Mayor Wants Solutions for Unsynchronized Traffic Lights

Jun 02, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says he can be exasperated when he drives on city roads where the traffic lights aren't synchronized, creating a stop-and-go pattern. Today, he's meeting with County Mayor Peter Corroon and Governor Jon Huntsman to discuss the issue once again.

"We've brought all of our transportation folks together to have them try to explain to us what they can do and why they think it's difficult to do a lot more than they are doing. I can tell you Mayor Corroon, Governor Huntsman and I haven't been satisfied with those responses," said the mayor.

Becker says he's been told the synchronization problems relate to the size of city blocks, along with TRAX and pedestrian crosswalks interfering with the length of signals. But he adds that the discussion on this issue won't stop there.

"They describe it as a combination of things, but they also at the same time tell us they think it's working pretty well, and those of us who drive around on the streets, and I do a lot less than most people, are exasperated when a street they tell us is synchronized, isn't. But we're working on a number of ideas," said Becker.

To hear a longer conversation with the mayor that includes his thoughts on some of the more controversial points in his proposed budget, visit the Midday Metro page.

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