A Google Earth image of Lincolnway looking east toward the troublesome Indiana Avenue intersection.
By Mike Kellems
I’ve been itching for some time now to write about my frustration with traffic in our city. To be fair, it seems to be everywhere, so I’m not just picking on LaPorte — although we do seem to be unique.
Mike Kellems
Before I rant, in all fairness, I have to admit that I am incredibly impatient; have been since birth, according to my mother. Second disclaimer: I’m partially convinced that Fidel Castro is attempting to destroy America by screwing with our traffic lights. But that’s between me and my psychiatrist.
Last week, as I traveled from the west end of LaPorte to the east, I caught the first six red lights, got a green one and then went back to red for the next three. Now, it could be that I have incredibly bad luck. (BOLD) Or … we need to seek a fix for our traffic lights. (BOLD)
A few weeks back I watched in amazement as the traffic backed up on Lincolnway from the overpass to the post office. On a Saturday at 10 a.m.! The problem there? The left turn onto the overpass stays green only long enough for three cars to make the turn.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat on Michigan at Lincolnway, waiting at the red light with no traffic at all coming down Lincolnway — and then, when there are hordes of cars approaching from the east and west, the light changes. For the sake of the sanity of the Lincolnway folks, I wouldn’t mind sitting a few extra seconds just to let my fellow citizens continue on the trek through town.
And I don’t know your experience, but I’ve sat so long at the red light on Jefferson at Indiana that I’ve considered having my mail forwarded there. And no matter what direction I travel from 6th and J streets, I can never, ever catch the green light at Andrew Avenue.
But let’s not leave out our sister city to the north! I don’t believe that I have ever caught the green light on Franklin at Greenwood. And of course, why shouldn’t the priority be for Greenwood traffic? After all, it leads to and from a cemetery!
I don’t know where the solution is or who has it. But I do know that this is America. If we can put a man on the moon and elect a Republican in this county, we should be able to figure out how to string a series of two or three lights together to help traffic flow better — and as a direct consequence, lower my blood pressure.
P.S.: The Indiana Department of Transportation has control over all the stoplights along Lincolnway.
MIKE KELLEMS is a captain with the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, a member of the LaPorte Community School Board, and a frequent contributor to WNLP.