Traffic Signal Issue

[RadicalModerate]

I am aware that there is a phone number that one can call to report issues such as the ones mentioned below. Please be advised that I made such a call a couple of weeks ago and that no action seems to have resulted. Previous calls over the past few years resulted in almost immediate repairs so I thought I'd do a little test and see if any of those who might be concerned with issues like this ever check out this forum.

I travel up or down North Pennsylvania at least four times a day, five days a week. There is a traffic light at the T-Intersection of NW 115th and Penn that should NEVER turn red for traffic on Penn unless a vehicle is waiting to make a left turn from 115th onto southbound Penn. During the last few months I have noticed that this light seems to randomly turn red and stop all traffic on Penn even when there isn't a vehicle on 115th as far east as one can see. This same problem has been addressed--and fixed--at least twice in the past but seems to have returned. This light malfunction and/or mis-programming wastes time, patience and fuel and needs to be corrected. I realize that some might say that the light should turn red to allow southbound traffic make a left turn onto eastbound 115th, and there may be a grain of truth to that at certain times of day. Yet that really has nothing to do with the immediate problem of the light randomly turning red--and staying red for an abnormally long time--for no reason at all.

Just north of that location is another signal at the T-intersection of Highland Park and Penn. Here again: There is no reason for this light to ever turn red for traffic on Penn unless someone is waiting to make a left turn onto northbound Penn. I think this one needs to be checked and re-calibrated too.

[UnclePete]

I remember when we had a member of the traffic commission that insisted the lights be red against traffic on the thru street in order to slow the traffic down. Maybe this guy is still there.

[Anonymous.]

Are these older or newer traffic signals? Believe it or not, some lights are not 'intelligent' and don't have an awareness of vehicles waiting etc.


I am intrigued with how some traffic lights are able to prioritize vehicles @ busy intersections (EG: people turning left @ a light get #1 priority). It would be nice to hear from someone locally who knows the ins and outs of the deal around intersections here.

[RadicalModerate]

I don't know if these are "newer" or "older" style lights but I do know that the "Freddies" light (at HIghland Park) has only been in place for a relatively short time. The last couple of times they fixed the "Heritage Hall" light at 115th it had something to do with the "loop" or sensor in the pavement malfunctioning and picking up vehicles in the right turn lane (or something like that). In any case, it is a situation that needs to be fixed. If you are among the dozen or more cars from both directions, on Penn, sitting there idling at a red light for no reason at all--or even the lone vehicle traveling down Penn at 10:15 at night, stopping for the light that just turned red--I am confident you would agree.

(Heck, if you are an environmentalist who doesn't drive, think of zero mpg and the extra air pollution . . . =)

[RadicalModerate]

I remember when we had a member of the traffic commission that insisted the lights be red against traffic on the thru street in order to slow the traffic down. Maybe this guy is still there.

Is this the same guy who experimented with intentional potholes as a form of speed bumps?

[catch22]

Unfortunately, these issues exist all over the city. South Penn is also pretty bad. Lot of intersections turning red for no reason and staying red for 30 seconds.

Or 104th and South Penn, turning left from 104th onto Penn (to go south): At night it will not recognize your car and skip giving a left turn signal. If you don't run the red, you literally will sit there all night long. It will not give you a signal.

The same thing occurs at 89th and S. Penn for the left turn from 89th.

[RadicalModerate]

There needs to be a law that says: "If you have dutifully sat through one failed left turn signal, you are free to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic then make a proper left turn without fear of a traffic citation."

[catch22]

They should turn the full arterial intersection to flashing red from say midnight to 430am. In the suburbs where there isn't much traffic at those hours.

Nothing like sitting at a traffic light at 3:20 am on the way to work for a full minute watching nothing go by waiting for the crossing street to go red and my street to go green.

[RadicalModerate]

They should turn the full arterial intersection to flashing red from say midnight to 430am. In the suburbs where there isn't much traffic at those hours.

One suggestion: Flashing red for the side streets, flashing yellow for the primary street.

Nothing like sitting at a traffic light at 3:20 am on the way to work for a full minute watching nothing go by waiting for the crossing street to go red and my street to go green.

Maybe the plan here is to provide us with Moments for Meditation . . . (i know what I'D be "meditating" about)

[Bill Robertson]

There needs to be a law that says: "If you have dutifully sat through one failed left turn signal, you are free to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic then make a proper left turn without fear of a traffic citation."

Thankfully, for those of us that ride a motorcycle most of the time, there is such a law. But it only applies to motorcycles.

[ljbab728]

Maybe the new flashing yellow turn signals will help with the situations mentioned above when they are used more extensively.

[Snowman]

... Or 104th and South Penn, turning left from 104th onto Penn (to go south): At night it will not recognize your car and skip giving a left turn signal. If you don't run the red, you literally will sit there all night long. It will not give you a signal. ...

Does anyone know why the city seems to hate the left turn lights that have the indicators for you may turn if it is clear (either the more traditional green circle or the newer flashing yellow arrow)

[1972ford]

Does anyone know why the city seems to hate the left turn lights that have the indicators for you may turn if it is clear (either the more traditional green circle or the newer flashing yellow arrow)

They took that one out at 63rd and MacArthur after I got hit twice in two weeks by an elderly person who claimed he still had an arrow the other elderly guy that in me the following week claimed that the light on the left never changed he could only see the light not the shape he assumed that the far left light hanging from the pole was an arrow now a

[Snowman]

They took that one out at 63rd and MacArthur after I got hit twice in two weeks by an elderly person who claimed he still had an arrow the other elderly guy that in me the following week claimed that the light on the left never changed he could only see the light not the shape he assumed that the far left light hanging from the pole was an arrow now a

If their vision is getting bad enough they can not tell the arrow shape verses the entire bulb, it might be time to revoke their licence.

[RadicalModerate]

Just drove up and back on Penn. Light at NW 115th turned red for no reason. Twice.

[Buffalo Bill]

Just drove up and back on Penn. Light at NW 115th turned red for no reason. Twice.

Call the city Action Center. 297-2535. I keep the number in my phone. Tell them they have a messed up vehicle detector loop. They should get it fixed in a week or so. Sometimes it's only of matter of removing a piece of steel off the roadway that is giving it a false vehicle presence. Sometimes it's matter of resetting the control box.

[RadicalModerate]

I apologize for neglecting to note (and say Thanks!) for the fact that OKC fixed the light at 115th and Penn maybe two weeks or less after I complained about it. Thanks!

[okcfollower]

Thank you! That light annoyed me as well!!!