Ask the City – Flashing Yellow Turn Arrows?

Your Question:

I would like to know why the new stop lights never have the green arrow anymore? The turn arrows use to turn green to allow people to turn. I have not seen one of them turn green since they were put up. Sometimes on 15th and Grand I sit through two, sometimes three full red lights before I get to turn. (unless I run the darn thing)

The City's Answer:

The flashing yellow left turn arrow is giving the motorist an opportunity to turn left at any time during the mainline green cycle that there is a sufficient gap in the oncoming traffic.  The lights are set up to give a green arrow near the end of the green mainline cycle if there are 2 or more cars waiting to make a left turn.  Cars should treat a non-flashing yellow arrow like a yellow ball on the mainline signals.  Most of the time during the day, there are sufficient gaps for cars to make the left turn.  This speeds up the operation and allows traffic to flow more smoothly by not having to insert a special left turn cycle and shorten the other cycles.  The traffic commission is asking that the City convert its left turn lights at 15th & Harney and the future left turn signals at 4th & 9th & Harney to the flashing arrow system.

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