Stop Light at 14th and Wyatt Earp

[Bound]

Does anyone know if they are going to put turning lights for the north south lights? If they don't that will SUCK!

[lowflight]

Not in the plans yet if memory serves correct IF they are going to place N & S turn lanes it won't be until after west earp is done (14th to Matt Down)

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by lowflight

Not in the plans yet if memory serves correct IF they are going to place N & S turn lanes it won't be until after west earp is done (14th to Matt Down)

Which will be how many more years???

[lowflight]

VERY VERY GOOD QUESTION

[Army_of_One]

They NEED a *BLEEPing turn light there....

[jackknife]

Yes, they do. I couldn't believe when I was home and I sat in traffic! I was home to get away from that stuff. It took us 4 lights to get through that intersection. Lame.

[tat2me82]

They had an article in the paper about it today:



This has been a recurring question presented to both to us at the Daily Globe as well as the city itself. So, what better way to kick off this inaugural feature?



Well, as the old adage goes: It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.

The construction of stoplights along Wyatt Earp Boulevard falls under the jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Transportation, according to Joe Finley, director of public works for Dodge City. In order for a dedicated left-turn signal to be constructed, he said, the street needs a dedicated left-turn lane and the city population has to meet certain levels criteria that Dodge doesn't meet. After all, the north-to south-intersection doesn't have a dedicated lane. To build a lane, the city would have to purchase property on either side.

So why was there a turn signal there prior to the overhaul of Wyatt Earp? Well, that's what falls under the "better to forgive" category. After simply observing the traffic situation at the intersection, Finley said it was obvious a turn signal was needed. So, the city installed one. Then the city told KDOT.

With the new setup, Finley said the stoplight timing up to the intersection has been staggered in an effort to prevent large amounts of traffic clogging up the intersection.

With the new lights comes new technology as well. The old loop sensors in the ground that sense cars have been replaced with cameras, which allow better understanding of how traffic patterns work. Essentially, he said, it's a system that can learn how best to operate.

How well it works, of course, remains to be seen. Finley said the city will pay close attention to the traffic patterns after Wyatt Earp is completely opened up to see how the new system works.

And if the system doesn't perform up to expectations, Finley said it was entirely possible they would have another "forgive and forget" scenario. After all, he said, it's for the safety of the public that the city put the left-turn signal up in the first place.

There's an environmental side to the story too. Without a dedicated left-turn lane, occasionally people wind up idling behind a person trying to make a left turn after the protected light has gone off. So you end up having people idling their engines without going anywhere.

So, it appears that it's a bit of a trade-off. The city's following state regulations on traffic lights, but it's also keeping an eye out to see if the new system is efficient enough.

For now, time will have to tell. Until then, watch your turns.

To e-mail questions for Mark Vierthaler to answer, send them to mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com

[tat2me82]

Seen a wreck there yesterday.. not sure exactly what happened but all I seen was a cougar on the divider... Another accident on 10th and Wyatt Earp.... sheeesh I can't wait till that street get straightened out!!! I do like the sidewalks though. Ecspecially for all the tourists I send that way in the summer time.

[Bound]

THEY DID IT!! Thank goodness no more waiting for 2-3 light changes on Friday afternoons.

[Made in the USA]

Thank God! I about got my ass run over there yesterday!!