Traffic lights at tricky intersection turned on

After months of confusion among drivers and pedestrians, the traffic signals at the intersection of Boston Ave. and College Ave. are in full working order as of yesterday.

Calls for activation of the lights, which were installed over the summer, increased after a recent accident at the intersection in which a student was struck by a car.

The lights operated for a short time after initial roadwork was completed at the beginning of the semester. But as soon as they were turned on, the contractor determined that additional changes "needed to be made to the timing sequence, and modifications to the signage were needed around the intersection," Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Captain Mark Keith said.

The change of the signals from flashing yellow and red to fully operational may have been delayed by procedural protocol. The proposed changes to the traffic lights had to be approved by the state's site engineer, and then forwarded to the contractor, Keith said. The contractor then had to come to the intersection and physically make the changes.

The Massachusetts Highway Department had jurisdiction over the project, which followed the construction of the bridge over the railroad tracks on College Ave.

The addition of traffic signals to the intersection was meant to clear up right-of-way problems between drivers and pedestrians and among drivers. Pedestrians are now signaled to cross when it is safe, rather than forced to simply walk through traffic.

Motor traffic has experienced a change in wait times at the intersection. Although the lights functioned according to design on their first day in operation, cars occasionally lined up far behind them. At times, over 20 cars were stopped behind the light between Anderson and Curtis Halls on Boston Ave. yesterday. Though the traffic dissipated in a few minutes, such lines reoccurred throughout the day.

The contractor will monitor the intersection in the coming weeks to see whether additional changes are required.

Initial student reactions have generally been positive. "Because many of my classes are in that area _ Bromfield-Pearson and the Science and Technology building _ the addition of a light makes me feel safer, especially after that accident," engineering student Lindsay Hersh said.

Freshman Greg Apostle said in order to be safe crossing the intersection, students simply need to be aware of their surroundings. "As long as you pay attention you really should not have any problems," he said.