On my way to work I go through a city and arrive at an unusual intersection that has several avenues of traffic merge into one another. Without getting into much detail, let me just say that I think the way the lights are timed is idiotic and would like to tell this to the appropriate person (in a polite, constructive way, though). Whom do you contact in a city, county, state or whatever if you have concerns about stop lights?
What city?
The Highway Department if any, and the D.P.W. if not, is the court of first resort for any such complaints. Of what body? That depends on your state. In North Carolina, all such decisions are in the exclusive purview of the State Transportation Department. In New York, it’s the village or city if within one of them, the town if not – subject to review by the State DOT. If I recall correctly, in Maryland and Virginia it’s the County Highway Dept. – except of course in Virginia’s independent cities.
However, one of the easiest ways to deal with this is to contact your elected representative – county or state legislator, for example; he will have the resources to zero in on who’s responsible and get some answers which are likely to include re-timing of the lights.
So your task is to find out (1) who handles such things in your particular state, (2) what particular jurisdiction the intersection in question is located in, and (3) who to speak to in the appropriate office. Or do step (1) and then (4) find out who your representative at that level of government is, and how to get in touch with him.
Well, the city is Pasadnea, CA, but I was asking in more general terms.
In Pasadena, it looks like you want the Traffic and Engineering division of the Department of Transportation . I don’t think there’s really a general rule for who’s in charge of stoplight timing. A bigger city usually has a traffic division, but it might be under the Street Department, or Public Works, or the police.
Also, if you live in the city/town in question, you could drop a line to your city councillor (or equivalent). This is probably better saved for a situation where the traffic department is unresponsive and/or there are issues you think they aren’t considering (need to slow traffic down near a school or something), or something that’s less techical (can we have a stop sign at X intersection?), but it’s good to keep in mind the next step if you think it deserves the elevation.
Oft times you will find the name and phone number of the “owner” on the relay box for that intersection so a malfunctioning intersection can be called in quickly.
DD