Question: Can the Department of Transportation install a second set of metered lights on the eastbound onramp from Center Street to state Route 16? On many mornings the rising sun is right behind the lights. A second, lower set – like on the eastbound onramp from Union Avenue – would make it easier for drivers to see when they can safely proceed.
Answer: No. The HOV bypass lane on the ramp complicates things, according to Claudia Bingham Baker with the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The Center Street ramp has the HOV lane and two metered lanes.
Installing a lower signal head would require a new pole for each metered lane.
Because of the HOV lane, this wouldn’t be possible for the middle lane, Bingham Baker said.
If they placed the pole along the left side of the ramp by the HOV lane, HOV drivers might think it was for their lane, she said.
If they only installed one signal along the right metered lane, she said it could confuse drivers in the center lane.
WSDOT was able to put lower signal heads on the Union Avenue ramp, because it doesn’t have an HOV bypass lane, she said. – Jeff, Fircrest alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com 253-597-8268 Have a question about traffic congestion, construction, spending or other transportation issues? Send it to traffic@thenewstribune.com. Include your name, hometown and daytime telephone number.
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