Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?

By Dan Abendschein on July 10, 2008 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) |

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?

7 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!

July 10, 2008 4:50 PM

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!

July 10, 2008 11:18 PM

AP said:

Colorado Blvd & Hill Ave always has that left turn lane problem.

July 11, 2008 5:10 AM

AP said:

All I want for my birthday is a Mets loss and a Phillies win.

July 11, 2008 6:35 AM

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.

July 11, 2008 10:27 AM

GP said:

I am glad that you have mentioned this. I live in Altadena at the top of lake. there are 13 stop lights to go through, none of which are synced. I believe that the worst light is at Lake St. / Belvedere St. It is here that the light actually changes Red for 1 second anytime after 8:00 PM when cars are approaching in any direction. Furthermore, if the lights were synced in any respect my breaks would last longer going down and my gas milage would increase going up. I would like to know who to contact to complain but I am in Altadena not Pasadena. Thanks for the article.

November 17, 2009 1:57 PM

John said:

I wish the city to setup a website for residents to report the problems. The left turn signal always on at Hill Ave and Walnut, Washington Blvd and Sierra Madre Blvd, New York Blvd and Sierra Madre Blvd.

August 24, 2010 6:13 PM

John on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: I wish the city to setup a website for residents to report the problem ...

GP on Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?: I am glad that you have mentioned this. I live in Altadena at the top ...

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 ...

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Pasadena traffic lights out of sync?

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