Frequently, Aurora residents would like to have a traffic light installed near their neighborhoods and ask a question like this:

Q: I'm concerned with the safety at the intersection of East Marina Drive and Yale Avenue, especially as East Linvale Place ends at Marina a few feet before Marina crosses Yale. Can the city place a traffic light at Yale and Marina Drive?

A: The installation of new traffic signals in Aurora is regulated by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD comes from Colorado statute which provides for a uniform system if traffic control. The MUTCD is published by the Federal Highway Administration and contains the design, application and placement for traffic control devices. The City of Aurora has adopted the MUTCD for municipalities.

The MUTCD lists certain criteria (called warrants) which must be met to justify installation of traffic control devices such as traffic signals, stop signs, and speed limits. The various warrants are important as they provide a uniform method to evaluate the need for traffic control devices and consistency in judgment when approving them for installation.

For example, Aurora Traffic Services will collect and analyze data from a location to determine when a traffic signal is justified. In general, they examine the traffic volumes, site conditions to include visibility, roadway characteristics such as hills, curves, number of traffic lanes, speed limits and the accident history. They also look for any unusual conditions or patterns at the location. With all this data collected and evaluated, a consistent decision-making process is followed to determine the need for approving a traffic signal for installation. Aurora Traffic Services will need to obtain this data and make determination whether the intersection of Yale and Marina Drive warrants a traffic signal.

If the traffic codes and regulations were relaxed or set aside, chaos may occur. The main question is, "Why does that location receive a signal and not mine?" From a practical perspective, it would be very difficult to explain to why resources were used to install an unwarranted traffic signal.

In addition, and more importantly, the principal purpose of promoting highway safety and efficiency by providing for the orderly movement of all road users would be jeopardized. Installing unwarranted traffic signals creates substantial inconvenience and delay for motorists, increases air pollution, and has the potential for causing accidents (e.g. rear-end collisions). Traffic control device installations which do not meet the Traffic Manual's criteria may cause confusion, raise disrespect for traffic signs and signals, and possibly make lawbreakers out of normal law-abiding citizens.

Aurora Traffic Services responds to over 400 formal requests each year from citizens and other agencies for traffic control device installations. From these requests, eight-to-ten new traffic signals which have met the Traffic Manual's warrants are installed each year at a cost of$120,000 each (there is also $3,000 per year in maintenance costs).

The City has recently installed traffic signals at S. Gartrell and E. Arapahoe Rd. and at E. 2 nd Ave. and S. Potomac St. after determining that they have met warrants.

(Brad isthe Mayor Pro-Tem and Council Member At-Large and has a strong background in neighborhoods. Readers may send questions toBrad at Aurora City Council, 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Suite 5800, Aurora, Colorado 80012; e-mail at bpierce@auroragov.org; or call 303 739-7522. Thank you to Dick Havercamp, Aurora Traffic Services, for assistance with this article)