Believe it or not, traffic signals are made to aid traffic flow
Podcast Episode
The next time you are stopped at a red light in Janesville, it might be best to remember you are only one part of a part of a larger transportation system. Kyle Geissler reports.
Photo
JANESVILLE — You're sitting at a red light.
The line of cars inches ahead anticipating the green light. When the light changes, the drivers race five blocks only to slam on the brakes as the next light turns red.
Why aren't all stop lights synchronized to keep traffic moving?
Drivers often raise that question and many other traffic signal-related complaints to city engineers.
"People don't like to wait, and we understand that," said Jack Messer, city public works director, "but that's the nature of a traffic signal—(they have) to make somebody wait."
With high gas prices, drivers constantly are looking to increase their mileage. Janesville has five streets or pairs of streets where the signals are timed to maximize movement, Messer said.
But more could be done nationally, the National Transportation Operations Coalition said in its report last year.
It estimates improper traffic signal timing on major national roadways accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all traffic delay, or 295 million vehicle-hours of delay. If the nation supported its signals at peak efficiency, the coalition said drivers could cut fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.
"A driver who uses one tank of gas a week would save five full tanks per year per household, or approximately $240.14. Nationwide, this would amount to a savings of almost 17 billion gallons of motor fuel per year," the coalition's 2007 report said.
How it works
Timing of traffic signals is a science, an engineer will tell you.
"It's a programming function of a computer, essentially controlling traffic with a computer with signal system," Messer said.
The city has synchronized lights on five streets or pairs of streets based on "the most frequent occurrence of traffic," he said, though there will be times when the signal set up doesn't optimally match the traffic conditions.
The coordinated systems are:
-- Milton Avenue from Mt. Zion Avenue to Kettering Street. The major thoroughfare sees about 25,000 vehicles a day, and the signals favor southbound morning commuters. By afternoon, traffic is more even so the signals favor both directions.
-- Highway 14/Humes Road from Bell Street to Pontiac Drive.
Milton Avenue and Highway 14 are individual coordinated systems, but the major intersection of Highway 14/26 also is coordinated.
-- Center Avenue from State to Racine streets.
-- Centerway from Jackson Street to Parker Drive. The Five Points intersection is not included.
-- Court and Milwaukee streets in downtown, which are on a pre-timed system, not on traffic sensing.
"The goal is to be most efficient. That doesn't necessarily mean get through the entire system on green because you're dealing with all of the traffic," Messer said. "You have to take time from one group of people to give to another group of people."
The systems are altered for special events or times of year, such as the holiday shopping season, he said. For example, signals around Farm & Fleet are adjusted during the early morning hours when Toyland opens.
While it might seem like an eternity, most of Janesville's signal cycles are less than two minutes, Messer said. That includes the green, yellow and red lights for all directions.
Sensors
Many of the actuated signals—those not on a coordinated system—rely on wires in the pavement that create a magnetic field.
When a car breaks the magnetic field, it trips the computer to give priority to that direction, Messer said.
At most of those signals, traffic in one direction is favored with the green light until a vehicle approaches and is sensed on the side street, he said.
One vehicle should be enough to trigger the sensor, but the sensors frequently malfunction, he said.
Emergency preemption
The majority of Janesville's 75 traffic signals recently received emergency preemption sensors. When a fire engine or ambulance responding to an emergency approaches a signalized intersection, the sensors preempt the signal to give green lights to the emergency vehicle.
The interruption causes delay afterward, though, Messer said.
"If you're sitting at one that's been preempted, you will notice some significant delays as (the signals) cycle back through," he said.
Messer understands the frustration of some inpatient drivers.
"In reality, things work pretty well in Janesville," he said. "(You) don't see heavy delays, don't see huge backups."
REPORT A PROBLEM
Traffic sensors or the signals themselves often malfunction, public works director Jack Messer said.
"If you're sitting there waiting (for what) seems unreasonable, it could be malfunctioning," he said. "We're not going to know that unless someone calls."
If that's the case, report it to the city at (608) 755-3110.
CITY MIGHT REMOVE SEVEN TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Janesville's 2009 budget calls for removing seven traffic signals, public works director Jack Messer said.
His department was tasked with removing $14,000 from the budget by removing seven signals. Each intersection with signals costs about $2,000 annually in maintenance and electricity, Messer said.
