Before the regular Ferndale city council meeting tonight, September 8th, there was a study session regarding Main Street traffic and the current traffic signal technology. The guest speaker for the session was Bellingham Public Works Traffic Operations Engineer Steve Haugen. Haugen oversees programming of traffic signals in Bellingham and Ferndale. Haugen had already spoken with city staff and this was an opportunity to provide information to the council members.
The discussion was focused on the intersections west of the river as the flow through those blocks appears to be impeding the volume coming from the east resulting in back ups that will extend into intersections east of the bridge.
Haugen explained that initial traffic signals were configured to switch from red to green based upon a set time interval regardless of whether there was any vehicles present or not. Current signals are configured to switch when triggered by the presence of vehicles via roadway sensors and by the pedestrians pushing crossing request buttons.
The lights are currently programmed to enable optimum traffic flow down Main Street but will stop Main Street traffic to enable side street traffic and pedestrians to enter or cross Main Street. It is at these times that traffic will back up at a green because traffic ahead cannot move with a red light in the block ahead.
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Click for more informationThe option of a camera-based system that could be controlled remotely (likely by City of Bellingham traffic operations staff) was not one supported by Haugen. He pointed out there are no effective solutions for “pushing 8-inches of water through a 6-inch pipe,” explaining how the capacity of the roadway is one of the biggest challenges. Later in the meeting, Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen asked Haugen what he would do if he could do anything to address the situation. Haugen’s suggestions included removing parking on Main Street in order to install additional lanes to increase the capacity of the roadway.
Council member Paul Ingram pointed out, “Ferndale has become famous for hiring traffic consultants and then not acting on their advice. Imagine the state we would be in had we not put the Second Avenue extension through.” He pointed out recommendations made but not even tested included:
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- Making Main Street one-way from 1st Avenue to 4th Avenue and Alder Street one-way the opposite direction between the same blocks
- Not allowing traffic to turn left from or onto Hovander to/from Main Street
Council member Keith Olson commented that going back to a fixed time sequence that favored traffic on Main Street might be the best solution during high volume times, 4pm to 7pm. Haugen said it was a surprisingly viable option, one Bellingham had used with success on the Guide Meridian.
Click for more informationOlson also added that another idea presented by Ingram to prohibit left turns onto and from Main Street during high-traffic times might be worth pursuing. It had been suggested by Council member Brent Goodrich in previous discussions that a three-way stop be implemented at Fourth Avenue and Vista Drive with additional signage added to encourage traffic heading to Main Street use Fourth Avenue to make their left turn (it would be allowed only there).
Another problem area discussed was the Hovander Road and Main Street intersection. Traffic consultants had suggested not allowing left turns both onto and off of Hovander. Truck traffic would be directed to take LaBounty Drive to Smith Road and then west to their destinations on Hovander Road.
Haugen suggested waiting for the Slater Road projects to be completed and Main Street traffic returning to normal levels before implementing any significant changes.
City staff said they would return to the council with results from further consideration of providing more/longer green lights for Main Street traffic and prohibiting left turns during peak times such as from 4pm to 7pm.