Description
The walk sign to cross 16th Street along the northern side of East-West Highway is not long enough. If a pedestrian begins crossing when the walk sign is illuminated, he/she cannot, at a reasonable pace, cross before the sign begins blinking to stop. This is dangerous for slower pedestrians in particular, as cars turning right from WB East-West onto NB 16th street consistently turn during the walk signal cycle. I personally have had cars turn so close to me while the walk signal is illuminated as to be close enough for me to touch without so much as a pivot.
3 Comments
Shelley Day, PAA (Guest)
We will report this to our Transportation Management Center for investigation and repair.
Sincerely,
Shelley Day, PAA
Department of Transportation
Division of Traffic Engineering and Operations
TrafficOps (Guest)
Thank You for the email regarding the intersection of Sixteenth Street and East-West Highway. We can appreciate your concerns for pedestrian safety at the subject intersection. The traffic signal at the subject intersection is part of a coordinated signal system and due to traffic volumes this intersection can not operate safely as an independent traffic signal.
Once the pedestrian push button is activated the local computer will service the request at the proper time in the cycle when the pedestrian movement can be safely accommodated. Once the pedestrian movement is serviced the “WALK” signal is on only long enough to get the pedestrian off the curb. The flashing “DON’T WALK” signal is the indication and the timings that get the pedestrian from one side of the intersection to the other side of the intersection. Basically curb to curb. In addition we are also trying to educate the public on how a pedestrian signal is timed through brochures and our website .
In regards to your concerns about motorist not yielding to pedestrians. Maryland State Law requires motorist to yield to pedestrians who are walking across the intersection in the cross walk at the proper time in the cycle length. Basically the pedestrian signal displaying the Walk indication and the Flashing Don;t Walk indication. Based upon your concerns we have forwarding your concern to the Montgomery County Police so they can increase the patrols in that area.
Closed Anonymous (Guest)