The in basket: Deborah Moran wonders “why there is a crosswalk,
with the
walk/don’t walk lights on only three of the sides at the
intersection of Highway
305 and Hostmark in Poulsbo.
The in basket: Deborah Moran wonders “why there is a crosswalk,
with the
walk/don’t walk lights on only three of the sides at the
intersection of Highway
305 and Hostmark in Poulsbo.
“If I want to go to the Chevron from the laundromat, I have to
cross Hostmark twice and 305, when the Chevron is directly across
305 from the laundromat. Now it may be true that exercise is good,
but I am dealing with a leg injury. Extra walking is not
wanted.
“But beyond what I would want, the people from the motel have to
walk extra to
get to the two restaurants near the laundromat. Plus the commuter
bus stops
by the Chevron and people run across 305.
The out basket: You’ll see this at high traffic intersections with
light pedestrian
counts. It eliminates one movement and allows the light to cycle
faster
for cars.
“”Crosswalks degrade the operational efficiency of signalized
intersections by increasing the signal cycle length,”
says Steve Bennett of the Olympic Region’s highway engineers. “It’s
especially problematic in a coordinated signal system
as it affects other intersections as each signalized
intersection must have the same cycle length.”
Congestion isn’t nearly as great on Mile Hill Drive near where I
live in South Kitsap as it is on Highway 305 , but the state and
county have done the same thing at that highway’s intersections
with Jackson Avenue and Woods Road to lessen delays for drivers. I
imagine you’ll find it in other places in the county as well.
