Ted Corder assigned this issue to Neil Leary

Thank you for your comment on the traffic signal at West 7th and Military West. The City is looking into this issue and will consider modifications to improve the traffic signal function. Please allow the City time to review the issue and consider modifications, if any , to this intersection. Thank you.

Thank you for your comment on the traffic signal at West 7th and Military West. The City is looking into this issue and will consider modifications to improve the traffic signal function. Please allow the City time to review the issue and consider modifications, if any , to this intersection. Thank you.

Agreed. As a pedestrian, I’ve stood there just watching everybody go nowhere in all directions — just waiting.

The City's traffic signal maintenance team is looking into possible modifications to improve signal function. I hope to report on findings soon. This is a complicated intersection with the unusual 6 legs. Thank you for your patience.

Neil Leary
City Engineer

I'd like to add my 2 cents. If staff can recall the many months when the traffic lights were not finished a couple of years ago or perhaps sooner, the flashing red lights caused all traffic to stop before it was clear and safe to proceed. This intersection leads to, arguably, the busiest street in Benicia. My daily use of West 7th is frequent as I travel up and down to and from South Hampton shopping center , freeway, or visiting somewhere above the shopping center occurred several times each day. During those months of flashing red lights (require drivers to stop as if there were stop signs on every street leading to the intersection,) I only noticed one traffic backup of 4 or 5 cars one day going north on West 7th - only one. The stop and go method allows cars to avoid upwards of 2 minutes waiting for the lights to change. Most of the wait time is due to military east/west lights remaining green long after the line of cars has passed. I think the amount of CO2 from the idling cars every time the light cycles would be considerable and not in compliance of carbon emission goals that govt is trying to reach. But CO2 probably somewhat less if using a stop and go system which all licensed drivers can understand. Sometimes a simple fix of changing all to stop signs and pedestrian tripped crosswalk lights would quicken the process for every car that has to go thru that intersection. It would also slow down the LeMans type start present every day when Benica High students are released from school.

The City has engaged an electrical contractor to review the traffic signal function and provide a plan for improvement of its function. I expect that we will have a plan for improvement very soon.

Neil Leary

Thank you for contacting the City of Benicia! We have received your service request and City staff and consultants are working on a fix. You will receive notification when the issue has been resolved. If you have any questions, please call me at (707) 746-4203.

Neil Leary