Pushing the right buttons

Pedestrian signal controls to smooth traffic flow

By Bob Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

For those who impatiently wait at traffic lights on the east side of Cape Girardeau, the Public Works Department is offering six seconds of relief.

With the installation of new push-button pedestrian signals at 11 traffic lights on Broadway, Independence and William streets, motorists on most occasions will have to wait approximately six fewer seconds at each red light, assistant public works director Tim Gramling said.

Multiply that over numerous intersections and a few months and the difference is clear.

"That would be a lot of time to be sitting in traffic waiting," Gramling said.

Two-week project

The city will begin installing the new devices Monday. It takes half a day to install the buttons at each intersection and the entire project could take up to two weeks. The traffic lights will not be out for an extended time, Gramling said.

The push-button signals will not make crossing intersections more convenient for pedestrians, Gramling said. They still will have to wait the same amount of time they always have at the signals, which presently change on timed cycles. But the traffic will move more smoothly because there will be no wasted time at red lights for unnecessary pedestrian signals.

"That probably would help matters," said Roger Hagan, who works at a used book store on Broadway. Traffic congestion gets worse west of Sprigg Street, he said.

The new push-button signals will be placed at every traffic light on Broadway, Independence and William east of Kingshighway with the exception of the William-West End intersection. No pedestrian signals are in place at this time.

The state highway department originally operated and maintained the traffic signals at that intersection, and the city never installed pedestrian signals there once they took possession. However, Gramling said the city will evaluate that situation.

Though the push-button upgrade, which will cost the city $3,200 overall, will help motorists waste less time, Gramling said pedestrians will be frustrated if they don't push the button because they'll never get the walk sign. Some pedestrians may have already noticed this at the city's only push-button pedestrian signal at the corner of Sprigg and Highway 74. It is maintained by the state.

Driver's delight

Motorist April Kitchen would be glad to see anything make traffic run smoother, especially near Central High School. Crossing or turning onto Independence near the school is an aggravation.

"The stoplight at Independence and Caruthers, if you're going east or west, it stays green forever," she said.

However, not everyone wants smoothly flowing traffic.

TaJuan Parish, who works at a beauty supply store on Broadway east of all the stoplights, said smoother traffic means faster cars. And she sees too much of that outside her shop's window. There are no stop signs or traffic lights for several blocks from Sprigg Street to the Mississippi River.

"People come through here, a lot of young people, racing their motors," she said. "It could be a little slower around here because a lot of older people like to shop in the downtown area."

Hagan agreed.

"My biggest thing is I'd like to see them try to slow it down this way," he said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127