In 1999, the City of Yakima began a program of making Traffic Signals more efficient in the handling of traffic volumes. Signal timings were changed for 28 signalized intersections in the Spring of 1999. None of the timings for intersections in the Downtown area have been changed. Drivers may have noticed that the green phases of the signals have been shortened and left turns are conditionally serviced, depending upon the presence of a vehicle in the left turn lanes. The pilot program has been a success and resulted in more efficient use of our street system.
More vehicles are able to move through intersections during peak travel periods.
More intersections will be evaluated in the year 2000. The downtown core area will be examined as a sub-area in the future.