Friday, November 1, 2013 at 4:55 p.m.
Drivers will notice a change to the signal light patterns beginning next month that will better manage increased early morning traffic volumes Mondays through Saturdays.
Signal lights throughout the City of Spokane will switch from flashing yellow to regular red-yellow-green signal patterns at 5 a.m. beginning on Nov. 4. Currently, that transition occurs at 6 a.m.
Programmed flash was first initiated in Spokane in the 1950's for traffic volume flow. Essentially, when volumes were low in the early morning hours, traffic lights flashed yellow.
Today, traffic volumes are increasing earlier in the morning hours. To accommodate this increasing early morning traffic, the City is changing the time the flashing yellow lights return to regular signal programming.
Terminating programmed flash operations earlier in the morning is anticipated to increase operational efficiency at these signalized intersections.
