Carson City working out bugs in new traffic signal system
If you have recently noticed that some of the traffic signals in town don't seem to be giving you enough time to get through them, help is on the way.
The city implemented a new coordinated traffic signal system two weeks ago, and have been making adjustments to it since then to work out the bugs, according to Transportation Manager Patrick Pittenger.
Pittenger said they have had many complaints from citizens during that time about problems with traffic signal timing, especially being able to cross main thoroughfares from side streets.
"These all work on some form of a clock, and the question is how long does it take to get cars through each intersection?" Pittenger said. "We have to strike a balance between mainline streets and side streets."
It's a complicated system, Pittenger added, with signals that both sense traffic and others that are done on timing.
Pittenger said that sometimes they make changes in one area, but that may cause problems to arise elsewhere.
Significant changes were being implemented today, Pittenger said, and he hopes that most of the problems will be addressed by the end of the week.
"Residents have been asking us for several years to update the signal systems, and we also needed bring them up-to-date with federal standards," Pittenger said.
One of the bigger problem areas was the intersection of Highway 50 East and Fairview/College, where the north-south signal wasn't giving vehicles enough "green time" to get across. Pittenger also said he had recently been caught by a very short green light at Topsy Lane and South Carson.
"There are always going to be some delays and different people have different perceptions about what is acceptable and what isn't," Pittenger said. He added that they appreciate the feedback they have been getting, and are all working hard to fix the problems.