Work to tweak traffic light timing is continuing in an effort to improve drive times in the city but some local drivers say recent changes have done more harm than good.
Earlier this month, the city began tweaking traffic light timing along several of the major thoroughfares.
“We started at the beginning of (last) week going through and making some adjustments with the feedback that we’ve heard from the original adjustments and some of the reviews we’ve done,” said Dean Schick, transportation manager for the city.
Schick explained they’re adjusting some lights and taking a look at the effect of left turns entering onto St. Albert Trail. Turning signals were changed earlier this year to give drivers turning left the right of way at several major intersections – they can only turn left on a green arrow, instead of being able to turn on a solid green.
“The sequence of events has changed at the intersections,” he said, adding there will be some minor alterations to timing as well.
For some road-users, the protected left-hand turns have had a noticeable effect on traffic since their implementation.
Blair Logan, owner of St. Albert Taxi, said his personal opinion is that they are a horrible idea.
He suggested that protected left-hand turns during peak hours might make sense, but in off-hours, when the trail is not as busy, drivers shouldn’t be blocked from turning while the road is clear.
In general, Logan has noticed the length of time to get across town has increased over the years. There are more cars on the road, but the lights aren’t helping either.
“You should be able to get down the trail within 10 to 15 minutes,” Logan said. He added it often takes 15 to 20 minutes now or longer if traffic is congested.
Bob Reiger, a driver and former owner of St. Albert Taxi, agreed with Logan that the protected left-hand turns have negatively affected traffic flow.
“It takes us a lot longer to get around,” Reiger said. He’s seen traffic volume increase over the years, and pointed out the north end of St. Albert Trail by Walmart is getting particularly busy, especially on weekends.
The light testing is going on in most of the major corridors, with the exception of Ray Gibbon Drive and some of the more remote intersections. Schick said Ray Gibbon Drive is next, while the others will be tackled later this year.
This week’s activities will include drive studies, which sends vehicles out onto the road with a GPS and a camera to capture the realities of driving in St. Albert. They spent $300 to purchase the cameras for the drive tests, but otherwise city staff is doing the work.
While the software used to plan traffic light timing is top-notch, field tests help take into account variables such as driver behaviours.
Schick said the drive times will help establish what drivers’ expectations should be when it comes to how long it takes to get from A to B – though he emphasized drive time studies look at the overall driving experience and not just time spent at specific points.
“Adjustments are being made. The overall areas and corridors are being reviewed to try and optimize as best as possible,” Schick said, adding he welcomes feedback.
“We know full well that volumes have increased and the demand has increased and we’ll be looking to address that through these adjustments and going forward with these types of studies. And, these tests it will become a consistent review for the city,” he said.
