UPCOMING TRAFFIC SIGNALS VS 2-WAY/4-WAY STOP TEST
DOWNTOWN KLAMATH FALLS MAY 1, 2023 – KLAMATH FALLS, OR The City of Klamath Falls is considering a major change in the Downtown. Some of the traffic lights Downtown will be converted into two-way and four-way stops during a testing phase beginning June 1st of this year. The change will include putting flashing yellow and red lights on several proposed intersections.
The Downtown traffic signals have been under study to determine if removing and replacing them with two-way/four-way stops would have a safety benefit. With the signal modifications, the installation of curb extensions would also take place. This will shorten the travel distance across the intersection for the pedestrian and narrow the roadway. The original analysis called for pedestrian countdown timers and reflectorized back plates on the signals. The traffic study determined the signals are not warranted and it would be feasible to replace the signals with stop signs instead. Funding for this project is largely coming from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s All Roads Transportation Safety (ARTS) program.
“The study we conducted looked at each signalized intersection in the downtown to see if these intersections met warrants. A warrant is a condition that an intersection must meet to justify a signal intersection. The Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) identifies 9 warrants to justify the need for a signal,” explained Public Works Director Mark Willrett.
Researchers collected traffic counts for both vehicles and pedestrians. None of the proposed intersections met the criteria for a traffic signal.
Citizen input will be crucial during the testing phase. In order to do this, a multi-month test will be conducted to collect data and see how the community responds to the change in traffic pattern.
There will be a great deal of outreach, communication with local media as well as social media and community groups. City Staff anticipates creating a survey or questionnaire to solicit feedback during the test phase as well.
If there are questions about the upcoming rollout of this Downtown traffic signal test, please email admin@klamathfalls.city or call (541) 883-5270.
The signals are all ready in place so I don’t see a cost savings taking them out and putting in a bunch of stop signs. I think it will take way longer to travel by motor vehicle on the downtown streets. Who ever dreamt this this up should quit and find a real job.
The signal lights should stay. There are too many people that do not know the protocol of a 4 way stop intersection.
Accidents will more than likely increase. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
I think lights are safer then stop signs, and not blinking lights not safe at all. I drive for job and i am on the road alot. in my experience driving with the flow of traffic with lights is safer.
I think this will increase traffic on Pine St. And they will likely be speeding because the yahoos will be angry about the stop signs. I do think its a waste of money. If you truly want the increase pedestrian safety, spend the money on better crosswalks. The kind with lights. I do like the idea of extending the intersection corners out with a bar handrail, so pedestrians can be seen, and they can see traffic before stepping out.
I wish that you would consider putting a four way stop on Shasta and Madison. It is very confusing to drivers after the four way stop on Madison and Shasta that there isn’t one on Madison, they stop any ways causing several wrecks. We also, have the school on Madison and the kids and the school buses. Please consider this, a four way stop would be very helpful. Thank you.
Just another way for City council to waste money on stupid stuff, there are Veterans here that could have used that money.
Signal lights are better stop signs are not too safe, sometimes your ideas are not good and aren’t safe to the people. 🥲
if it aint broke, dont fix it. i think traffic flows fine in the downtown area. i believe it is a waste of funding that could be better used to repave the roads that are so terrible downtown. the potholes are huge by Eagle ridge charter school and should be addressed before removing lights that dont need to be removed.
I agree with Frank Lawler III, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I want the lights back the way they were; SAFE for both drivers and pedestrians. Right now I try to avoid driving or walking downtown, because it is a confusing mess !
Not sure what time of day they did these studies. I would suggest making the lights more traffic controlled if anything is changed. In addition as a frequent pedestrian in the downtown area the street lights help. In areas where they don’t exist streets can be quite difficult to cross at times.
As someone who frequently walks around downtown I was nearly hit by 3 different drivers not paying attention and being impatient at these crossings, this is in no way safer. This is a danger to our town and a huge waste of resources and money
This is so stupid why would the city do this? Have they thought about the weekends with the bars and restaurants opening? Unbelievable. Someone do something! Put a “study” on something else important . You are causing more harm than good.
I agree: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. I like the lights that we had for all these years; THEY ARE SAFER ! As a pedestrian crossing streets, it was much safer…….than the test that is going on now.
It is confusing, I see people stopped at a flashing red light waiting to turn and the people that have a flashing yellow light are stopping and waiting forever. People are not even looking for pedestrians, and because of the parked cars on road they are not visible. I have seen people with a yellow light stop for a pedestrian and the car behind him went around him to the other lane honking! The pedestrians really don’t know when it’s safe to cross. I have also seen people cruise thru the red flashing light! And poor people from out of town? I feel really bad for them too. I know there was notification of what was happening in 1 of the 2 newspapers that are delivered weekly but a lot of people don’t get that anymore and a lot of seniors I know do not have a computer. I agree with all of the above comments people have left ..we look like a bunch bobble heads. 🤪🙈😩
I went through downtown yesterday and watched a car stop at a red light, go through and the person behind him immediately went through. Thank goodness I have a lot of patience while driving, otherwise we would have crashed into each other. I read the recent Herald article in which the city lists “project’s ability to improve the safety of pedestrians.” How on earth will this project help pedestrians who also can’t figure out when to cross the road? At least before there was a crosswalk signal.
