Dec. 12, 2007 at 1:32pm

Stoplight coming to N 26th and Orchard

The 4-way stop and blinking red at N. 26th and Orchard [ map ] will soon be replaced by a full on stoplight. The new light should be alive and helping the often confused human decision making at that intersection next Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Makes me wonder if there's anywhere else that could use a light in this area? I sure wouldn't mind a left turn arrow in a few spots around the Proctor to Sixth Ave. area but know in most cases there's probably no room for related extra lanes.

comments [10]  |  posted under 26th, intersection, orchard, tacoma, traffic

Comments

by Jake on 12/12/2007 @ 2:47pm	wires wires everywhere!
by KevinFreitas on 12/12/2007 @ 3:03pm	Yea, that is a pretty wire-filled photo. Sigh, the bane of my love of picture taking.
by KevinFreitas on 12/12/2007 @ 3:19pm	Ooo, and I just found that, as it should be, they use LEDs. Kudos Public Works Dept!
by jenyum on 12/12/2007 @ 6:08pm	A left turn arrow at Proctor and 6th would be wonderful.
by KevinFreitas on 12/12/2007 @ 7:14pm	Same over at Steven's and 6th. It's amazing how hard it can be to get through there with oncoming traffic. I'd also vote for one heading south at the intersection of Stevens and 12th.
by Jilltoons on 12/14/2007 @ 8:24pm	Why did they choose 26th & Orchard before 30th & Orchard? Both are busy - but if you do one - you might as well do the other!
by Jilltoons on 12/14/2007 @ 8:25pm	One more thing - they should not allow left hand turns from N. 30th to Proctor from 4pm-6pm.
by KevinFreitas on 12/14/2007 @ 8:32pm	Jilltoons: You mean coming up the hill from Old Town? I'm so with you on that one. We get stuck in those long lines all the time -- it's pretty maddening. It would probably work better if those folks turned onto Union 'cause there's actually a turn lane there. Thanks for bringing that up -- I forgot how bad that can get. I imagine in intersections like that where's there no room for a turn lane they could put in a light with an arrow so it would go green and allow turns without oncoming traffic. Then when they want to let both directions go the arrow goes out. There's never nearly as many people coming from the other direction as Old Town that time of day anyway.
by Jilltoons on 12/15/2007 @ 12:14pm	Kevin - Hmmmm - the turn arrow would work for a bit (they do that on N. 21st making a left onto Proctor too), but there would still be those people back farther in line that would need to turn left and the arrow wouldn't be up......backing things up once more. I think they should turn on Union too, there is a left hand turn lane there..... Oh well - I guess I have to ask myself....am I really in that much of a hurry?
by KevinFreitas on 12/15/2007 @ 1:18pm	Yea, I hear what you're saying. ...am I really in that much of a hurry? Not necessarily but efficiency in a system is appreciated. I don't think either of us are talking about cruising through the Proctor area at freeway speeds but we wouldn't mind a little alleviation at that particular choke point.