Question: I own a Kawasaki 750 street bike. At some intersections in Everett and Marysville my bike will set off the sensor for opposing traffic to stop. The light turns red for opposing traffic, but I never get a green light to go.
The light quickly changes again so the opposing traffic again has the green light. This happens at 41st Street SE at its intersections with Colby and Rucker avenues and Fourth Street and 67th Avenue NE in Marysville.
I’m forced to drive through these intersections under a red light. I do this everyday on my way to work at 2:30 a.m. Every once in a while, a regular vehicle comes through that is heavy enough to set off the sensor.
Why does the light change from green to red then back to green in the same direction without giving me the green light to proceed through?
Kim S.Henderson, Marysville
Answer: Many intersections with signals – including the vast majority of intersections in Everett – sense vehicle presence by detection loops placed within the pavement.
These loops are adjustable for sensitivity. If they are too sensitive you can receive false or continuous readings or readings from vehicles in other lanes. These false readings result in delays.
The city periodically tests loops using motorcyclist staff members. On some occasions, the detection loops will not detect the presence of a motorcycle or bicycle, particularly if the cycle has an aluminum alloy frame and very little iron-containing – and therefore magnetic – metal.
Ryan L. Sass, city engineer
Watch your speed
Question: Now that Beverly Park-Edmonds Road has been remade into a five-lane road people assume it’s OK to drive 50 mph or more and not the posted 25 mph.
They become agitated and tailgate dangerously if you attempt to drive the posted limit.
There has already been one serious head-on accident at the corner of 121st Street SW and Beverly Park-Edmonds Road caused by someone going well over the speed limit swinging wide to make the turn to 121st Street and then plowing into a car waiting at the stop sign.
How about reinstalling the light at 121st Street that was removed for some obscure reason a few years ago?
W.R. Downing Jr., Everett
Answer: Beverly Park-Edmonds Road between Airport Road and Highway 525 has historically been posted with a 35-mph speed limit.
During the construction project to widen this road a temporary work-zone speed limit of 25 mph was established. The Sheriff’s Office had been actively enforcing this limit.
The speed limit is now back at 35 mph.
In addition, the 20-mph school speed zone for Fairmont Elementary School is now supplemented by flashing yellow beacons.
As part of the construction project, the former traffic signal at 121st Street SW and Beverly Park-Edmonds Road was to be eliminated. This is because the widening of Highway 525 eliminated left turns to and from 121st Street SW. This significantly reduced traffic on 121st Street SW and a traffic signal at this location was no longer warranted.
The sheriff will continue monitoring Beverly Park-Edmonds Road.
Jim Bloodgood, traffic engineer, Snohomish County public works
Ask us about traffic
Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@ heraldnet.com.
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