The city council could decide not to approve removing the signals, but for now Messer and his crew identified 12 signals to be studied:
-- Main Street and Centerway
-- Delavan Drive and Ogden Street
-- Wright Road and Brunswick Lane
-- Milwaukee and Academy streets
-- Beloit Avenue and State Street
-- Jackson and Elliott streets
-- Racine and Jackson streets
-- Beloit Avenue and Conde Street
-- Jackson Street and a driveway into General Motors
-- Wright Road and Park View Drive
-- Milwaukee Street and Harmony Drive
-- Jackson and State streets
Oct 23, 2008 at 8:20 a.m.
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When we leave Janesville the moronics of the traffic light systems will be a weight off our vehicles' gas mileages, emissions, noise pollution, and patience. Having to drive from red light to red light on Milton Ave., just to appease the anti-cruise crowd? We have decided this is set up for getting consumers used to stopping on Milton Ave. to get us to go shopping on Milton Ave.. The only thing we buy in Janesville is gasoline, when we have to. It's always interesting to note all the folks who throw the blame at "impatient drivers" or " the racers", when the traffic light engineering is sooo different in many other communities where being "green" is a reality, and not just a notion of perception manipulation.
Oct 22, 2008 at 8:22 p.m.
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Get the speeders and red light runners !!!!
Memorial is posted what 25 , it is nothing to be passed goin 35 by the soccer mom in the SUV Goin 50 . Milton Ave is just a JOKE ! I try to leave before 4 am my 2 mile commute takes 10 min longer if I leave after 4 AM . as for the red light runners watch out the guy who floors it when the light changes is goin to get you broadside one of these days !!
Oct 22, 2008 at 7:25 p.m.
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Another thing I think they should do along Hwy 14 is put the have the turn signals operate by themselves. Like they do at Hwy 14 and Milton Ave. I think the Farm and Fleet intersection and the Pontiac intersection should be like this. There have been numerous accidents at both these intersections. I was in one of them, going west on Hwy 14, SUV in the turn lane, light turned yellow just as we got to the line, obviously we couldn't stop. So we went, the car in the opposite turn lane thought the same thing, but he couldn't see us because of the SUV and we t-boned him. Serious accident, minor injuries. I've seen it happen time and time again. I'd like to know how many times a year the police and fire departments get called to these two intersections. It may cost a little to begin with but in the end it will probably save more money and someone's life.
Oct 22, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.
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HA HA HA, just noticed article about police targetting violators on Milton Ave (running lights), maybe they are on to me!
sshhhhhhhhhhh...............
Oct 22, 2008 at 6:52 p.m.
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Ihavealife: Good point, when there is alot of traffic out there, you SHOULD leave so catching a few lights won't matter. When it's 2 hours to sunrise and the streets are all but deserted, it is very frustrating, "stopping for no one". HEY if at least ONE car crosses it's one thing. To sit and wait for no reason is dumb. Maybe if they could set them to operate, but only change if a car comes up on the lesser-travelled street? Esp on some of these smaller cross streets on Milton Ave?
Oct 22, 2008 at 6:49 p.m.
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In regards to previous comment, I mean they were set to operating (instead of flashing) LAST YEAR the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, I believe it used to flash until 5am, which was fine I guess, I often drive that route around 530am, sometimes more like 430am. They should put it back like it was before, NO idea why they thought they had to have them operating all night, I'm pretty sure they never flash now, except the couple near Mt Zion/Kennedy Rd area.
Oct 22, 2008 at 6:45 p.m.
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Have some of you forgotten that these are city streets and not your personal race tracks ?? Most lights change in 2 minutes give or take a few seconds.I wouldn't want to start my day worried if I was going to have to stop for traffic lights.Maybe you should leave earlier and just enjoy the peacefulness of the sun raising and the birds singing or the soon to be fresh fallen snow.
Oct 22, 2008 at 6:43 p.m.
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mymaro: My thought exactly, I drive down Milton Ave about the same time, and what I noticed is they were set to operating on THE DAY after Thanksgiving when the stores all open around 5am. So I thought "set it up like that for today because people will be out n force shopping early". NOPE, been like that ever since it seems like it. What a huge gas waster. I admit to running some of them suckers when no one is around at all. Try it sometime, it's a rush.Sort of like "if a tree falls over and no one is around, is there a noise?"
Oct 22, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.
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PGJnyc, they are probably like that because there is a school one block away from there. I lived a couple blocks from that intersection and always saw children at the 7 o'clock hour.
Oct 22, 2008 at 3:55 p.m.
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In the early morning, say, before 7:00 AM, why are the signals operating at full capacity on Milton Ave between Memorial and say, Woodmans?
