Description
Everyone from Arlington and the surrounding towns knows that Lake Street northbound is a total disaster in the afternoon rush, with a 20+ minute backup getting through the traffic light at Mass Ave.
It doesn't have to be this way! Arlington could easily retime the light to reduce the problem.
The vast majority of pedestrians cross with the green light, and don't wait for the all-way walk after pushing the button. So the all-way walk phase should be eliminated, in favor of concurrent walk lights along with the green.
And Lake Street should get a little more green time in the PM rush.
Arlington shouldn't wait for the Mass Ave reconstruction to make this fix. They should send someone out with a screwdriver this week.
5 Comments
Matthew (Guest)
Matthew (Guest)
AE (Guest)
boblothrope (Registered User)
Matthew, there is no such law requiring all-way walk phases. Dozens of lights in Cambridge and Boston don't have them, including most recently reconstructed lights. And both Mass Ave and Lake Street are town roads, not state roads.
AE, there is *no* traffic light for the Minuteman Bikeway at Lake Street. There's a crosswalk. So pedestrians absolutely do have the right of way, though it's unclear what bikes are supposed to do. In any case, while there might be a traffic problem at the bike path, there certainly is a huge traffic problem at Mass Ave.
Closed Grant (Registered User)