This is an on-going issue that was reported earlier and has not yet been addressed. Contrary to what the engineer commented, it is not that the pedestrians are crossing at a no-walk signal, it is that the timing of the walk signal and the right turning traffic are in direct conflict.

Pedestrians get first shot at the crosswalk. During walk, U Heights traffic faces red signals and a No Right Turn sign. This lasts for 8 seconds. Then pedestrians face flashing don't walk, while U Heights signals are green. This "shared" period lasts for 11 seconds. Lastly, pedestrians face solid don't walk, while U Heights traffic has another 11 seconds of green available most of the day. Technically, pedestrians starting their crossing during flashing and solid don't walk are jaywalking. As per the intent of original request, the movements are indeed mostly separated. During two counts on the 6th and 8th, between 2 and 4pm, surprisingly, most pedestrians did not start late and were fully "legal." It would only take a couple of late crossers to bring the right turns to a halt. However, almost every time, cars waiting to turn right on U Heights were able to clear in one cycle. If there is a regular time when U Heights traffic backs up to Gutterson we would be interested to know and observe it. It would be difficult to balance versus traffic coming in and out of Burlington during the peak periods, but if it is that bad regularly, it would be worth watching and trying to tweak a few seconds here or there, if possible. A lot of eastbound throughput was lost when the Dorset and off-ramp signals in South Burlington got out of step with each other. Outbound traffic now backs up to Staples regularly, whereas before it didn't. Very frustrating from a Burlington point of view. South Burlington is looking into installing an eastbound video detector at the off-ramp signal which may help in this regard.

As soon as the solid don't walk signal shows for the pedestrians, the traffic light turns red. There is definitely not 11 seconds of green available for the U Heights traffic. You should come and see the traffic light between 4pm and 5pm.

Matt is absolutely right, the red hand stops flashing right before the light on U Heights turns from yellow to red. Come out at 4:30pm and experience the signal timing. It doesn't work for the pedestrians or the vehicles using this intersection.

Right - between 4 and 6pm that extra 11 seconds of available green shrinks to 1, in anticipation of the peak traffic going out of town. Main Street traffic regularly backs up EB beyond Prospect. It is important to keep the majority of green with the majority of traffic. Came in late today, will try to be there and watch after 4pm. Cannot clear U Heights every cycle at the expense of two lanes of heavy Main Street traffic, which can take several cycles just to get as far as U Heights, but there might be some middle ground - we'll see.

I think if you changed it to maybe 4 or 5 seconds instead of 1, all of the traffic from U Heights would clear in one or two cycles.

Spent some time watching Wednesday, from 3:30 to 5:20. The change to the "tighter" cycle occurred at 4:30. The worst backup on Main Street was just after 5:00, when it went back beyond Dairy Bar Drive, two signals away. Remarkably, this queue cleared in one cycle. Of course, it was soon followed by another, but not as long. Main Street traffic appeared to be unusually light versus previous recollection. This may be because of the recent snow storm and people staying home, or it might be a seasonal or even more permanent shift. From conditions observed, it was okay to leave the "looser" cycle in effect during the peak traffic. This is now in effect - the extra 11 seconds of available green is there during the afternoon rush too. It works (now) because traffic on U Heights was sporadic, and the amount of traffic backing up on Main was also sporadic. Main Street was not suffering from a few cars exiting U Heights late. This will have to be watched again as we move toward warmer weather. Heavy Main Street traffic may reappear, and it may be necessary to again shrink the available green time to U Heights in fairness to waiting Main Street traffic. Extra U Heights green was most often not needed if not for 2 or 3 late jaywalkers holding up the line. Cars turning right waited for the bulk of legal crossers, and could most likely clear before the light changed. Very frustrating to watch 2 or 3 jaywalkers make it impossible for cars to get out. The extra green works for now, although it may have to be reigned in again if/when heavy traffic starts backing up on Main Street. The Department of Public Works has resolved this request. Thanks for helping to keep Burlington a great place to live and work.