1. I'm not looking at it right now, but I'm pretty sure there are supposed
to be two lanes, the left turn only lane and the through lane.
2. When traffic in one direction has a green arrow, they are supposed to
have the right of way, so all other traffic (specifically, opposing traffic
turning right) is supposed to yield to them. If the oncoming right turning
drivers were stopping before turning right on red, as they are supposed to,
they should be able to see that it is not a good time to go ahead with
their turn. The traffic engineers would probably have better judgment than
I do about whether a No Right Turn on Red sign is warranted, but it seems
to me that right turns on red should be okay as long as the drivers stop
first, and ascertain there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk or cars
turning left onto the bridge. I don't know how to get drivers to be better
at stopping before turning right on red, but I agree that failure to do so
is rampant. It's extremely rare that I see people stopping before turning
right on red, unless they absolutely have to.
3. We know that many people continue to prefer crossing WCD at Central
Street despite lack of a marked crosswalk, rather than detour to Mechanic
or Church. I don't think we can change that behavior very much, and I think
the median islands are a bit of an admission of that, and provide some
safety for those who choose to do it. Maybe we CAN post signs reminding
people that they are supposed to yield to car traffic when crossing without
a marked crosswalk. It sounds like these women were doing it right.
On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 8:09 PM Dennis Marrotte <
dennis.marrotte1111@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
A few Questions:
1. Driving towards Main Street, from Mechanic Street, with the China Villa
Restaurant on your Left, and The Metro Bus Shelter on your Right, You have
your Right Turn Signal blinking, to turn Right, to Main Street, then you
need to be in the Left Turn Lane on Main Street to Turn Left onto Bridge
Street.
How many Lanes are there supposed to be on the R / H side of Mechanic
Street, facing Main Street ? - 1 - 2 - 3 ?, Add a Metro Bus that is
dropping off and picking up passengers at the Bus Shelter parallel to
Mechanic Street.
2. You are stopped in the Left Turn Only Lane on Main Street, heading
East, waiting for the Left Turn Green Arrow to turn Left onto Bridge Street
and the new Bridge. When the L / T Green Arrow comes up, together with
the Full Green straight thru Lane for Main Street East bound, Does the
Main Street Westbound Right Turn Lane for Bridge Street have a Green or Red
Light ? That side of Main Street for the Right Turn Lane onto Bridge Street
Does NOT have a " NO. RIGHT TURN ON RED " Sign.
Who is supposed to Yield or Who is supposed to have the Right of Way ? The
Main Street Eastbound Left hand Turning Driver ? Or is it OK for the Main
Street Westbound Right Hand turning onto Bridge Street Driver to get the
jump or Cut Off the Main Street Eastbound Left hand Turning Driver?
Frankly, I am getting fed up with drivers who are doing that stunt and will
continue doing so probably even with a No Right Turn on Red. I can
understand if Eastbound Main Street straight thru traffic is stopped to
allow only Bridge Street Turning traffic to turn L onto Main or Westbound
Main Street Right turning traffic to Bridge Street. I am fine with that.
It's the Drivers who want to turn Right from Main Street to Bridge Street,
who can not wait to allow Main Street East bound Drivers to turn safely
Left from Main Street to Bridge Street.
3. The raised Median Islands on WCD are for a Safety Zone for Pedestrians
to wait for traffic to clear in either direction, Where there IS or is not
a Marked Crosswalk.
I watched two Black Women, one pushing a stroller, waiting or talking to
the Left of the Doublesided Sign With the universal Crossed out Red Circle
and smaller sign Pointing towards the Ped activated Marked Crosswalk at
Mechanic Street, while facing towards Sportsmens Hardware and Central
Street, eventually walk across WCD. They did have to stop on The median
island to wait for passing Eastbound Traffic. There are a couple Overhead
Lights there But NO Crosswalk of any kind. I suspect they have walked
across that way hundreds of times, instead of using the Marked Pedestrian
activated Crosswalks at Mechanic and WCD. It is a casual affair with no
patience to wait for the Crosswalk Sequence to work at all, and it was dark
to boot.
Thank You
Dennis
