WAITING FOR STOP AND GO
“I was just wondering if updated intersection lights will ever be installed at the crossing of Monterey Road and Main Avenue that involve green arrows for those turning left onto Monterey from either direction off Main Avenue? During any high traffic times, the congestion is unbelievable with no end in sight. It’s just too busy of an intersection not to have this feature … don’t you think?”
RED PHONE:
The Red Phone has some good news for Morgan Hill drivers. The traffic light at the intersection in question is going to change completely. The city has plans to “split the phase” on the light so that all westbound traffic on Main Avenue will proceed through the intersection, and when the light changes, all eastbound traffic can go, ending the competition for the left turn that we have now because eastbound and westbound traffic get the green light at the same time. This much-needed improvement should move traffic along more efficiently, shortens the lines of cars piling up on Main Avenue and makes the intersection a lot safer not only for drivers, but for pedestrians.
NO LEFT TURN … AGAIN!
“When I am riding my motorcycle around town and come to a left-arrow turn signal, I find myself waiting through many cycles of the traffic light and never have an opportunity to make my turn. This happens a lot and it is aggravating. What’s going on here?”
RED PHONE:
This has been the bane of many motorcyclists since the invention of the traffic light sensor. One school of thought is that the motorcycle’s mass and weight, being 25 percent of an average automobile, is not sufficient to be picked up by some traffic sensors. Some argue that the motorcycle, traveling either to the left or to the right of the center of the lane, is not in the proper position for detection by the sensor.
Mori Struve, Morgan Hill’s deputy director of public works and operations, informs us that when the magnetic sensors are imbedded in the roadway, an electronic field is essentially being installed. This electronic field is broken when a vehicle approaches the intersection, tripping the light. The sensor is buried in the middle of the lane, right where motorcyclists are taught not to ride, although Struve says where the motorcycle is traveling within the lane shouldn’t make a difference, although motorcyclists may take issue on that point.
Caller, if there is one particular intersection you are having a problem with, Struve has offered to send out a crew to check and make sure everything is working properly. He just needs to know which intersection to check. You can reach Struve at the Department of Public Works at (408) 776-7333.
On a related subject, a new product has been introduced for traffic control. It is an ultra-sensitive sensor that is installed in bike lanes and is tripped when a bicyclist rides over it. Bike lanes having these sensors will have a white sign letting bicyclists know they don’t have to push the “walk button” at the next intersection.
DO I PAY FOR THIS?
“I live in Holiday Lake Estates and late last week a young fawn was hit by a passing car along side of our home. The fawn was severely injured, but was able to make it’s way off the street. A couple of days later a suspicious smell prompted me look under our back deck, and I was saddened to find the dead fawn, which must have retreated there and died. A call to San Jose Tallow brought down a gentleman to remove the carcass, but to our surprise it cost us $75. He explained that if the fawn had been on the public roadway, the city has a contract with San Jose Tallow to remove the dead animals, but since it was on our property we would have to pay.
Since the fawn’s deadly injuries occurred on a public roadway adjacent to our house, it seems to me I should not have had to pay the fee. I suppose I could have dragged the dead fawn back into the road, but that doesn’t seem right – but neither does paying $75! Could you please look into this? Thank You!”
RED PHONE:
The city’s policy states that if an animal is killed on a public roadway, residents should call the Department of Public Works at (408) 776-7333. This policy does not cover dead animals that are found in private property. Caller, you have an unusual case here, where the animal was struck on the roadway, managed to relocate itself, and finally expire on your property. Struve has asked if you would please call the above number to receive an answer about the payment for the removal of the dead animal that was apparently hit in the public roadway.
Our callers are staying on top of the things that need attention in our community. That’s what the Red Phone is for. Keep calling! Contact Red Phone at (408) 779-4106, ext. 206, or you may e-mail us at re******@*************es.com. Remember to leave a name and phone number when you call or e-mail. The Red Phone will not publish this information and will only use it for verification purposes.
