Which intersections should be signalized?

[tolbs17]

I say these ones will need it.

US-13/264ALT/Frog Level Rd - this one ultimately needs it. Dangerous for left turn Frog Level Rd traffic unless they add U-turn samples which I doubt they have any plans to do so anytime soon.

Davenport Farm Rd/Frog Level Rd - Why is there a 4 way stop at such a busy intersection? Signalize it! Both roads need widening as well.

Frog Level Rd/Forlines Rd - not as bad, but signals are a definite go. South Central High School traffic use this road a lot. Especially to the ones coming from Farmville Central.

Thomas Langston Rd/Davenport Farm Rd - school traffic, can get backed up and it's very annoying. Many more intersections nearby need it as well.

Worthington Rd/County Home Rd - school traffic. Definitely needs it. Although it may get a roundabout soon.

US-13/US-258 fairly busy intersection, needs to be signalized or realigned.

Or maybe, you can just convert all of them into roundabouts if signals are so frustrating. Perfect for that area anyway (Not talking about the US-13/US-258 one).

Grimesland has no signals.

[KCRoadFan]

I can think of some right here in my city of Kansas City, MO - as they stand now (that is, merges either controlled only by stop signs or completely uncontrolled), they seem ripe for head-on collisions.

43rd Street at Westport Road

Pershing Road at Gillham Road

Meyer Boulevard at the Paseo (absolute traffic chaos!)

Also in KC: Meyer Boulevard at Swope Parkway (How does THIS not have a light? It's at the entrance to Swope Park, and it's a huge intersection!)

[interstatefan990]

I can think of some right here in my city of Kansas City, MO - as they stand now (that is, merges either controlled only by stop signs or completely uncontrolled), they seem ripe for head-on collisions.

43rd Street at Westport Road

Pershing Road at Gillham Road

Meyer Boulevard at the Paseo (absolute traffic chaos!)

Also in KC: Meyer Boulevard at Swope Parkway (How does THIS not have a light? It's at the entrance to Swope Park, and it's a huge intersection!)

Imagine the chaos that would ensue if the 43rd St stop sign were somehow knocked down. Also, for the Pershing Rd example, I think that is the lowest-speed road I have seen a merge sign on (might also be the lowest-mounted one I've seen too). And that Meyer Blvd intersection gives me chills.

One intersection I can think of that needs to be signalized is Saw Mill River Parkway Exit 39 and NY 117. Although it's already close to another traffic signal, drivers taking a busy parkway exit should not have to regularly make a left turn across four lanes of traffic with no protection, especially considering how little queueing area there is.

https://goo.gl/maps/j7QgrTEhi3AWTdA67

[zachary_amaryllis]

overland and us-287, nw of fort collins. i've posted about this intersection before. 287 is a super-2, overland is a 2-lane county road. 287 has 65 mph speed limit, and limited sight distance at this intersection. from nb overland, turning highway north (compass west), you're immediately in the passing lane. turning highway south (compass east), a short merge lane (really short because it goes to a bridge that cdot didn't want to widen)

cars will shoot the gap here all the time, and are frequently unaware that large vehicles are approaching at ludicrous speed.

from highway north, to turn sb onto overland, you turn out of the passing lane. there's not left turn lane.

this intersection is begging for a light. they've reconfigured it many times and people keep dying there.

[mrsman]

I can think of some right here in my city of Kansas City, MO - as they stand now (that is, merges either controlled only by stop signs or completely uncontrolled), they seem ripe for head-on collisions.

43rd Street at Westport Road

Pershing Road at Gillham Road

Meyer Boulevard at the Paseo (absolute traffic chaos!)

Also in KC: Meyer Boulevard at Swope Parkway (How does THIS not have a light? It's at the entrance to Swope Park, and it's a huge intersection!)

Imagine the chaos that would ensue if the 43rd St stop sign were somehow knocked down. Also, for the Pershing Rd example, I think that is the lowest-speed road I have seen a merge sign on (might also be the lowest-mounted one I've seen too). And that Meyer Blvd intersection gives me chills.

One intersection I can think of that needs to be signalized is Saw Mill River Parkway Exit 39 and NY 117. Although it's already close to another traffic signal, drivers taking a busy parkway exit should not have to regularly make a left turn across four lanes of traffic with no protection, especially considering how little queueing area there is.

https://goo.gl/maps/j7QgrTEhi3AWTdA67

For the 43rd street example, I don't think a signal is needed.  What is needed is making that last block one-way eastbound and forcing westbound 43rd traffic to make a right on Madison and then a left on Westport to continue.  (And that rush hour left turn restriction should also be removed.)

Here's a crazy example in Beverly Hills, CA:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0797219,-118.4116234,3a,75y,260.17h,78.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.61006%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

[interstatefan990]

Here's a crazy example in Beverly Hills, CA:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0797219,-118.4116234,3a,75y,260.17h,78.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.61006%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I have seen that intersection in multiple LA-based reality TV shows in those montages between scenes with the upbeat music, and I always wondered where it was. Thanks for finally locating it for me!

Now that I think about it, this looks like a perfect candidate for a roundabout.

[Ned Weasel]

For the 43rd street example, I don't think a signal is needed.  What is needed is making that last block one-way eastbound and forcing westbound 43rd traffic to make a right on Madison and then a left on Westport to continue.  (And that rush hour left turn restriction should also be removed.)

I'd go with that suggestion.  43rd and Westport is a terrible intersection, and I can say this from IRL experience driving through it and later deciding to avoid it at all costs.

[mrsman]

Here's a crazy example in Beverly Hills, CA:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0797219,-118.4116234,3a,75y,260.17h,78.98t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DRasWv6qXW_AP7Zq8efdLDQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D185.61006%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I have seen that intersection in multiple LA-based reality TV shows in those montages between scenes with the upbeat music, and I always wondered where it was. Thanks for finally locating it for me!

