This issue was recategorized from Traffic Signal Problems to Transportation and Parking Improvement Request.

It's fixed; thank you!

Well, nothing was changed. This signal, along with others in the downtown area, has two modes of operation. One is a "peak pedestrian period," which operates from 10:00-3:00 Monday -Friday, and 12:00-4:00 Saturday and Sunday. During this time the advance walk happens parallel with the major street also. At other times advance walk is active for just the minor street. Hopefully this answers the question. The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.

Thanks for your explanation. How does the opening/reopening of BHS/Edmond's downtown affect your thinking on the timing of downtown signal cycles? Have the peak pedestrian periods been changed in response to the limited traffic due to the pandemic?

No change was made to downtown timing due to school closings, nor to pandemic. Too many unknowns. Cycles are generally as short as practical. Running too long causes delays. Running too short also causes delays, as counter intuitive as that may seem. The system is less affected by going slightly long than slightly short. I will be watching North Avenue signals Thursday morning when the high school reopens. Their operation was "relaxed" due to complaints about delays. High school traffic may need longer cycles again, or not. We will see.

I think there should always be a pedestrian advance light at the St. Paul Street-Main Street intersection. This intersection is very busy; cars regularly run lights there and corner without slowing or looking. It is a very dangerous crossing for pedestrians. I have actually been hit by a car going west on Main Street (i.e., downhill) and turning south onto St. Paul while I was in the middle of the crosswalk with a pedestrian walk-green signal, i.e., no pedestrian advance. My shoulder was shattered.

Thank you for this update. Our staff will look back into this issue and update you as soon as we can.

Very sorry to hear that. This job would be much easier if people obeyed the law. The left turning driver did not. As it operates now, even with advance walk, there is a time where E-W signals will be green with E-W walk simultaneously. The signal basically dwells in green and walk on Main Street unless there is a call on St. Paul. This keeps people, both cars and pedestrians, on their way as efficiently as possible. Simultaneous flow in the same major direction works pretty well if people do what they are supposed to. Running advance walk all day does not cover your situation when it is green and walk simultaneously. Running advance walk only, on demand, as it is on St. Paul, would cover your situation. This might be a possibility, but there are downsides. People seeing traffic flowing E-W will tend to want to cross with it, as they do now. Seeing don't walk at the same time as what looks like a good time to cross might encourage jaywalking. There is no one "right" answer that can completely cover all situations. Especially if basic rules of the road, like yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk, are not being followed. Will leave this open to consider some possibilities.

I believe BHS is scheduled to open its NEW DOWNTOWN CAMPUS on March 4, so I expect there will be many more students marching forth onto the surrounding streets in a few days. As to Lum's comments, I have to agree as both a frequent driver and pedestrian through this intersection that the southern pedestrian crossing is very problematic for left turning vehicles and especially westbound pedestrians who may be (a) camouflaged by standing, northbound vehicles, and (b) without an adequate head start across before turning traffic enters the intersection. Add the low sun angle near sunset times with its dazzle, and back in the day (and we hope again soon), Flynn patrons scurrying through add some possibilities to consider. When basic rules of the road aren't followed, who comes out on top--pedestrians or two-ton-and-up vehicles?

Right - when basic rules aren't followed the limitations of colored lights turning on and off in front of people become apparent. Colored lights can help but can never guarantee safety.

Thank you for this update. We will look back into this issue and update you as soon as we can.

City of Burlington staff have resolved this request. Thank you for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.