City Council to explore tweaking Square stop lights

The sit-and-stop traffic in Public Square may not be as severe later this year if the city Engineering Department is allowed to tweak traffic signals in downtown this winter.

The timing of traffic signals Public Square has not been changed since 2003, despite the 2008 streetscape project that changed the look and added driving lanes downtown, a memo from Engineer Kurt Hauk states.

The engineer is proposing to train his department on Synchro-7 traffic program this winter, allowing workers to take another look at the way the signals affect downtown traffic.

His proposal is an answer to concerns raised by Councilman Joseph M. Butler Jr. about cars at the lights in Public Square occasionally waiting in the sidewalks.

Mr. Butler proposed adding signs warning motorists of the crosswalks to the already crowded sidewalks.

The City Council is expected to discuss Mr. Butler’s issue and Mr. Hauk’s recommendation Monday night.