Wait at mistimed traffic light seems like an eternity
First published in print: Monday, February 16, 2009
Q: I stop at Dunkin' Donuts on Keyes Avenue in Schenectady every morning at about 6 a.m.
When I resume my trip, I need to turn left on Union Street to stop at Bruegger's, but at that time of day I have to wait an exceptionally long time for a green light.
This light is so long that I have seen three customers come and go from Dunkin' Donuts while I wait. Sometimes, I have driven through the red light because I thought it was frozen or because someone honked a horn behind me.
Why does it take this signal so long to change?
— John J. Collen, Niskayuna
A: We sent your inquiry to Mayor Brian U. Stratton's office, where it was passed along to Signal Control Superintendent John Coluccio.
As a result of your inquiry, the settings on that signal have been adjusted and you may notice a difference on your next trip.
Coluccio explained that this light on Upper Union Street is part of a coordinated system that includes four intersections between Baker and Palmer avenues.
"As part of this system, side streets generally have longer delays in order to give better progression to the higher-volume main artery Union Street," he said.
Generally, the delay should last no longer than 120 seconds, he said. But that's two minutes, and two minutes is a seriously long time to be sitting at a traffic light.
"We would agree that this amount of time can feel like 10 minutes at 6 in the morning, when no opposing traffic is seen on Union Street," Coluccio said.
The coordinated system program was set to run from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The signals switched over to "free mode," which allows intersections to work independently and respond more quickly to side street traffic during the overnight hours between 11 and 6.
Now, the city has modified the timing plan for the corridor to remain in the free mode until 7 a.m.
"This should not have much of a negative impact on Union Street traffic, since the peak period does not begin until shortly after this time period," Coluccio said.
Another slow news day? First, surprised the Mayor knows where Keyes Ave is. Unclear about McClellan. Union Street should have priority. 3 cars at the light? Must all be turning left, since Keyes ends at Union.
Logged
Another slow news day? First, surprised the Mayor knows where Keyes Ave is. Unclear about McClellan. Union Street should have priority. 3 cars at the light? Must all be turning left, since Keyes ends at Union. 
