Town responds to comments on Randolph-West Main traffic signal removal
The Town of Pulaski this afternoon released a statement pertaining to the traffic lights at Randolph Avenue and West Main Street / Corbin Harmon Drive.
Pulaski Town Council recently endorsed a plan to eventually remove traffic signals in the downtown area in favor of four-way stops, due to traffic counts being too small to warrant traffic signals.
The Randolph – West Main signal is the first to be converted.
The release follows:
From the Town of Pulaski
There have been a number of comments about the decision to eliminate traffic lights at Randolph and West Main/Corbin Harmon Drive that deserve a response.
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- A warrant study by an independent engineering firm determined that this location and several others in the downtown did not justify the need for traffic lights.
- The signal head at this location did not allow for a 4-way all red signal; therefore, when the signal was changed, it flashed yellow on West Main and red for Randolph, even though Randolph has high traffic volumes.
- The flashing signals lasted two weeks to allow drivers to get comfortable with the change.
- The traffic lights were bagged and a 2-way stop installed on West Main/Corbin Harmon Drive given the traffic volume on Randolph.
- It was apparent over the weekend that not all drivers are adhering to the stop signs and in fact, some are stopping on Randolph; others are waving cars through.
- Rolling stops do not count as a stop.
- The speed limit on these two streets is 25mph.
- The Town has now installed a 4-way stop at this intersection which will require drivers to come to a complete stop and adhere to the 25mph speed limit.
October 3, 2022 @ 3:15 pm
Ok town members. What is the reason for the study and removing the lights? Us olders will adjust hopefully and youngers will grow up with this as we oldest have the lights. I’m just curious what started the trend of even removing the lights. Is this to improve the town and encourage new businesses? Pulaski is a beautiful town, contrary to some folks belief. People are working really hard to improve it. Thank you.
October 4, 2022 @ 11:24 am
Hello Pulaski, Even tho I do not live in Pulaski anymore and have been gone for over 60 years I still follow happenings here and still consider it My hometown. I had a wonderful childhood here and have many beautiful memories growing up here. I never thought I would see the day that Pulaski would find it necessary to remove Traffic signals from downtown. When I lived here It was a bustling, vibrant growing town with the sounds of mills running, whistles blowing, and the smell of wood manufacturing in the air Also the sight of Sleek passenger trains and locomotives moving manufactured goods and passengers in and out of town. I remember when Main street was made ONE_WAY due to the heavy traffic there, now I understand that it is being changed to two-way again. Downtown was busy and exciting with no empty stores. There was a time that Main street was closed and blocked off for Parades and Halloween celebrations. I do not criticize but just find it so sad that Pulaski, my Hometown is heading in the wrong direction.
October 5, 2022 @ 11:06 am
My comment is to approve the removal of the traffic lights. I don’t feel it demeans the town, but I can see Mr. Andrews point, I suppose. I approve of this action because some lights don’t give but about 2-4 cars time to get through it before it changes back to red (Washington and 1st street is one). Other times one might sit there waiting and waiting, with no traffic coming from any direction – waiting for the light to change. Even on Sundays when traffic is light, or late at night one has to just sit there and wait for the changing light. My ONLY concern is whether people will obey the four-way stops. DOES EVERYBODY KNOW that the way it works is that the first person to arrive at the stop sign is the one who goes first, and in that order? At least that is my understanding. It should be published clearly and often by the police department or whoever is in charge (who will be giving out tickets for not stopping!) to explain WHO GOES FIRST, etc.
Thanks for the improvement in our town and the better flow of traffic. Does the removal of the lights mean that our town is heading in the wrong direction? However, Mr. Melvin, I share your memories of our booming town. I’m 83 now, and I grew up here from birth. Going downtown was so much fun! We had two dime stores, dress shops, department stores, a shoe store, two to three drugstores with soda fountains – and they knew how to make a GOOD milkshake! I wish we could get all that back. I love Pulaski, too! I was born here and I’ll die here, and I’ll be happy doing it!