Traffic light for pedestrian safety explained

The temperatures are warming up, and that means those rough roads that readers have wondered about will soon receive their final layer of asphalt. It apparently also means that motorists have turned their attention elsewhere. In this week’s case, traffic signals are the hot topic.

Rob needs a new signal explained: Growing up in a rural area, if we saw a flashing red lit it meant stop and then go. East Sahara Avenue between Eastern Avenue and Maryland Parkway has the new crosswalk with a double red light that stays steady, then flashes. I think that when it flashes and no one is in the crosswalk, you can stop and then go. Most people wait until the light shuts off, backing up traffic. Can you explain the procedure?

Rob, you are correct, when the red light returns to the flashing position, it should be treated like a stop sign. This is the first pedestrian signal of its kind in the Las Vegas Valley, and it will take some getting used to.

When a pedestrian pushes the walk button, the light above traffic lanes will flash yellow, warning motorists that somebody is preparing to cross the street. A steady yellow means stop if you are able to safely. A solid red light means all vehicles must stop and that is when the pedestrian should cross the road. Once the walk time is completed, the red light will begin flashing, and it is fine to go after first stopping and checking for pedestrians.

Kelly questions the law: If you are in the left-turn pocket and the left-turn arrow remains red for several cycles, what are you supposed to do? It’s obvious that something is wrong with the signal. Can you just yield to traffic and turn?

Most motorists in this city have experienced that problem, and sometimes it is caused by the sun hitting the signal in a way that throws off its detection or motion devices. It is illegal to make the turn on red, and if there is an officer who sees you, you will be ticketed.

Lt. Rich Fletcher with Las Vegas police department’s traffic bureau, suggests that the motorists turn on their blinkers, check for traffic in the neighboring lane and safely moving over to cross the intersection. The driver can always drive another quarter-mile and make a U-turn.

Jennifer’s not a fan of the flashing yellow: I am wondering about all the money wasted on these new flashing yellow left-turn traffic signals around the valley. Overnight they were installed with signs that said, "Yield on Flashing Arrow." Now most of those signs have been taken down and the flashing yellow is never used. If the flashing yellow arrow is never used, how much was wasted in taxpayer money on the signs and these new lights?

Clark County has worked with the Regional Transportation Commission and the Nevada Department of Transportation to install these new lights at 112 intersections throughout the Las Vegas Valley. A lot of times they are lit up but don’t move to the flashing arrow because all the software and wiring isn’t quite finished. They will be turned over to the Freeway Arterial System of Transportation, which synchronizes lights based on traffic flow.

Now, I realize this doesn’t address Jennifer’s full question. Nobody could explain the disappearance of the signs, so we’ll keep probing and keep you posted.

Pam wants more Volunteer work: The intersection I’m writing about is the new one in Henderson where Executive Airport Drive/Volunteer Boulevard/Bicentennial Parkway meet. There are right-turn only lanes off each of these roads except Volunteer coming east from the M Resort. It appears there was plenty of room to build that right-turn only lane. It just wasn’t built. It would definitely relieve a lot of traffic stopping at the intersection. This new loop of Bicentennial that enters into Sun City Anthem is a high-use commuter roadway.

The reason that there is no dedicated right-turn lane on Volunteer at that intersection has to do with private property that surrounds the area.

Last week, we discussed the city of Henderson’s struggles to acquire private land to run power easements through the property to juice up the lights at the intersection.

The funding for this new intersection came from Senate Bill 5 to stimulate employment, and it came with some guidelines, one of which was the tight time-frame during which it had to be spent.

Basically, the city did not have time to negotiate a deal with the land owner before the design and construction started.

If Henderson receives additional road construction funding, it will pursue the property to build that lane.

Ben questions downtown parking: There are some empty lots downtown that have a driveway cut-out, but the property is fenced off. Is it legal to park on the street, blocking the driveway to nothing?

Yes, the folks over at the city of Las Vegas said that if the property is fenced in and does not have a gate at the driveway, it is OK to park in front of the driveway.

If you have a question, tip or tirade, call Adrienne Packer at 702-387-2904, or send an email to roadwarrior@review journal.com. Include your phone number..