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It's Official: Traffic Lights in This City Suck!
I'm one of those paranoid, overly dramatic people who convince themselves that the entire world is out to get them. A lot of my paranoid delusions revolve around driving, of course: that dude slowed down just to piss me off! Every time I change lanes traffic gets worse! (Also known as the "Office Space" rule.) These lights are timed badly just to slow me down!
Turns out, that last one might not just be all in my head. In today's L.A. Times , Steve Hymon discovers that whacked-out, unsynchronized traffic lights are more often the norm than the anomaly in this city:
If you believe that traffic signals near you aren't synchronized as well as they should be, you're probably right. Relatively few cities in the region have state-of-the-art technology when it comes to traffic signals, according to several transportation engineers I spoke with recently. Even the city of Los Angeles -- the widely acknowledged leader in advanced traffic signals -- is undergoing a $150-million upgrade to its lights.
Both L.A. and Orange counties are making big pushes to help dozens of cities get their lights in sync, with the emphasis on big arterials that cross cities. The O.C., for example, is syncing up Euclid Street, which in 15 miles crosses six cities and four freeways.
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"Pasadena City Councilman Sid Tyler said he agreed that the streets in his district aren't very well timed, but he wasn't sure why it has taken so long to fix the problem. "I don't understand it," Tyler said Friday. "I don't know what the answer is. I share your frustration. I'm sorry I can't help you.""
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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