Traffic lights at an Albany intersection of Oregon 99E (not the one this story is about).
While we’re on the endlessly fascinating subject of traffic lights, here’s an exchange of emails concerning one such set of signals on Pacific Boulevard in Albany.
It started with a question from a reader, Shae Mitchell:
“I am curious about the change when driving SW on Pacific and turning onto Killdeer (Costco intersection) when and who changed the left turn light. It used to flash yellow when the light turned green to continue down Pacific. But recently it stays red for a while. I’ll admit I ran the red light and so did my wife because of this change. We were so used to it flashing yellow after the green going straight that we didn’t even notice. I’ve noticed they did this to a couple others on Pacific also. There was never a ‘change to traffic device’ sign posted anywhere either. It just happened one day.”
I passed he question on to Mindy McCartt, who handles media inquiries for ODOT in this area. She came back with this:
“The signal timing for the left-turn arrow at OR 99E (Pacific Boulevard) and Killdeer Street was updated on March 24, 2026.
“The left-turn signal no longer automatically displays a flashing yellow arrow when through traffic receives a green light. Instead, the flashing yellow arrow is activated only when there is a vehicle waiting in the left-turn lane. The flashing yellow arrow may also be delayed if the signal detects oncoming traffic or if pedestrians are crossing the intersection.
“The intersection is still operating as a protected/permitted left-turn intersection. The change is in how and when the flashing yellow arrow is displayed, not in whether left turns are allowed.
“No advance signing was installed because the intersection’s mode of operation did not change, and those signs are optional under current traffic control standards.”
Something about this made me ask her to clarify one point. She responded:
“When I said the intersection is still operating as a protected/permitted left-turn intersection, I meant that drivers are still allowed to make a left turn when the signal displays either:
- A flashing yellow arrow, after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, or
- A solid green arrow, which is the protected left-turn phase.
“The recent change only affects when the flashing yellow arrow is displayed. It no longer comes on automatically with the through green. Instead, it is activated only when there is a vehicle in the left-turn lane and conditions allow it.”
I had one more question. This change in the way the left-turn arrows operate, why was it made?
And Mindy replied:
“Region 2 has implemented this at intersections where the available vehicle detection supports it. At some locations, the flashing yellow arrow may also be turned off during peak travel times.
“As always, drivers turning left on a flashing yellow arrow must yield to oncoming vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.”
This is probably more than Shae or anyone else wanted to know. (hh)
Whether or not it changes any behavior is open for discussion. :-)
No worry. The police aren’t out and about anyway.
Here’s one for you to ponder Hasso. On Lyons St at 3rd and third traffic light hangs on the left side of the street on a left mast. One of a kind on Lyons St. ???
When is Queen Ave going to ever be Grade Separated away from the Railroad Crossings, cause it’s a Dangerous Intersection near 99E & the Street needs to be entirely Repaved on Queen Ave
Behavior is a learned trait from experience. Wouldn’t it be nice if when goverments passsed new laws people were informed of them before an accident or an officer of the law has to stop and tell them. Be them crop circles in the middle of roads,Gun laws or flashing lights might cut down on the behavior- A.
She never discussed what you can do when the red arrow is displayed. Typical mumbo jumbo. It seems to me that the red arrow being displayed means NO TURN, or perhaps something else?
I for one will wait for either the yellow or green.
Also re the question as to why signage of the change was not answered. TSK TSK
I’m not sure if you’re serious Richard Vannice, but when a red arrow is displayed at a traffic signal, you stop.
As for the “re the question as to why the signage of the change”, it was explained as “No advance signing was installed because the intersection’s mode of operation did not change, and those signs are optional under current traffic control standards.”
Hasso, maybe you can find out why the traffic lights at 34 th and Marion and 34 th and Hill do not activate correctly. The left turn signal goes on even if there has been NO vehicle in the left turn lane. It stays on for about 15 seconds, feels like more, with a red light to ongoing traffic. It is somewhat annoying
When a signal allows left turn regardless of whether traffic is present it means there is an error in the sensors and it has returned to its default setting. The road dept. needs to come out and reset the programming to get it back to normal.
Okay…covered that….back to Sybaris parking lot…errr city parking lot….now i’m mixed up