Traffic Signal Change

The City of Madison increased the 'left turn' phase for southbound Monona Drive at Cold Springs today. The left turn arrow will stay on longer. That will lengthen the full signal cycle for the intersection, but the need was dire.

If you've ever seen the traffic during the AM peak hour, you know how bad it is. With only one public access road to the high school, all the Cottage Grovers are in the left lane and they have to sit through multiple signal cycles. That type of condition generally leads to aggressive driving by some. Everyone wanting to go straight is in the right lane. The line of cars waiting to go straight disappears over the horizon. This situation makes that stretch of Monona Drive function like a one lane road for southbound traffic. Basically it functions like Monona Drive/Nichols Road used to before the left turn lanes were added.

Adding some time to the left turn arrow will help, but the intersection needs to have a left turn lane added. That addition is in the Monona Drive Phase 3 plans.

I have also requested that the City of Madison evaluate the traffic signal operation at Dean Avenue/Monona Drive during the same AM peak hour. Eastbound traffic on Dean also waits through multiple signal cycles to make a left turn northbound toward the high school. And some people don't wait, but instead cut through the neighborhood and use the light at Cold Springs. Perhaps a left turn arrow for that eastbound traffic is needed during the AM peak hour.