Yesterday I watched 2 cars go through a flashing red light. Had I not had the foresight to wait before taking my turn, the 2nd car would have crashed into me. The city cites improved pedestrian safety as a reason for this incredibly stupid decision. If people driving cars don’t know how 4 way stops work, how are they supposed to figure it out while walking? At least before there were crosswalk signals. The commenters above are correct that this is a waste of money that could be better spent on road improvement.
Unbelievable, causing a safety hazard, to save money, and better for businesses foot traffic, this is the most idiotic plan ever, leave it to city officials and the Downtown association for making stupid ideas a reality!
I have lived and have had a business off of Main Street for the last 22 years, and can guarantee you all your comments against this , will not be heard! The Downtown Association does not speak for all the businesses downtown, so quit being a cheerleader for bad ideas, and praising city services that clearly don’t function well!
I apologize to my, Clients, Pedestrians, any one coming downtown, and Visitors welcome to backward town, hope you can find your way around.
This plan is not progressive, it is regressive, which the city is great at, Chaos, confusion!
There are lots of city services that could be improved changing the traffic light system is not one of them!
When Public Comment, is asked for, that means they have already made their decision, doesn’t matter, whether it be a city council meeting , or this idiotic experiment!
Parking is one of them , theses entities, cater to businesses and their employees that park in front of their businesses and violate the ordinance on a daily basis , for year’s little to no enforcement, a system that has clearly doesn’t work, 2 Hour parking is for customers!
Clearly these these Businesses don’t care about their customers, we have handicapped, elderly, that are walking blocks to find parking, all while 90% of the ones parked on North 10th Street are Business Owners and their employees, it just sad.
There is no use having permits, if there is no Enforcement!
This is just one of many Departments, that needs revamped, but those that complain get less service, and get told excuses that are basically lies, and no problems ever get resolved, they just continue year ‘s on end!
The Main feed back has not been good for this experiment, really hope these entities listen to the people , we never needed any of this stupidity, but here we are again dealing with another issue that needed left alone.
Thanks for listening , if you are?
Dennis Smith
Headhunter’s Hair Design
This is the worst idea. I think is it definitely more dangerous for the pedestrians. Plus drivers seem to struggle with how a red and how a yellow light works. The money for these lights has already been spent why change a good thing and spent.
I will never go downtown again because of this
I have to agree with most of the comments posted above. I have seen numerous instances of drivers not obeying the lights.
Some of the intersections are yellow, some red. The cross streets do not know, so they approach as if the yellow light will stop.
Looking for lights and vehicles distracts the drivers from looking for pedestrians. Go back to synchronized traffic lights….
Before you might have to wait for one light. Then they would generally all turn green and you could get through downtown. Now you have to stop at every intersection. This seems like it is going to make for very impatient drivers. Which is dangerous for pedestrians and other drivers. I know myself and my wife (who is a professional driver) avoid downtown all together now. And use Pine St. This doesn’t sound like it is going to be good for downtown businesses if people avoid downtown.
Before you might have to wait for one light. Then they would generally all turn green and you could get through downtown. Now you have to stop at every intersection. This seems like it is going to make for very impatient drivers. Which is dangerous for pedestrians and other drivers. I know myself and my wife (who is a professional driver) avoid downtown all together now. And use Pine St. This doesn’t sound like it is going to be good for downtown businesses if people avoid downtown.
Changing the lights to stop signs will create so many problems. One way streets with the lights timed to match the speed limit help the flow of traffic and everyone knows what to do. We’ve had lights there for all 50 years that I’ve been here and it hasn’t been a problem, why is it a problem now? Because some one wrote criteria and we don’t meet the parameters?
Instead of wasting money on this, you should fix the roads.
The changes to the downtown are confusing to drivers, dangerous to both drivers and pedestrians. I am now avoiding the downtown. It makes no sense to spend the money on taking down expensive lights and spending more money to narrow the streets. The funds could be used in better ways. We have commercial vehicles and we are telling our crews to avoid the downtown. We have seen several close calls, and when I walked downtown, drivers were so busy watching the lights they aren’t paying attention to pedestrians. I personally am avoiding the downtown as much as possible. After doing so much to promote the downtown and try to get people to eat and shop downtown. This is a deterrent to that. Funds could be better used in other areas of the city.
I for one am so happy that you have to wait so long just to get through every stop light. Can we change the street lights to the old gas lamps too. It’s so exciting to go back in time, where cars drove 10 feet to stop again. It brings the Norman Rockwell days back let’s do that go back In time to the cover wagon day were it took hours home, when you only live a mile away. Can we bring back the hotels too to stay at as a 5 mile teck home it would be nice to have a hot bath and hotel to relax before you end your journey home. And forget pedestrians it’s every man for themselves out there. If they can’t play leap frog then they should not be out walking. As far as mom and pop businesses forget them they’re diffently a thing of the past. Let’s have a ghost town . If you want hussle and bussle move to a bigger town dam it. Let’s let all the homeless build tents and take over all of downtown like they have in every city. Make everyone go away. The lights are as distracting as a big Christmas tree in the middle of town and they hurt my eyes at night anyway. Good job Klamath falls keep it up. Long live the stop signs in their hexagon glory.