[nfbwatlk] Deviant Traffic Signal

[Joanne Laurent]

I have just discovered a traffic signal that is programmed in a most
dangerous manner making non-visual crossing impossible. I requested that the
signal be changed immediately before someone is killed. But I wanted to make
everyone aware of the things traffic engineers can do that could completely
negate all the safety techniques we teach. I saw this situation one other
time ten years ago. Below is a copy of the email I sent to the city. Please
be on the alert for these signals! I'd love to hear any feedback regarding
this issue (solutions/preventing it from becoming commonplace). 

This concerns the north/south crossing on the east side of Broadway & Fourth
Plain. 

As most of you know, blind people use the flow of adjacent parallel traffic
to determine when the light is green so they can cross safely. (this means a
traveler on the east side of Broadway who wishes to cross Fourth Plain,
either north or south, must cross during north bound traffic flow).
 The above mentioned signal deviates from normal light patterns. 

This intersection is very unusual in that it provides the walk signal during
the time when the needed traffic flow is stopped. When the north bound
traffic has a green light the pedestrian's light remains red. The reason the
pedestrian's light is red (during the time it customarily says "walk") is
because the north bound green light is combined with a right-turn green
arrow. Please eliminate this right-turn arrow (or program it to go on during
a separate left turn cycle). Please make sure that straight-ahead traffic
ALWAYS coincides with the same side pedestrian walk signal. 

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Thank you for your
immediate attention to this matter.



Joanne Laurent
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
If you can't learn it, I'm not teaching it right!
www.blindcoach.com <http://www.blindcoach.com/> 

Highest Expectations Travel and Adaptive Skills Instruction for the Blind
P.O. Box 586 Ariel, WA 98603
(360) 231-4597