it. Here’s the response:

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) with your observations about the signalized intersection at California Avenue SW and Erskine Way SW.

We recently changed the signal controller cabinet and all the associated hardware that runs this intersection. However, the new equipment was supposed to emulate the operation of the old equipment. I have checked the programmed values for the new controller, and Erskine Way is supposed to receive up to 30 seconds of green, depending on how much traffic is waiting. This is reasonably comparable to the 40 seconds of green that was previously used, but it is a reduction. I will ask the engineer that prepared the programming for the new controller about this, and if there is no outstanding reason not to, I will increase the green time for SW Erskine Street to what it was before.

Again, thank you for your inquiry. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly at (206) 386-4529 or chris.faulkner@seattle.gov I will be happy to assist you further.

Sincerely,

Christopher Faulkner, Associate Civil Engineer

Seattle Department of Transportation

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[JanS]

nice..now hold them to it…the squeaky wheel, etc..does work some of the time :)

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[Neener]

This is how I replied to Christopher – I’ll hold the city to it for sure:

Thanks for the response, Christopher.

I hope that you can have the timing updated for the traffic signal. Absolutely, the 10 seconds makes a big difference. Unless the city intends to have people change their routes so they do not use this intersection, it seems that retaining the same timing – as planned – makes sense. All my neighbors have also changed their routes out of the neighborhood due to this light timing issue. It really is quite annoying, especially due to the two businesses that feed into the intersection that might not be accounted for by any type of “automated” car counter that the light might use (there’s a 7-11 and a coffee shop on either corner, and cars pull into the queue at the light from both businesses ongoing, especially in the morning).

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[Synergy3k]

I’m so glad you sent the e-mail, I had been wondering about that myself. I sit at Uptown with my morning cuppa almost every day, and earlier in the week my sister and I watched car after car run the light after it changed so quickly. It’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.

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