Construction affects traffic signal timing, for now

Doctor Detour answers your transportation questions.

Q: They recently activated the upgraded traffic lights at Southwest 18th Street and Military Trail in Boca. Before the upgrade, the lights were on a sensor until 6 a.m. and it kept the early morning traffic moving nicely. Now the early morning traffic lights seem to be on the same rotation as any other time of the day. Do they have plans to activate the sensors again? Cheryl Martin, Boca Raton.

A: The traffic signal timing has changed a little, according to city traffic engineers, but it’s not permanent. Some construction is underway at that intersection and it affects the timing.

New traffic signals have been installed on new hurricane-resistant mast arms with traffic sensing cameras. The city will be able to monitor and adjust the timing remotely once the construction work is done.

For now, the signal timing is programmed to certain times of day when traffic is heaviest and lighter. If there is a problem with the traffic lights, the city can get the contractor to check them.

You can keep track of the progress at bocatraffic.org.

Q: As you know, a traffic circle has been added to the intersection of Northeast 13th Street and Fourth Avenue. The city has created just one more street that gets clogged with heavy traffic. I fully endorse the reconstruction of streets for safety reasons. But, I think that this so-called “improvement” was a terrible mistake. Am I wrong? Frank

McKitrick, Fort Lauderdale.

A: No, but one man’s improvement may be another man’s inconvenience. City officials say more than a dozen roundabouts have been built at the request of residents looking for ways to slow speeders and discourage drivers from cutting through their neighborhoods.

Traffic circles are specifically designed to lower the risk of crashes. They reduce fatal crashes up to 90 percent and injury crashes about 75 percent, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The Northeast 13th Street intersection you refer to is one of 14 existing roundabouts in Fort Lauderdale and there are more to come, city officials said.

Many roundabouts around Broward and Palm Beach counties are located on neighborhood streets to create a safer environment for residents riding bikes, children going to school, and people walking their dogs, for example.