Traffic analysis suggests Lawton needs to update signal lights

Success with a $922,000 project to upgrade signal lights on Gore Boulevard could provide the template to upgrade light systems on other Lawton arterials, engineers say.

But City Council members and city staff are going to have to find the money — for the Gore Boulevard work and upgrades on other arterials.

B.J. Hawkins, a traffic engineer with Traffic Engineering Consultants, said successful upgrades for five traffic signal lights between Northwest 2nd Street and Lawrie Tatum Road could allow traffic engineers to start looking at other intersections needing similar improvements. He said a key is whether that modern technology could be extended across the city to improve Lawton’s overall operation of traffic lights. Moreover, it could create a uniformity for equipment, lessening costs while improving aesthetics.

Hawkins said today’s variety of traffic system equipment creates problems in numerous ways. Most are out of date or lack the components to operate efficiently, and most are not ADA compliant in terms of pedestrian crossing systems. He said the goal is uniformity, something City Engineer Joe Painter said city staff would welcome. Painter said workers in the field services division complain about the wide variety of technology they must understand and the wide variety of equipment being used.

Painter and Ward 8 Councilman Randy Warren said the result of modernization and uniformity could be less cost. It also might speed repairs, Warren said, explaining that now, with a variety of light poles being used, the speed at which the city replaces a damaged pole may be days or weeks, depending on whether the pole needed is in stock.

“I like the idea of changing over to something equal across the city,” Warren said.

But uniformity comes with a price: $34 million to tackle every traffic signal light in Lawton, $20 million to focus on the city’s four east-west arterials.

The necessary work varies. Some signals need complete modernization. Some need to be moved: Hawkins pointed to flashing lights at intersections around Central Plaza in downtown Lawton. He said TEC’s proposal would be to analyze the light systems, determining the exact equipment needed at each and the cost. Hawkins said that is why the Gore Boulevard project is important: success will show residents what can be done at other intersections.

Mayor Stan Booker said Lawton doesn’t have $34 million to upgrade all traffic control systems.

“That is not what I recommend,” Hawkins said, explaining he wants a more narrow focus, analyzing what equipment is needed and setting priorities based on need while keeping some components (such as poles) to lessen costs.

Council members said other adjustments could be made to lessen costs. Ward 4 Councilman George Gill, whose ward includes much of east Lawton, said the city could start with the $300,000 Lawrie Tatum Road signal light, the pilot project’s most expensive item.

“That interchange was temporary,” he said, explaining the agreement was the East Gore Boulevard light would be removed when a new light on East Lee Boulevard/Oklahoma 7 was installed by the Comanche Nation for its casino and hotel.

Gill said if the Gore Boulevard light system is to remain open, he suggests a discussion to share costs.

“It definitely costs us money to leave that open just for the casino,” Gill said, adding he believes the casino should be “very heavily in the cost of that.”

Hawkins said a traffic signal warrant (an analysis of the number of vehicles passing through an intersection) shows the Lawrie Tatum Road intersection qualifies for a signal light, based on eight-hour, four-hour and peak-hour analysis.

He said the same is true for the signal light on West Gore Boulevard at Southwest 6th Street. Council members have asked about removing the Northwest 4th and Northwest 6th streets signal lights to improve traffic flow on Gore Boulevard. Hawkins said his recommendation is to leave the 6th Street light because it easily meets eight-hour, four-hour and peak-hour demands.

“Fourth didn’t come anywhere close to meeting them,” he said, adding he would recommend removing that light.

Hawkins said if the council is interested in a broader traffic light modernization, he recommends an analysis to identify what needs to be done and its cost. Ward 5 Councilman Allan Hampton said that’s not all that is needed — the council also needs to know how to pay for it.

“It’s information we need to make that decision,” he said.