A Simpler Solution

To the Editor:

I read a story in The Newtown Bee, dated July 24 (near the bottom of the front page), about congestion caused by a traffic signal at an intersection in Sandy Hook [“Residents Want Traffic Improvements In Sandy Hook Center”]. Some residents are petitioning for a new signal with a protected arrow. I travel that intersection every day. There is a much simpler solution that would not require a capital expenditure.

The problem occurs because of the long line of people on Glen Road turning right from Glen onto Church Hill; you have a “No Turn On Red” sign already that people do seem to respect (or that could be enforced). All you need to do is to make the green signal for people traveling on Glen Road independent of the green signal for the people on Washington (one is red while the other one is green). That way, the right-turners would be stopped by the “No Turn On Red,” and the left turners would have protected passage. A slightly modified alternative, if there is an objection that this would make the light cycle too long, is to just make the Glen Road signal turn red a few seconds before the Washington signal turns red, giving the opportunity for more cars to get through on each cycle. That would at least ease some of the congestion until a modern traffic light can be budgeted in.

Thank you for your time and attention,

Lisa Mosgrove

12 Farview Drive, Sandy Hook                                   August 27, 2009