Lakeland will switch 7 downtown intersections from traffic lights to 4-way stops

[thelakelander]

For years, I've been saying that in DT Jax, there are several signalized intersections that would be better off as four-way stop-controlled intersections.

LAKELAND ― Lakeland drivers will need to pay close attention at seven downtown intersections.

City officials have decided to change seven traffic signals to four-way stops, marked by stop signs and a flashing red light, in an effort to improve traffic flow and make downtown more pedestrian friendly.

"At four-way stop-controlled intersections, drivers are focused on the street level with an emphasis on pedestrians. From a vehicular perspective, drivers will experience less delay if the intersections are changed to four-way stops because they will not be waiting on a signal when there is very little traffic," Tess Schwartz, the city's Interim Manager of Traffic Operations, said in a press statement.

The city's Traffic Operations collected data on these downtown intersections during peak travel times to measure crash and capacity analysis. It's predicted the level of the service on the roads will improve with the four-way stops being installed. Schwartz said changing from a traffic signal to a four-way stop will decrease delays, improving traffic time.

"Half the time when we stop at these intersections, there's no traffic," City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said.

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/01/06/lakeland-switching-7-intersections-from-traffic-lights-to-4-way-stops/69785671007/

[heights unknown]

Depending on their downtown, that might be a cluster "F."

[Charles Hunter]

If we could only train two types of drivers I've seen a 4-way stops how they really work:
Type 1 - "A 4-Way Stop? That means the other three ways must stop for Me!"
or
Type 2 - "I better wait, there might be a car coming, a mile or so away, and I don't want to go in front of it."  (This person also mucks up roundabouts.)

[thelakelander]

San Diego is a good example of a large city where four-way stop controlled intersections have helped:

https://goo.gl/maps/ELeRo6EAUmz9Nx8V9

https://goo.gl/maps/yUPssjH36kU6SmFP8

[thelakelander]

More stop lights are being replaced in downtown Lakeland.

LAKELAND — The city plans to convert five more intersections in downtown from traffic lights to four-way stops, barely six months after converting seven others.

In a news release Monday morning, the city said the intersections include:

Orange Street at Missouri Avenue.
Orange Street at Tennessee Avenue
Orange Street at Kentucky Avenue.
Lime Street at Tennessee.
And Lime Street at Kentucky.

The intersections will be converted with flashing lights and stop signs instead of traditional traffic lights. The conversions will begin July 21.

"The intersections converted in January are operating efficiently and there have been half as many crashes in that area of downtown as compared to the same period last year," said Tess Schwartz, the city's manager of traffic operations. "So it makes sense to convert the five remaining locations."

"Converting the downtown intersections from traffic signal control to four-way stop control supports the goals and objectives outlined in the Comprehensive Plan by facilitating a walkable, pedestrian-friendly environment," Schwartz said in January. "At four-way stop-controlled intersections, drivers are focused on the street level with an emphasis on pedestrians. From a vehicular perspective, drivers will experience less delay if the intersections are changed to four-way stops because they will not be waiting on a signal when there is very little traffic."

The City of Lakeland's downtown has undergone significant transformation over the past decade. The most notable change from a transportation perspective is the construction of the In-Town Bypass. This removed a state highway around Lake Mirror, allowing the City to reclaim the waterfront for recreation and development.

Lakeland said in the release that traffic on downtown streets has reduced significantly in the two decades since the In-Town Bypass was built, connecting George Jenkins Boulevard to Bartow Road. That project removed a state highway around Lake Mirror and allowed the city to reclaim the waterfront recreation and development, the release said, and traffic volumes are low enough that traffic lights are no longer needed, according to the requirements in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices published by the Federal Highway Administration and adopted by the Florida Department of Transportation  by Rule 14-15.010, F.A.C.

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/07/03/lakeland-says-crashes-are-down-since-downtown-stop-lights-replaced/70378839007/