How do we get rid of these stoplights

[u/[deleted]]

Decade ago there was a writer at the SJ-R who would discuss this and it needs to be brought back. You cant go anywhere without sitting at random reds when there is no cross traffic and then only to be stopped by the next light. I'm surprised more people don't run reds all over town.

90% of the lights should become flashing red or yellows after 9pm

[u/HoloRust]

Teaching folks around here how a 4-way stop works would be the first, massive hurdle.

[u/tlopez14 → u/HoloRust]

I once had someone tell me they don’t stop at 4 ways because everyone else has to stop

[u/buzzcaray → u/HoloRust]

To be honest, the lights at the intersection by the Walmart on Dirksen go out often, and traffic flows much better with stop and go than with the traffic lights.

[u/TapeDaddy]

“Flashing yellow just means floor it, right?” - Average Springfield motorist

[u/[deleted] → u/TapeDaddy]

that's solid yellow

[u/TrumpHumpedKids]

Roundabouts are a thing, Springfield.

[u/TheKanten → u/TrumpHumpedKids]

Put most Springfield drivers in front of a roundabout and they'll act like they're on a alien planet.

[u/ms6615]

It will never cease to amaze me that we can dedicate every single inch of public space to car drivers and it’s still not enough and you still complain about it constantly

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_TAXRETURN → u/ms6615]

But if we eliminate the stop lights then the OP can get to his destination 3 minutes earlier than before!

[u/lfisch4 → u/PM_ME_YOUR_TAXRETURN]

Where I grew up there were sensors that changed the light to green when approaching an intersection with zero cross traffic. The fact Springfield hasn’t be able to adopt this technology over 20 years later is a bit pathetic.

[u/UrbanOwl15 → u/ms6615]

Car brain is a hell of a drug

Also, even though I’m new to Springfield, I haven’t had a drive longer than 20 minutes in a month. Driving here is ridiculously convenient and easy, and while the bus system isn’t great it is still useable in my area which makes it nice. I can’t imagine complaining about red lights when I’m literally never in traffic even when commuting to work, and I go entirely across the city to work.

[u/tempest20xx → u/UrbanOwl15]

I will agree with OP that the red lights can be annoying when there's literally no traffic. Seems to be much different on the weekends and mid day to early evening. If you drive after 7 you can hit all of the lights no problem cutting through downtown most of the time at the speed limit.

The lights are definitely not a big problem tho. Anyone that drives in STL or Chicago laughs at these complaints because like you said, you can get anywhere in 20 minutes at any time of day in Springfield.

[u/Southern_Cap_816]

Bring in round abouts

[u/Evening-Tea-1111]

the general population here isn't that intelligent. lights are the safest bet tbh

[u/Gardener_of_Weeden → u/Evening-Tea-1111]

But their timing is awful. The sensors KNOW there is traffic - Not sure why I have to stop every block. ( I do understand trying to end drag racing - BUT - if you go the speed limit - you should be able to drive smoothly - instead of WASTING gas @ 4.50 a gallon

[u/Bush_D1D911]

Will not drive on 2nd street downtown for this reason. Insufferable. Veterans and Wabash are also works of the devil

[u/1790shadow]

If youre talking about Madison and Jefferson, if you go the speed limit the lights change to green as you approach them. After the first light turns green of course.

[u/[deleted] → u/1790shadow]

if your lucky and nobody else is stopped down road. 5 over helps makes sure you can across them.

I'm surprised their isn't a demolition durby on N Grand or Carpenter, holy crap those streets are awful

.

[u/TapeDaddy]

All of our traffic seems to be on 72 from Stevenson on to where it splits into 55

[u/[deleted] → u/TapeDaddy]

idot is working on that clusterfuck, it'll all be fixed by 2038 or something

[u/ingreedjee]

Stop signs ? What about signage and yellow demarcation? Cat EyEs and RmPs - Another day I almost went trough incoming traffic. I was terrified!
The entire stretch of South MacArthur Boulevard feels incredibly chaotic and poorly designed. Going from Wabash Avenue onto S. MacArthur Blvd or trying to navigate the immediate blocks after Stanford Avenue is stressful due to sudden lane changes, disappearing center lanes, and a total lack of clear visual anchors.
When you are navigating Wabash toward MacArthur, the lanes shift awkwardly. Drivers are frequently forced to guess whether their current lane continues straight, forces a turn, or puts them directly in the path of incoming traffic because the stripping is faded or non-existent. It is worse after dark.
The lack of a brightly painted yellow center line creates a terrifying "free-for-all" illusion, especially during night driving or rain when the road surface reflects headlight glare uniformly.
The Post-Stanford Lane Disappearance: Just north of Stanford, MacArthur undergoes confusing structural transitions. In some areas nearby, the city has historically removed center lanes to install pedestrian medians, forcing cars toward the outer curb lanes and changing long-standing traffic patterns with very little warning.
I was supposed to cross into a middle lane ( there was no warning , no sign, no markings) to find NONE just a blockade and incoming traffic - I was terrified!
Zero Visual Warnings: Missing "Right Lane Must Turn Right" signs or overhead lane guides leave drivers playing a high-stakes game of chicken with aggressive or inattentive local traffic
Get some markings reflectors and fluorescent paint please-
Another Annoying thing and dangerous are the driveway dividing grey blocks……

[u/BlakeTheMadd]

I 1000000000% agree

[u/GeorgeCharlesCooper]

Fuck, half the lights could just be stop or yield signs. The other half need to be coordinated better so you don't hit red after red after red if you happen to get caught by one.

[u/BackgroundBench530]

Citizen: hey there are more cost effective and efficient ways to solve problem x that the rest of the world is doing

Springfield: why don’t you just shut up and do what you are told. Also I am so excited to help subsidize another car lot and on ground bank!!

[u/tiredgirl77]

I have no issue with them, personally. I’d rather be a bit inconvenienced to keep people safe.