Column: Waiting for lights to change

Waiting to turn left onto Fifth from Carson Street Friday afternoon, I asked myself, "Why am I sitting through five light changes?"

This is Carson City, after all, not Reno.

The answer, of course, is that traffic has become more constricted over the past two years since Carson Street was reduced to one lane in each direction along the downtown corridor.

I made a mistake trying to turn left at this intersection. I knew better.

So the problem solver in me begged the question: "Why isn't this light a controlled left turn signal?"

That sounded like a reasonable way to resolve the issue.

No sooner had I made my turn onto East Fifth then I slowed for the Stewart Street intersection, another uncontrolled left-turn signal. In fact, four signals from Fifth to Washington streets along the downtown Stewart Street corridor feature uncontrolled left turns.

Then I had another thought: "How many of these uncontrolled signals are there still in town?"

I'm thinking more than there should be.

There is a really peculiar uncontrolled left turn from southbound Saliman Road onto eastbound William Street, a baffling feature as busy as that intersection can get with both automobile and foot traffic right next to Carson High School.

Five of six traffic signals along North Carson Street between Long and Fifth are all uncontrolled left turns; meaning drivers trying to turn left against the steady, slithering stream of traffic often wait a long time for an opening.

Sometimes that can take a few turns of the light. In my case, it took five.

I admit that I could always use a little more patience when driving. Then again, I can only sit and ponder life's deepest questions for so long.

I can just about listen to an entire three-minute song on the radio while waiting for some of the lights to change.

There are signals where you seem to wait and wait and wait for the light to turn green. And just when you think it's about to, you wait some more.

The signal at South Carson Street and Fairview Drive can seem like that at times.

I've sat at that intersection waiting to turn onto South Carson Street as time stood still. During gaps or lulls in cross traffic north and southbound, cars stacked up on Fairview can sit idle for what seem like very long, empty moments.

Traffic can back up rather quickly at certain intersections, making the wait even longer. My editor tells me the signal at North Roop and East Long streets becomes a snare during peak traffic times; especially in the morning.

And how about the lights that only let a few cars through at a time before turning yellow and red again?

The intersection at Arrowhead Drive, Medical Parkway and North Carson Street is so wide that the first east or westbound car in line may barely cross it before the light has turned yellow.

Some signals can feel like getting the chain put up right in front of you after you've waited hours to get on a ride at Disneyland. I've been no more than three or four cars deep turning left at some intersections when the yellow veil has dropped in front of me.

Having said all of this, there are signals in Carson City that do a reasonable job of regulating traffic, which really is incomparable to congestion elsewhere.

But Carson City is poised for growth. The construction happening around town is evidence that more people and more traffic are expected.

Some of the signaled intersections could probably use adjustments or updates to accommodate for higher volumes of traffic. This may mean retiming some or adding controlled lights to others. Some signals may function better with traffic sensors rather than timers.

The timing between signals may need to be recalibrated as traffic changes in some areas of the city, too.

Carson City has changed in the 10 years I've lived here. It will change some more.

Street infrastructure should keep pace with growth. This includes the signals meant to regulate the flow of traffic.

I'm sure there are other traffic lights in Carson City that concern residents. If you have some you'd like to mention, feel free to comment.