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‘Smart’ signal needed

2 min read

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Though it seemed as if reconstruction of Lincoln and College streets in Washington took longer than the erection of some of Egypt’s pyramids, that work is finally done, and the final portion of the Route 19 corridor project – work on Highland and Murtland avenues – is well under way. Motoring along College Street is no longer the kidney-dislodging experience we had come to dread. The streets and sidewalks are now smooth and wide, pavement markings, signage and traffic signals all new.

We cannot help but be disappointed, however, that the project’s architects have not addressed the most annoying and vexing traffic problem at the intersection of Beau and College streets. Though other intersections in the city are equipped with “smart” signals that can better control traffic flow than the old signals operating on timers only, the light at Beau and College still operates the old way. The result is that vehicles on heavily traveled, two-way Beau Street are frequently backed up – sometimes beyond the intersection with Lincoln Street – waiting for the light to turn green, while the more lightly traveled, one-way College Street is vacant, no car or truck in sight, abandoned by all but ghosts.

There is no logical reason why the signal at this intersection should not operate as the one at Wheeling and Main streets, for example. The light should remain green for vehicles on Beau Street unless traffic approaches on College or when pedestrians press the button to cross the street. We and, we are sure, many white-knuckled, oath-spewing Washington motorists would greatly appreciate a quick response by PennDOT to this complaint.

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