Fed up with red lights? Here’s how they work in Denver
DENVER (KDVR) — Driving in Denver, you’re bound to be stopped by one of more than 1,000 traffic lights in the city.
While traffic lights maintain a safe traffic flow, they can also be a headache for drivers trying to maintain their own pace.
In Denver, drivers could be stopped at a light for up to two minutes, according to the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. If you hit one too many red lights, you might be a couple of minutes late to your destination.
Why are streets in downtown Denver crooked? History can explain
Sometimes, drivers are stopped by a light that turns red even though it might be 1 a.m. and no one else is waiting at the light, leaving drivers frustrated, wondering why a light would change for no one.
FOX31 spoke with the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure about why the timing of red lights can seem inconvenient.
Some lights run on a timed cycle
Not all of the 1,400 traffic lights in the Mile High City run on a timed cycle — some change if a vehicle approaches and others begin a timer if a vehicle approaches.
DOTI spokesperson Cyndi Karvaski explained that about a quarter of the lights in the city are on fixed-time operations, meaning they run on a regular timed cycle and do not ‘sense’ when a vehicle or pedestrian approaches the intersection.
Why Market Street turns into Walnut Street in downtown Denver
The cycles are optimized based on the time of day and day of the week depending on what the average use levels are.
“The timing is designed to serve the travel demand for all road users be it on foot, on two wheels, or driving four wheels, and can vary by time of day and day of the week to best match the typical commute travel patterns,” Karvaski said.
Most of the timed lights are located in the downtown and Capitol Hill areas. The cycle length from when the light turns red until when it turns green again is typically 90 seconds, but can last up to two minutes, Karvaski.
This would also explain why lights sometimes turn red for no one, stopping traffic momentarily even on a larger road.
Karvaski noted that some intersections do not have buttons on the traffic light poles for pedestrians to use. Those pedestrian crossings are set to cycle automatically and provide a walk signal in each cycle.
Most lights are equipped with sensors
Karvaski explained that most of the traffic lights in Denver are actuated coordinated, meaning they are not activated until they sense a vehicle, pedestrian or bicyclist.
Wire loops embedded in the pavement detect the weight of a vehicle waiting at a light, and video cameras also sometimes detect when someone is waiting for a light, signaling it to change and begin a new cycle.
Some lights that are equipped with some kind of sensor will trigger a timer when a vehicle approaches. If a driver pulls up to cross an intersection at a light that is already red, it will trigger a timer and that is when the cycle begins.
Denver has 225 one-way streets. Here’s why
That means a driver could be stuck at a light for up to, but no longer than, two minutes, even if the light was already red when they pulled up.
Meanwhile, drivers going the other direction will see a light that remains green until traffic approaches to cross.
Karvaski noted that some lights can be as quick as 30 seconds depending on how large the intersection is.
Timing designed to create “platoons” of traffic
Karvaski said the timing of the lights is designed to serve the travel demand of all users including drivers, bikers and pedestrians.
“Signal timing is fixed to anticipate traffic and formulate the best possible progression for all movements, while prioritizing the safety of pedestrians and people on bikes as, physically, they are most vulnerable users of our transportation system,” she said.
Additionally, they are timed in a way that creates groups of traffic, especially on longer, larger roads.
“We also strive to group cars in what we call “platoons” to move them along a corridor together in a group, which then also provides gaps so people can turn out of their side streets, driveways, etc. safely,” Karvaski said.
Knowing these Denver street name patterns may save you from getting lost
Is there a way to avoid hitting the red lights?
Unfortunately, Karvaski said there is no real safe way to avoid hitting red lights due to the many factors involved in signal timing.
However, she said, “driving within the speed limit on a street that has actuated coordinated signals at intersections increases the chances of not having to stop.”
In any case, Karvaski said the goal is to keep the cycle lengths as quick as possible to keep people moving as well as reduce vehicle idling to reduce air pollution.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
