Green lights less than 10 seconds? SDOT has no plans to change them

A traffic light that stays green for only 5-6 seconds in some cases and less than 10 seconds in others is causing serious frustration for drivers – and leading to several drivers running red lights on Mercer Street.

And the city doesn’t plan on changes.

Seattle Department of Transportation Director Scott Kubly said the lights – ones that started with adaptive traffic signal technology seven months ago – are working. He said overall drive times will decrease.

The problem intersection is at 5th Avenue and Mercer Street. During rush hours, the lights are stating green for only seconds, leaving many drivers frustrated in long left-hand turn lane lines.

On multiple days this month, KIRO 7 saw many drivers running left-turn lights after they turned red there. On KIRO 7 at 5 p.m., see the SDOT director’s reaction when we showed him video of the problem this week.

KIRO 7 reporter Patranya Bhoolsuwan also talked to a transportation expert at the University of Washington for context. In our report at 5:30 p.m., see why he says the adaptive traffic signal is doing its job.

Watch with us on TV or use this link for the KIRO 7 livestream..

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