Description
This intersection was a million times more efficient, safer for pedestrians, and non-rage-inducing before these GOD AWFUL camera lights were installed. (Maybe they have their place in certain locations, but it seems like every intersection that has been changed to camera lights is way worse now than it was before on a timer system)
1. light is always green on State St. If you are on Olive/Grove or turning off State you will wait forever, watching all of two cars go by on State.
2. Pedestrian cross walk takes equally long to change. By the time it finally does, the person has long since given up on it and just crossed anyway. I felt much safer as a pedestrian when this light followed a regular, predictable pattern.
3. Right lanes on Olive and Grove should be right turn only, and I believe used to be. The absolute worst is when you want to turn right, but have to sit at this interminable red light because some dummy is sitting in the right lane.
I, and others I know, have complained directly to the transportation dept. before to no avail. Just hope this can be improved in some way.
15 Comments
Pedro (Guest)
There are a few more SCF tickets on this intersection, but it's clear that the city is not listening.
Since the intersection redesign, this intersection has become horrendous for pedestrians and drivers alike. It seriously makes whether there is a technical knowledge gap in the traffic and parking department, regarding the implementation of these new intersections.
I times this one day- as designed this intersection could take up to 7 minutes to cross. That's insane!
Whose ward is this in? Doug Hausladen, if this is in your ward, could you please get in touch with someone from traffic and parking to arrange an on-site to meet with concerned residents?
L (Guest)
One thing that might help are longer green lights on Elm, and red light cameras (someday...) to keep people in line.
Abgoode (Guest)
BB (Registered User)
Eric O'Brien (Registered User)
Pedro Soto (Registered User)
The most disappointing thing about this is that Traffic and Parking has been pretty much checked out on this, since the intersection was redone.
They did make a single attempt to ameliorate the left-turn signal from State to Grove, which still isn't actually fixed, but other than that, nothing. The fact that there are multiple tickets on this is only more proof that people are pretty angry about this intersection, both as pedestrians and as drivers.
The intersection, and many of the new "smart" intersections don't work. I would love to be able to talk to one of the engineers at Traffic and Parking to just see what the problem is. It really appears to me that they are incapable of running this complicated system, because the new intersections simply don't work the way it appears they are supposed to.
Acknowledged NHPD: ARCHIVE 3 (Verified Official)
KD (Guest)
After waiting for several minutes, the pedestrian signal gives you 15 seconds to cross what is effectively eight lanes of traffic (take a look at the Google Maps aerial view). That's next to impossible even for the young and fit, let alone for children or the elderly. Now, given the snow, it's impossible for anyone.
By way of comparison, I believe the well-used intersection at Congress and Cedar gives you 25 seconds to cross the equivalent of four lanes; and it cycles every minute or so.
There are other intersections further down State Street (e.g. State and Court) that are almost as bad, but this is the worst. What can be done to fix this? - and, more importantly, what can be done to fix whatever equation was used to calculate appropriate crossing times in the first place? Not only is this dangerous; but, as others have pointed out, crossings like these destroy any hopes of ever changing New Haven's jaywalking culture.
Liz (Guest)
Closed Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department - Signal Division (Verified Official)
Reopened KD (Guest)
persona (Guest)
Amen. Trying to race across the street as the clock ticks down, with cars gunning their engines at the red light, is neither fun nor safe even for the young and fit. Especially for the many people who are pushing strollers or carrying groceries or work materials. The alternative is standing there for 5 minutes waiting for the "walk" indicator to light up, and then standing on the median for another 5 minutes waiting to cross the rest of the street. In light of all the endless construction, unfixed potholes, and parking limitations all over town, the city should be encouraging people to walk. Instead, they seem to be doing everything possible to make walking a miserable experience.
(Except of course for the middle of downtown, where pedestrians are clearly not trusted enough to follow the "walk/don't walk" signals, so all cars in all directions have to sit through endless red lights while pedestrians can amble every which way across the intersection. Stupidest thing ever.)
Closed Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department - Signal Division (Verified Official)
persona (Guest)
KD (Guest)
We crossed yesterday, in safety; it's a HUGE improvement.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!