FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (March 15, 2001) – Lee County is extending it’s 30-day traffic
light test on southbound San Carlos Boulevard near Matanzas Pass Bridge to see
if traffic flow can be improved by using an alternating signal.
The trial period has been extended due to requests from the Town of Fort
Myers Beach and due to the positive impact that it has had on traffic.
The test began on February 18, 2002.
The
county ran a similar test last June, however this will test the effectiveness of
the plan during the busier tourist season.
The test period will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During the night, the signal will be programmed to operate
normally. Here are the details:
Why
is it being done?
San Carlos Boulevard narrows
from two southbound lanes to one as it crosses the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
This results in a merging traffic situation between Prescott Street and
Main Street because most drivers are aware of the merge and move into the left
lane north of Prescott Street.
The problem this leads to is
long traffic queues in the left lane while the right lane is only lightly used. An alternating traffic signal plan for the two lanes is
intended to control the merging traffic and reduce the length of the line of
cars by encouraging more equal use of both southbound lanes at Prescott Street.
If
the plan is successful, gridlock and time waiting in traffic would be reduced
and more cars would ultimately be served on Estero Boulevard at Times Square.
How
will it work?
The traffic signal has been
modified to have five traffic signal heads on the mast arm:
The two rightmost signal heads will control the right hand through lane, the two left signal heads will control the left hand though lane, and the leftmost signal head will control the left turns. A barrier will separate the two southbound through lanes.
First, the two left signal heads will be green and the two right signal heads will be red, and left lane traffic will proceed while the right lane is stopped. For safety reasons, the north and south left turns only will be permitted on the green arrow during this test.
Second, the two right signal heads will be green and the two left signal heads will be red, and the right lane traffic will proceed while the left lane is stopped.
Third, the side street traffic will be served.