City Announces Temporary Traffic Demonstration Project at Intersection of State, Forest and Boyd

For Immediate Release - November 16, 2022

Contact: John Theriault- City Engineer (207) 992-4250 - [email protected]

City Announces Temporary Traffic Demonstration Project at Intersection of State, Forest and Boyd

BANGOR - The City of Bangor's Engineering Department will be conducting a temporary demonstration project at the signalized intersection of State Street (US Route 2), Forest Avenue, and Boyd Street beginning the week of November 14, 2022 and continuing until the middle of December of this year. The intent of this demonstration project is to evaluate how this intersection will function if the traffic signal is removed and stop sign control is placed at the side streets of Forest Avenue and Boyd Street. For the demonstration project, the traffic signal will be placed into flash throughout the daytime hours.

In reviewing the operation of this traffic signal and the existing side street traffic volumes, the Engineering Department began to question whether traffic signal control is the best mode of operation at this location

Usually for a traffic signal to be installed or to be maintained in place, at least one and preferably two traffic signal warrants within the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) are required to be satisfied. The Manual (2009 Edition) includes the following nine traffic signal warrants:

Warrant 1 - Eight Hour Vehicular Volume

Warrant 2 - Four Hour Vehicular Volume

Warrant 3 - Peak Hour Volume

Warrant 4 - Pedestrian Volume

Warrant 5 - School Crossing

Warrant 6 - Coordinated Signal System

Warrant 7 - Crash Experience

Warrant 8 - Roadway Network

Warrant 9 - Intersection Near a Grade Crossing (Railroad)

The Engineering Department conducted intersection turning movement counts at the intersection of State Street and Forest Avenue on Wednesday October 5, 2022 from 7:00 AM until 6:30 PM in order to have the necessary data to review the MUTCD Traffic Signal Warrants. Based on the Engineering Department's review of the traffic data, it appears that the traffic volumes at this location are not high enough to satisfy the traffic signal warrant criteria.

The City of Bangor and the Maine Department of Transportation have funded a project to upgrade all of the traffic signal equipment at the intersection of State Street, Forest Avenue, and Boyd Street. Prior to making this investment into the intersection, the Engineering Department wants to verify that traffic signal operation is the best mode of operation for this location. Should it be determined that the traffic signal is not necessary, pedestrian improvements at the intersection will be considered such as crosswalk bump outs and the installation of a pedestrian activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB).

Should you have any questions concerning this demonstration project, please do not hesitate to contact the City of Bangor Engineering Department at 207-992-4250.

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The City of Bangor, Maine is a service center community of 33,039 residents and is the county seat of Penobscot County. Bangor is the major commercial and cultural center for much of northern and eastern Maine. The City is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. For information on City projects and news, see www.bangormaine.gov

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