Now that I think about it, this looks like a perfect candidate for a roundabout.

Yes, it is quite famous.  A lot of LA scenery shows this part of Beverly Drive with the very tall palm trees and the wide streets as being classic LA.  The streets do come together in  a pretty geometric fashion, but a pain to drive through.  THere are also two other nearby six point intersections (Sunset/Beverly/Crescent and Sunset/Canon/Rodeo) but those are both signalized.

I do like the roundabout idea.  A number of sites dealing with LA traffic (like rants on Reddit) have made that suggestion.  In fact, I do remember a roundabout pilot from many years ago at that intersection (with cones and police tape).  It was certainly better than the controlled chaos* that exists now.  I think the roundabout should be revisited as they are now more common in the US than when the pilot was conducted.

* It seems that even the crazy LA drivers know how dangerous this is so surprisingly there aren't too many accidents here.  Unlike a standard all-way stop, it is very difficult to remember whose turn it is to go here, since there are so many points to this intersection.  Plus, a lot of traffic on Beverly and Canon align themselves as two lanes in each direction since the roads are relatively wider and there are few parked cars (and both streets are two lanes in each direction south of Santa Monica Blvd).  Cars tend to go and then slow in the middle as other cars from other directions are also going.  Somehow they each negotiate who goes first depending on who reaches the middle first.  Fortunatley, there are very few cars along Lomitas, so you almost never have to consider them.  Like I said, controlled chaos.

[webny99]

In suburban/exurban/rural areas, I'd prefer roundabouts to signals. Both are much better than four-way (or two-way) stops, though. I can't stand those. This would be a supreme location for a roundabout, for example.

[kphoger]

Four-way stops are of the devil.

[tolbs17]

Four-way stops are of the devil.

For old tar, main st and cooper st have 4 way stops. They will be signalized once the road widening project begins.

[kphoger]

Wow, it took me a while to figure out that Old Tar is the name of a road, and that Main and Cooper are streets in Winterville, NC.

[interstatefan990]

Four-way stops are of the devil.

I don't mind them, until I encounter some asshat that doesn't understand the meaning of first come, first serve.

[kphoger]

I just fail to understand how Everyone has to stop, no matter what! is a valid option.

[1995hoo]

I just fail to understand how Everyone has to stop, no matter what! is a valid option.

I've always viewed it as, "You might have to stop sometime, so we'll make you stop every time just in case," which is a theory that makes no sense to me but is, I suppose, consistent with the general theory of never trusting anyone to do what they're supposed to do.

[interstatefan990]

I just fail to understand how Everyone has to stop, no matter what! is a valid option.

I've always viewed it as, "You might have to stop sometime, so we'll make you stop every time just in case," which is a theory that makes no sense to me but is, I suppose, consistent with the general theory of never trusting anyone to do what they're supposed to do.

Oh, please. We all know 99% of American drivers don't take an all-way stop to mean actually stop. More like "slow down to 6 or 7 mph and glance to either side as you roll through the intersection". I always stop for this exact reason.

[kphoger]

Unless it's a multi-lane four-way stop, with nine cars.  Then it's Stop, wait for one or two cars to go through, then wonder who in the world should go next, wait a little bit, start to go, notice two other drivers in the same predicament, stop again, look at each other hopelessly...

[1995hoo]

I just fail to understand how Everyone has to stop, no matter what! is a valid option.

I've always viewed it as, "You might have to stop sometime, so we'll make you stop every time just in case," which is a theory that makes no sense to me but is, I suppose, consistent with the general theory of never trusting anyone to do what they're supposed to do.

Oh, please. We all know 99% of American drivers don't take an all-way stop to mean actually stop. More like "slow down to 6 or 7 mph and glance to either side as you roll through the intersection". I always stop for this exact reason.

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning? Why the rude reply?

[interstatefan990]

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning? Why the rude reply?

Uh, it was a normal reply with a tiny dash of harmless sarcasm for comedic effect. Don't see how it's rude, but thanks for your concern.

[kphoger]

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning? Why the rude reply?

Uh, it was a normal reply with a tiny dash of harmless sarcasm for comedic effect. Don't see how it's rude, but thanks for your concern.

That's how I took it too.  Not particularly rude or anything out of the ordinary.

Maybe I've become desensitized to sarcasm...

[1995hoo]

Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning? Why the rude reply?

Uh, it was a normal reply with a tiny dash of harmless sarcasm for comedic effect. Don't see how it's rude, but thanks for your concern.

Uh, no, it wasn't. The "oh, please" was unnecessary and condescending. I'm not kernals12 and you don't need to address me as though I were. If anything, I think your comment about American drivers not actually stopping at all-way stops (a comment I would extend to pretty much any stop sign, for that matter!) just underscores my point that the idea of requiring people to stop every time (which, we can all agree, is what a stop sign does as a matter of law) is a stupid and unnecessary practice most of the time. Not all the time, of course–I'm sure we can all think of intersections where any number of factors (obstructed visibility, high pedestrian traffic, proximity to a school, etc.) might warrant a stop sign, but the American way is to throw up stop signs every time even when it would be perfectly safe to use a yield sign instead. That's the point I was trying to make.

[interstatefan990]

Dude, no harm was intended and it wasn't personal. You don't have to have your guard up, just chill out. 

[kphoger]

Help yourselves.

[1995hoo]

Hey, as I said, ultimately I think we agree on the overuse of stop signs being silly.

[tolbs17]

Hey, as I said, ultimately I think we agree on the overuse of stop signs being silly.

This used to be a 2-way stop. It has been converted to a 4-way stop. When NC-11 gets widened, this intersection will be converted to a superstreet or an interchange that bypasses the town.