Before I start this Rant, let me just say that I would never want to hold a public office because I would not want to deal with people like me. I’m sure the city council and the Mayor of Gresham are doing the best they can, but honestly I’ve got to get this off my chest and this is my opportunity.
Sitting on East Burnside, headed East, I move to the center turn lane to utilize the left turn light into the Oregon Trail Shopping Center. I was about 15 cars back from the light, which incidentally translates into at least two turns waiting for the light. Then I begin to notice that there are another 10 or 12 cars lining up behind me. Suddenly it dawns on me that in the age of “sensor activated” signals, there should really be no reason why a left-turn lane should back up to the previous intersection.
Conversely, when I was ready to exit the shopping center I waited at the light to return to East Burnside, Eastbound, less than a minute. I tried to take into consideration that it was 5:15 P.M. on a Thursday, and it was the height of rush hour traffic. That is until the business ramifications came to mind.
Shouldn’t it be an easier matter to enter a center of commerce than it is to pass it by? Shouldn’t it be at least as easy to get into the shopping area as it is to leave. I know the reasons for wanting to keep traffic moving on the main thoroughfare, but really there should be more accommodation for the businesses along said thoroughfare since they are the ones paying the taxes that buy the fancy traffic signals.
There really should never be a reason why 10 cars ought to be waiting more than 60 seconds to make a left turn, especially into a major center of commerce,. It really is inexcusable that a left turn lane backs up to the previous intersection, and if it does, the left turn portion of the light should last long enough to get all the traffic through in one session.
I have, however, found one method to ease the frustration in this situation. It seems invariably that as soon as I start looking up the number of a client, or think of sending a text, that’s usually when the light changes. The technology that ties a traffic light to my ability to multi-task and interrupts it is an amazing thing.
Gotta run for now, I’m next in line at the light.
Gary Russell http://www.defendmylife.com/ 503-519-3592
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