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Some Wayland High School students are finding it tougher to get to school on time. The added traffic surrounding the new light at the school’s entrance is taking some getting used to.
On Monday morning, September 8th, the traffic light became fully operational. During the week prior, the lights operated only in flash mode, in an attempt to allow people to adjust before they were officially put into use. The light includes a sensor system for cars leaving the high school, which will activate a green light for the exiting cars. A push-button crosswalk light was also installed, helping to ensure the safety of students and other pedestrians when crossing in front of the high school.
The traffic signal was installed in reaction to concerns about the dangerous crosswalk. After a tragic accident at the intersection two years ago, community members voiced the need to take action. After considering several options, including crossing guards, the town decided to install the traffic light by the start of this school year.
With the new light has come a new traffic pattern. Many students and teachers have noted that, at peak traffic time, they have had to leave much earlier than last year just to make it to school on time. “It takes me 20 minutes to get from Stonebridge Rd. to the high school,” notes teaching assistant Mary Berardi. An anonymous senior also says, “I came in 2nd period because I had a free 1st period and the traffic was backed up from the new light to Four Corners!” However, as Mr. Tutwiler explains, safety does not necessarily mean convenience. “The light is there to keep our community safe, and it’s important to be mindful of the reasons that it was put there.”
According to police officer, Lt. Patrick Swanick, this school year, traffic has been especially difficult due to several changes in town—not only the new light, but also the altered elementary school starting times. The police and traffic engineers have received feedback from the community and are still tweaking the lights, hoping to find the optimal timing from all directions. “We’re optimistic that by the end of the week things will be a lot better for everyone,” says Swanick.
Pedestrian Tip: In order to improve traffic, Lt. Swanick urges students to wait for the signal from the push-button crosswalk light. On average, after pushing the button a person will wait about twenty seconds for the walk-signal before giving up and crossing without the signal. This greatly disrupts the traffic patterns.
Anonymous • Sep 23, 2008 at 7:11 PM
@nobody
The stop light is on all the time. The sensor, or cross button trigger it to start. I know I’m in the minority, but I actually like the light. I’m really tired of parents who seem to think their more important than everyone else cutting off people walking. When I’m crossing at 6-10 at night I feel much more comfortable with the light there.
nobody • Sep 22, 2008 at 2:07 PM
if you just want to slow people down, then install speed bumps!
i get the whole safety thing, and the reason the lights were put in was to stop people, but there is kind of an unspoken rule to stop and let people out…
also the accident happened after school hours (when the stoplight now wouldn’t be “on”), so a traffic light is not entirely necessary.
your mom • Sep 22, 2008 at 8:07 AM
the traffic light would be useful only if it were set up correctly. The sensor facing the high school controls the light so that way people leaving the school have priority. This would be beneficial at the end of the day as everyone needs to leave. but in the morning who cares if people need to get out. I need to get to school. In the morning the light needs to be set up so that way people entering have more priority. And if the people going to work have any complaints maybe they should find a new way to get to work that doesnt interfier with the school. This traffic has caused me two accidents. I was rear ended twice infront of Lavins because of people neglecting to pay atention in traffic. the second time i was pushed into the car infront of me causing another accident that was legally my fault how ever i WAS paying attention.
This light is a bunch of BULL
student • Sep 18, 2008 at 1:02 PM
i don’t think that there should be a traffic light because of the fact it only makes kids late for school. the accident happened awhile ago and there should only be more street lights and not a traffic light. It is rediculous because kids should not have to get up earlier to get to school just because a traffic light is holding them up. I think that it was more organized without the traffic light and the flow of traffic was a lot smoother. Teachers know that the traffic light holds kids up but some don’t care and kids should not be recieving demerits from teachers. this needs to change.
Sophomore 007 • Sep 17, 2008 at 9:28 AM
I don’t really think that the traffic light is necessary. The accident that happened requres a pedestrian light, but not a proper stop light system. The only car accident I have ever seen at WHS occured after the traffic light was installed, when a car was rear-ended. Also, I live reeealy close to WHS…but it takes me up to 15 minutes to get to school, even if I leave early. So, I think that a pedestrian light is a good idea, but not a stoplight for cars.
Alex Romania • Sep 17, 2008 at 8:40 AM
While I respect and understand the reasons why the traffic lights were put at the intersection, and the views of those who support these reasons (I myself being one for safety first), I disagree with the statement that “Safety does not necessarily mean convenience”. Safety does not necessarily mean convenience but it doesn’t necessarily mean inconvenience either. I’m not a traffic expert, but I can make the observation that there was a lot less traffic before these lights. Before these lights there was an unspoken rule that regulated traffic at this intersection; one car would come out, one would go in from one side, one person would come out, then one person would go in from the other side. This may not have been optimal for the safety of walkers and bikers, but they only cross every so often. A better way do deal with this traffic and ensure the safety of crossing pedestrians might be to put the lights on flashing red or yellow and let the crossers regulate the traffic with a button that they can press on the light pole that will turn all the lights red so that they can cross. This way, traffic would be regulated as it used to be and hopefully become less dense, and crossers will still feel safe by being able to cross when they aren’t threatened by oncoming cars. This also ensures the safety of crossers after or before school hours.
Anonymous English Teacher • Sep 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Good article Kelsey! I’m glad somebody wrote about the traffic light because I really don’t like it…almost as much as I don’t like the new Facebook. My only comment is a grammatical error. “According to police officer, Lt. Patrick Swanick, this school…” should be “According to police officer Lt. Patrick Swanick, this school…”
But great article! I’m so excited to see that the new journalism class is really taking off! I can’t wait to read all the other articles that come out of the class!