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METRO AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON TO ROLL OUT PILOT PROGRAM TO CURB LIGHT-RAIL ACCIDENTS

street lights   November 19, 2008

METRO and the City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering, Traffic and Transportation Division launched a pilot program this week designed to reduce the number of accidents involving METRORail in downtown Houston.

The three-fold strategy to improve system safety consists of signal priority adjustments for METRORail, new traffic-light fixtures, and increased METRO police enforcement along the line.

In addition, the changes are designed to improve safety and enhance traffic movements along Main Street and key intersections.

MPD will focus on six intersections that have seen an increase in collisions following the resignaling of downtown intersections last year. Of the 43 accidents this year – 26 were caused by illegal left turns. In 2007, there were 34 light-rail accidents – 17 caused by illegal left turns.

The six test locations along Main St. are:

  • St. Joseph
  • Franklin
  • Texas
  • Prairie
  • Preston
  • Congress

METRO police have been working closely with the City of Houston Department of Public Works and Engineering, Traffic and Transportation Division to adjust the timing of the traffic signals at the locations listed above. The cooperative effort includes granting METRORail the green light first, before granting motorists the green light to proceed. This allows METRORail to pull ahead of regular traffic at intersections. Westbound and eastbound traffic signals will not be affected.

The traffic signal priority system was implemented at all six locations this past weekend and METRO is continuing to monitor their operation.

The City of Houston will be installing new traffic light fixtures at 14 locations downtown. One has already been installed at the intersection of Main and St. Joseph. The new fixtures include four lamps, rather than the traditional three. They are equipped with the main red and yellow solid ball lamps, but rather than a solid ball green lamp, the new lamps will include a green directional up arrow, as well as a right-turn flashing amber arrow, indicating motorist can make right turns.

To complement the efforts detailed above, METRO police are increasing enforcement along the rail line to ensure motorists are driving cautiously and paying close attention to traffic signals.

For a list of light-rail safety tips, please visit our Web site at www.ridemetro.org.