14th/15th St NW lights seem to be malfunctioning

[elbows]

Monday morning the traffic light to cross 15th at Jefferson seems to be off. The traffic light at 14th and Jefferson (which is close to a minute) went through several cycles before the light at 15th finally changed. Peds/cyclists ended up darting into traffic to cross. Eventually, the light did change.

I contact Ddot with no response.

Tuesday night the light at 14th and Madison also wasn’t changing. Peds/cyclists were grumbling about it and eventually darted into 14th en masse in the dark during rushhour. Drivers were probably complaining as well, but I can’t hear them. Eventually, the light did change, but it sure took a while.

This morning, I did not notice an issue at 15th and Jefferson.

As much as I’d like to stand there with a clipboard and conduct a full analysis, I have not done so. However, something seems to be off. Has anyone else noticed this?

Topic

[gibby]

I haven’t noticed any issues on Madison the last two evenings, tho I wonder if the African American Museum lighting/show is disrupting the lights..
It does seem tho that heading east on Jefferson in the morning requires more of a sprint to catch the light at 7th St, or I need to eat an extra donut in the a.m….

[komorebi]

On Monday evening, the pedestrian call buttons at the NE and SE corners of the intersection of 15th Street and Jefferson Drive didn’t appear to be working. I waited several minutes, and the light never changed. I don’t usually go that way, though, so I don’t know if the malfunction is a new thing.

[elbows]

Thanks for the confirmation. I have gone through this area with some regularity for 1.5 years and this is the first week I’ve observed this. It’s just not a clear pattern – sometimes they are normal and sometimes they don’t appear to be working.

[Emm]

@gibby 128200 wrote:

I haven’t noticed any issues on Madison the last two evenings, tho I wonder if the African American Museum lighting/show is disrupting the lights..
It does seem tho that heading east on Jefferson in the morning requires more of a sprint to catch the light at 7th St, or I need to eat an extra donut in the a.m….

Yes, that was part of the re-configuration of the lights a few months/weeks ago. Unless I’m on my road bike I don’t even try. Not worth the asthma attack on my commuter.

In the AM I cross 15th by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They have a light there that times nicely after crossing Maine Ave. Then I just turn right onto Jefferson. I started doing this last year when I realized how incredibly long the wait to cross Jefferson at 15th was. This only works if you’re heading north obviously. If you’re crossing 15th at Jefferson after heading south you’re SOL.

I had no issues Tuesday night around 5:30 at Madison. Last night was actually one of my nicer and easier commutes home.

[PotomacCyclist]

I noticed malfunctioning lights at 15th & Constitution a year or two ago, but I haven’t ridden through that intersection recently.

[komorebi]

@gibby 128200 wrote:

It does seem tho that heading east on Jefferson in the morning requires more of a sprint to catch the light at 7th St, or I need to eat an extra donut in the a.m….

Alas, my problem is usually too many extra donuts in the a.m., not too few.

Here’s my story about learning how to make the light at 7th Street: after the lights were retimed in the spring/summer, I tried a couple of times to make the light. But I kept failing, and I concluded that I simply wasn’t fast enough.

One morning while I was riding at my normal pace on Jefferson, a guy in street clothes on a clunky-looking bike blew past me like I was standing still — and he wasn’t even pedaling. My first thought was, “No way!” My second thought was, “Oh, e-bike.” And my third thought was . . . well, I’m not sure I had time for a third thought, because at that point I was already in full chase mode. I normally never chase other cyclists, but something about the fact that he wasn’t pedaling made me take it as a challenge. I didn’t catch him, but trying to do so showed me that I actually am fast enough to make the light. I’ve never seen the e-bike guy again, but I’m grateful for what he (inadvertently) taught me.

I still can’t make the light on days when I have a strong headwind or dead legs, but I always have fun trying!

[dasgeh]

@komorebi 128228 wrote:

One morning while I was riding at my normal pace on Jefferson, a guy in street clothes on a clunky-looking bike blew past me like I was standing still — and he wasn’t even pedaling. My first thought was, “No way!” My second thought was, “Oh, e-bike.” And my third thought was . . . well, I’m not sure I had time for a third thought, because at that point I was already in full chase mode. I normally never chase other cyclists, but something about the fact that he wasn’t pedaling made me take it as a challenge. I didn’t catch him, but trying to do so showed me that I actually am fast enough to make the light. I’ve never seen the e-bike guy again, but I’m grateful for what he (inadvertently) taught me.

Another point to add to the list of “why ebikes are good for all cyclists”

[Steve O]

@komorebi 128228 wrote:

Alas, my problem is usually too many extra donuts in the a.m., not too few.

Here’s my story about learning how to make the light at 7th Street: after the lights were retimed in the spring/summer, I tried a couple of times to make the light. But I kept failing, and I concluded that I simply wasn’t fast enough.

One morning while I was riding at my normal pace on Jefferson, a guy in street clothes on a clunky-looking bike blew past me like I was standing still — and he wasn’t even pedaling. My first thought was, “No way!” My second thought was, “Oh, e-bike.” And my third thought was . . . well, I’m not sure I had time for a third thought, because at that point I was already in full chase mode. I normally never chase other cyclists, but something about the fact that he wasn’t pedaling made me take it as a challenge. I didn’t catch him, but trying to do so showed me that I actually am fast enough to make the light. I’ve never seen the e-bike guy again, but I’m grateful for what he (inadvertently) taught me.

I still can’t make the light on days when I have a strong headwind or dead legs, but I always have fun trying!

I used to do that segment on my commute back in the 90’s. Interesting that the lights perhaps aren’t that much different all these years later. To catch the light at 7th, I would pretty much have to fly from 14th–definitely north of 20mph–and if a vehicle of some kind caused me a delay, well, tomorrow’s another day.

And then if I kept flying I could catch the light at 3rd on the yellow. Wee hah!!!!

[PotomacCyclist]

@PotomacCyclist 128218 wrote:

I noticed malfunctioning lights at 15th & Constitution a year or two ago, but I haven’t ridden through that intersection recently.

I just remembered the specifics of the problem I noticed a couple years ago. The countdown timer for pedestrians in the crosswalk would get stuck on a certain number and stay on that number for 20 or 30 seconds, before resuming the countdown. At the time, I thought it had something to do with the construction work at the African American History Museum, which is right at that intersection. Maybe the work crews cut or loosened a wire or knocked a traffic control device.

[elbows]

Again this morning, the light at 15th and Jefferson seemed to not be giving the go-ahead to those crossing 15th. For the several minutes I was there, I did not see it change.

I received a message on 12-11 from Ddot in response to my 11-18 message that they would look into it. Better late than never, I suppose. I hope that they do.

[elbows]

It is still the case that that light at 15th and Jefferson forces pedestrians and cyclists to wait at least 2 minutes sometimes. It could easily be more than 2, but that’s when I stop watching. On many mornings, pretty much every gives up and crosses. This is the longest wait I encounter. Maybe after someone is hit, DDOT will care.

[elbows]

Just wanted to note that I emailed DDOT again on 5/12. They responded that they would look into it and soon thereafter, I noticed a distinct change in the timing of the light. Button pushers get a fast response there now. Thanks to DDOT for their prompt response. I have complained about numerous lights in Arlington over the years and never gotten anywhere (though I know others have).

[Author]

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