Do we really need advanced traffic signals in the middle of the night?

The following resolutions about traffic signals have been placed on the agenda of Monday's City Council meeting by Ward 3 Councillor Matthew Shoemaker.

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.

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Disable advanced traffic signals between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor M. Scott

Whereas many traffic signals in Sault Ste. Marie have advanced signals for the better movement of traffic during peak traffic hours; and

Whereas many drivers have experienced the situation where no other vehicles are at the intersection and the advanced traffic signal is illuminated; and

Whereas during off-peak traffic hours, advanced traffic signals serve only to delay vehicles for a longer period of time at intersections; and

Whereas delaying vehicles at intersections when such a delay is unwarranted adds to carbon emissions;

Now therefore be it resolved that staff be requested to report on the feasibility of disabling advanced traffic signals at all (or mostly all) of the intersections in the city with advanced signals from 9 p.m. nightly until 6 a.m. the following morning.

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Traffic signal intersection changes

Mover: Councillor M. Shoemaker
Seconder: Councillor P. Christian

Whereas Sault Ste. Marie’s policy during capital road works projects is to remove unwarranted traffic signals during the reconstruction; and

Whereas the removal of a traffic signal generally leads to an adjustment period for motorists who frequently travel the area to familiarize themselves with the new traffic control pattern; and

Whereas when traffic signals are removed that control all four corners of an intersection, they are typically replaced by a stop sign that only controls traffic at two of the four corners of an intersection; and

Whereas it is not currently Sault Ste. Marie’s policy to include a flashing red light above the traffic signal as a default at the time of the change from a traffic signal-controlled intersection to a stop sign-controlled intersection; and whereas a flashing red light above a stop sign could be an effective way to assist motorists who frequently travel an area where there has been a change in the traffic control pattern to familiarize themselves with the new traffic control pattern;

Now therefore be it resolved that the public works and engineering services be requested to amend the current policy for major capital works to provide that when unwarranted traffic signals are removed from an intersection, the stop signs that are installed at the intersection shall have flashing red lights above them for a period of not less than one year.

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