Description

The issue on these lights has been going on in this intersection for the past 2 years, and despite numerous people issuing complaints, I am shocked that nothing has been done to get them finally back to how they were. I will say that recently, it appears that the left turn lane signals are finally working as they should - that when a car is approaches, the sensors pick it up and activate the signal, as opposed to a constant rotation of the lights regardless of if there is traffic or not - however there are still issues with Locust Street and Eastern Avenue.

Now, the Locust Street signals have been given priority over Eastern Avenue/Route 6 North and South bound traffic. Traffic is far heavier on Eastern Avenue/Route 6 than Locust Street, and yet the Locust Street lights stay green for double the time the Eastern Avenue lights stay green. Also, unless a car approaches on Eastern Avenue, the traffic light stays on the red.

Until 2 years ago, these lights functioned as follows: Eastern Avenue North and South bound traffic was given priority and the lights stayed green unless either Locust Street and/or Left Turn Lane traffic approached the intersection and activated the sensors underground. If either or both Locust Street and the Left Turn lanes were occupied, then the Eastern Avenue traffic was stopped, Locust Street was given the green, followed by the Left Turn Lane if applicable, then the green went back to Eastern Avenue and remained green until another car approached from Locust Street or the Left Turn Lane. That was how the light pattern was set since day one and it lasted for more than a decade until Summer 2012. In fact, this new pattern has been so bad that during the school year, traffic backs up to the point where more and more people are cutting across and speeding down side streets just to avoid the intersection, which poses another safety concern for the neighborhood. Whenever I come over the hill on the northbound side, I have to constantly slam on my brakes because traffic is backed up instead of flowing like it should on Eastern Avenue, the main thorough fair.

There is a reason why these lights worked so well for 10 plus years and I IMPLORE you to revisit this issue and get these lights working properly again.