They should be flashing yellow/red. At that time of the day, there is not enough traffic in any direction to merit making those out there (me) to have to wait through full green yellow red cycles.
Oct 22, 2008 at 2:26 p.m.
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I see I'm not the only one frustrated with the lights at the intersection of Milton and Randolph (corner with Hesser Toyota and the post office). The green arrow seems to always come on even when no one is in the turn lanes? It slows down the flow of traffic on Milton Ave in my opinion. I'm always looking for ways to avoid that intersection. Thanks to the City if you are reading these comments and taking them into consideration!
Oct 22, 2008 at 1:38 p.m.
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cjjs- It has been 7 years since I lived a block from that intersection. At the time, I do not think it had sensors. Glad to hear they are there now.
Oct 22, 2008 at 12:51 p.m.
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cousineddy...people would have to actually care that there are other drivers in this city in order for them to signal a turn.....
I would like to see the lights at Mt. Zion and Randall be converted to sensors and/or have turn arrows for traffic on Randall turning onto Mt. Zion.
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
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Interesting on removing some traffic signals. I think that the ones at Milwaukee/Harmony and Wright/Park View should stay. But I don't really have a problem with any of the other lights being yanked out.
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Are there any other intersections in town that have lights that could be reconsidered? Or intersections that could use stop lights?
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:34 a.m.
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Why is Milton Ave coordinated for SOUTH bound morning traffic? I drive North to the I90 every morning at 7am and I hardly see any south bound traffic. Maybe I want to think I'm special, but it looks to me that most traffic is going north on Milton Ave in the morning??
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.
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I drive down milton avenue everyday around 4:15 am on my way to work. What happened to having all the lights, except those at highway 14, flashing yellow until 5 am? I cant tell you how frustrated I get when I get a red light by the post office and there is NOONE around! then I have to wait through the turn arrow before I can continue down Milton ave. Its frustrating.
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.
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I would not like to see the signals on Harmony Street and Milwaukee be removed, that can be a terrible intersection, but would be easier to go thru if people would learn what that little nob on the left side of the steering wheel is for.... TO SIGNAL A TURN!!!
Oct 22, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.
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How about getting rid of the stupid timing on all the traffic lights on Milton Avenue that change after about 6 pm? You know, the ones that ALWAYS have a green arrow NO MATTER WHAT! If you don't want kids "cruising the circuit", pull them over when they break the law! Just two weeks ago I noticed a big red F-250 driving with a dead deer strapped to the front grill of the truck! Seriously, why aren't these kids (and don't think I'm older because I'm still in my 20's) pulled over? Get rid of the stupid green arrows that impede legitimate drivers (like me) who are going to the mall, or dining, or shopping! Take a note, Messer!
Oct 22, 2008 at 11 a.m.
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I thought the reason those lights were on Wright Rd were because the school was right there. And actually those two lights are the only lights that never really bother me just because I thought that was what they were there for. I think there are a lot of lights that need to be thought about. And the side streets that have the magnetic field. It is ONLY cars and trucks that can get these things to break. We have two lights by our house and when we leave on the motorcycle we have to go to a stop sign intersection because the motorcycle can't break that field.
Oct 22, 2008 at 10:59 a.m.
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Mike-If you were on Park View going east to turn north on Wright Rd. if you hit the sensor on Park View just right and then back up and got over it again it would change right away. That light used to go to a flashing yellow after 6pm.
Oct 22, 2008 at 10:33 a.m.
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I also hated that light at Wright and Park View, but removing both Park View and Brunswick will mean there is nothing stopping traffic on Wright Rd for pedestrians. With an elementary school right there on Princeton between those two signals, I think it would be dangerous to remove both sets of lights. I can see removing one, but not both. I think the Park View one needs to stay, but be changed to a smart one that will not leave cross traffic waiting for several minutes at a time...and yes that did happen at any time except peak traffic times. I actually timed it a couple times.
Oct 22, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
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I agree with getting rid of the light at Park View and Wright Rd. I hated that light when I lived on Park View Dr. and the ones by GM make sense too.
Oct 22, 2008 at 9:34 a.m.
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Some of these proposed to study for removal make a lot of sense. Neighborhood changes or loss of businesses probably make them no longer necessary. However, I wouldn't agree with removing the lights at E Milwaukee and Harmony Drive. Even though the medical center, grocery store, and florist have moved since they were installed, the traffic count still seems to be high. In addition, removing the lights will make Harmony a short cut to avoid lights at the E Milw intersections of Memorial and Lexington.
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