Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?

| | Comments (5) |

A week or so ago I was complaining to my girlfriend that every time I get off the 210 Freeway and head down either San Gabriel Blvd., Altadena Blvd., or Sierra Madre Blvd. (all three lead towards home) I hit every single red light between there and home.

As she typically does when I complain about something utterly uninteresting and beyond my control to fix, she suggested I write an article about it. Or blog. Or complain to Pasadena officials next time I am on the phone with them.

Lo and behold this week I notice there is a city Transportation Committee meeting Friday where they will be talking about a traffic light synchronization grant that would be funded with Proposition 1B money.

I can't seem to find any agenda information on the city's website, but I did leave messages to try to figure it out. I also found some information on a Caltrans meeting agenda, which seems to be referring to the grant. It says it would be on Hill Avenue, Fair Oaks, and Del Mar.

Not the exact streets I was hoping for, but I have noticed a lot of stretches on Pasadena roads are painful for red lights (I really hate the section on Colorado Blvd. that goes through Pasadena City College).

Anyway, I will look into this and see if it merits more attention. In the mean time, any commenters want to weigh in and where the worst red light sections of town are?

5 Comments

Keith said:
Pasadena has one of the worst sync problems in the Southland! If you drive the posted speeds, you can pretty much plan on stopping at nearly every light. Moreover, there are LONG lights at many intersections where there has been no cross-traffic in recorded history! And have you noticed how many intersections there are where there are no left-turn arrows, and cars are backed up 12 deep in the left-turn lane? Do our city traffic planners ever actually get out of their chairs and DRIVE Pasadena's streets? I think that middle-school students could do a better job of synchronizing our city's lights. I used to phone and complain about having to sit forever at certain intersections, but no one was interested. Your tax dollars at work! NOT!
Sheesh said:
Those lights are likely synched AGAINST you on purpose to (1) allow the greater cross-traffic at that time to move more fluidly or (2) encourage you to find a different route. Get a bike. Sheesh!
AP said:
Colorado Blvd & Hill Ave always has that left turn lane problem.
AP said:
All I want for my birthday is a Mets loss and a Phillies win.
Tryptamine said:
I've noticed sync problems on Pas. (and SouthPas) streets from time to time. As Keith mentioned, the worst ones are at intersections where no cross-traffic is occuring. Some thoughts: 1) Perhaps we are being encouraged to drive more slowly for safety reasons (ie: PCC or other school zones). I wonder if it's really necessary at, for instance, 5am. 2) Sheesh may be correct; the city might be trying to discourage non-local traffic on certain streets. 3) I see more red-light cameras going up around Pasadena. Maybe this is all part of the city's plan to increase revenue by baiting people who might be tempted to run red lights at intersections where there's no cross-traffic! 4) Perhaps the city traffic planners have a touch of schadenfreude and actually enjoy seeing how much traffic they can back up.

Leave a comment

UNDER THE DOME

Dan Abenschein
Pasadena -- news, politics and gossip. Send tips, rumors, rants to Dan Abendschein dan.abendschein@sgvn.com.

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Dan Abendschein published on July 10, 2008 12:22 PM.

Notes on the freeway toll lane project was the previous entry in this blog.

iPhone buyers lining up outside Apple Store is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Recent Comments

Tryptamine on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: I've noticed sync problems on Pas. (and SouthPas) streets from time to ...

AP on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: All I want for my birthday is a Mets loss and a Phillies win. ...

AP on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: Colorado Blvd & Hill Ave always has that left turn lane problem. ...

Sheesh on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: Those lights are likely synched AGAINST you on purpose to (1) allow th ...

Keith on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: Pasadena has one of the worst sync problems in the Southland! If you ...

Powered by Movable Type 4.1

Links

Our SGVN blogs

Hallway Monitor
Caroline An's experiences the Pasadena Unified School District.
The Public Eye
SGVN Public Editor Larry Wilson muses on life, newspapering and the Velvet Underground.
Scott Galetti Talks Prep Sports What else is there to say? Scott's a cool guy who posts about local prep sports.
Crime Scene
Tribune crime guy Frank Girardot wants to know where the bodies are and what they're stuffed into.
Editors' Corner
Edward Barrera and Kate Kealey, las editors libres, reflect on the news in general with a dash of newsroom insidering.
Leftovers from City Hall
More city hall news and tidbits from around the Valley, brought to you by reporters Jennifer McLain and Tania Chatila.
Fred Robledo Talks Prep Sports
Tribune sports dude Fred Robledo's monster prep sports blog.

Advertisement

Headlines

Other blogs

City to vote on consultant contract in Leftovers from City Hall
This and that at the track in Inside Horse Racing
The high country in Public Eye
West Covina courthouse flooded out in Crime Scene
Dispatch from New Mexico in Under the Dome