The Maryland State Highway Administration is installing new traffic signals on Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) at Middleton Lane in downtown Bethesda. Two pedestrians were struck in the crosswalk there in 2019, but residents of East Bethesda had been asking for the signal long before that. State Highway engineers initially concluded additional signals were not warranted there, but announced they would install crossing signals at three intersections after the 2019 incident. The signals that have been installed are not yet operational, so it is currently unclear if they will operate with other timed signals along MD 355 and additional signals facing Middleton, or only when activated by pedestrians seeking to cross.
It takes the MDSHA four years to take notice and act?
ReplyDeleteI'm confused. Are these stop lights or crossing signals? The crossing signals are fine but another stop light? It's hard enough to get thru there smoothly with every corner being blown up to make way for a giant multi-use building. Thanks for clarifying.
ReplyDeleteAre these to be red lights? Because those blinking yellow crossing signals are death traps. Pedestrians think cars will yield to crossers. They don’t.
ReplyDeleteA great move, as a pedestrian, who uses this crossing most days, it can be a terrifying experience with some drivers powering through despite stopped traffic at the flashing lights (most of the time, we have well-mannered drivers that look out and stop in advance but it only take one or two to make it unsafe)
ReplyDelete11:36 - That's what I was asking as well. Robert, can you please clarify? The pedestrian flashing signals are better than yet another stop light. You can't make any stretch of road 100% safe. If they put stop lights at every intersection on 355 all the way to Georgetown, you'd still have accidents.
ReplyDeleteJAC, I don't yet know for sure how these will be used, but they do have red, yellow and green lights on them like regular traffic signals.
ReplyDeleteRobert, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI always find it hilarious when I see somebody poking that button frantically during rush hour. We're not stopping folks from going home so you don't have to stand there another few seconds. Wait your turn walkers during rush hours is what the sign should say.
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