City of Lawton starting process to remove Gore Boulevard/4th Street signal lights

Traffic lights on West Gore Boulevard at 4th Street may soon be a thing of the past.

City of Lawton staff launched the process Thursday that would allow them to remove traffic signal lights that have been in place for decades, ones that control east-west traffic on Gore Boulevard and north-south traffic on Southwest/Northwest 4th Street. Those lights have been on blink mode — red for north/south traffic, yellow for east-west traffic — since the Arts for All Festival in mid-May. But continuing confusion by Gore Boulevard drivers who keep stopping for blinking yellow lights prompted the full City Council to agree with Ward 3 Councilwoman Linda Chapman at their May 28 meeting, setting in motion the process to completely remove the lights.

Members of the Traffic Commission tackled the issue Thursday, agreeing with a city staff recommendation to replace the signal lights with stop signs on Northwest and Southwest 4th Street to control traffic crossing or turning onto West Gore Boulevard. The system would be the same that exists at almost every intersection on West Gore Boulevard between South 11th Street/Fort Sill Boulevard and Southwest/Northwest 2nd Street, requiring cross-street traffic to yield to arterial traffic.

Traffic Engineer B.J. Hawkins told commissioners that an analysis of traffic flow there “is not even close” to warrants for four-hour, eight-hour and peak hour measurements, meaning the flow of traffic on 4th Street doesn’t justify a traffic signal light. City officials said that has been true since Lawton Police Department moved out of its station at the intersection.

Hawkins also said the traffic control system for 4th Street is “very old” and replacement would be expensive, which is why his recommendation is to remove the lights. Removal would mean replacing blinking red lights for north/south traffic with stop signs while removing the blinking yellow caution lights for east-west traffic, letting those drivers pass unimpeded.

“The signal light is not wanted,” said City Engineer Joe Painter, explaining the blinking yellow lights apparently are confusing to some drivers because they are stopping.

City staff’s intent had been to change out the intersection’s traffic control system, but the process is taking longer than expected, Hawkins said. Painter said City Council members have explored the situation and made it clear they want a solution.

“Council said to get this done ASAP,” Painter said.

Commission members agreed. Chairman David Means said he witnessed a near accident when one Gore Boulevard driver stopped on a blinking yellow light and three cars behind her almost hit her.

“Yes, get rid of it,” Means said, adding city officials either need to restore the signal light to full cycle use “or get rid of it.”

Painter said the Traffic Commission’s recommendation is expected to be considered by the council at Tuesday’s meeting, and if the council votes to remove the light system, work would begin immediately to remove the lights and poles. They would be replaced with stop signs on Southwest/Northwest 4th Street, to include the median separating Gore Boulevard’s eastbound and westbound lanes.