The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:

Dear Mr. Mayor,

I am writing to you about a safety and traffic issue at the intersection of Cross Street and Prospect ( near my office.)

Making a left turn from Prospect St. onto Cross Street is currently extremely difficult and hazardous/dangerous. The street design, along with heavy traffic volumes—both cars continuing straight on Cross Street and those turning left from the opposing (Southbound) direction—creates a difficult & dangerous turning spot.

Drivers are often forced to take risks (incl. myself and others that i know) to complete the turn, sometimes bordering on causing an accident, as they must rely on other drivers (from both sides) to stop and let them pass.

I urge the city to review this intersection for potential improvements, such as adjusted traffic light timing or a dedicated left-turn signal, to ensure safer and smoother traffic flow.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.
Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

I’ve forwarded your email to the county engineer, as both of these are county roads. I’ve asked our engineer to work with them as see what can be resolved

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Hi thank you mr mayor for this wonderful forum with which to address our concerns.
I would like to start with thanking you for your input that brought the traffic light on the intersection of New hampshire and chestnut into working order. I would like to know if there is anyway to adjust the timing of the light on the corner of the 88 and clover, there are times that it remains green for rt 88 for extended periods of time when noone is even there while traffic backs up on clover. If at all possible to have it more evenly timed so to improve traffic flow.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

We are working with the county & state on all the intersections along RT 88. I will see if they can prioritize this timing issue

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Hi,

We live in a development on Pine street. Cars typically are driving 45-50 miles an hour on this stretch of the road. The way the development was designed, there is limited visibility when pulling out of the development.
Therefore, on Pine, there are signs all along the shoulder that say no parking or standing. If even one car is parked on the shoulder it blocks nearly all visibility to pull out safely.

Please help us understand why these road signs are not enforced. There have been repeated accidents from both of the entrances to the neighborhood because of the blocked visibility by illegally parked cars and many many near misses. If even one car is parked in the shoulder each person has to play “ frogger” to try to get out of the neighborhood.

How can the Pine street shoulder be properly patrolled and monitored so that cars are not parked illegally?

People park their cars there during both the day and night ignoring the laws and signs because there is never any enforcement.

Please help us understand why it is like this and how this can be addressed.

I am not looking to give tickets to my fellow community members- perhaps a warning ticket is appropriate first. This would give people a chance to change their habits and find new parking areas. When the roads laws and signs have been neglected and ignored for years people don’t expect them to suddenly be enforced. Warning people I think would be most appropriate.

Of course warnings alone won’t be enough, tickets will have to be issued for cars that ignore the warning in order for the shoulder to be cleared and visibility to be restored to these corners.

I hope that this issue can tackled efficiently, tactfully and swiftly.

Thank you taking the time to address this safety issue,

A concerned citizen.

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

I will ask LPD to step up enforcement along this stretch.

Thanks

Ray

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