Greeley traffic lights synched by master computer

Question -- In Houston, the city syncs its traffic lights so you can drive across the city without stopping. It really cut down on pollution. Why can't we sync our lights to do the same?

Answer -- Steve Bagley, Greeley traffic engineer, said the lights are synched and run on a software program master computer that needs to be reprogrammed periodically because they sometimes get out of sync.

The computer program uses analyses of traffic patterns so the roads with the most traffic wait the least at lights. "Somebody's got to stop," Bagley said.

Occasionally, the city hires consultants who make recommendations based on what they observe of how Greeley traffic flows, Bagley said. The down side to that, Bagley said, is that Greeley workers can do some of it themselves but not all of it, so the city has to pay for some of it.

Question -- My wife and I live off of 71st Avenue just north of the U.S. 34 bypass. Getting onto the eastbound lanes in the mornings and evenings is getting nearly impossible because of the traffic. We have to leave at least 15 minutes early to have time to wait at the intersection. Is the city going to put in a traffic light there anytime soon?

Answer -- Bagley said there are no immediate plans to put a stop light at the intersection. By law, the city has to do a signal warrant to prove that it needs a stop light there. The warrant takes into consideration turn lane waits, accidents and pedestrians among other things.

Sometimes, Bagley said, there can be a political movement to put a stop light at certain intersections, but that he doubts a study at the intersection would warrant a stop light, which cost more than $200,000.

Greeley has about 115 intersections with traffic lights, Bagley said.

Question -- I wanted to give you an update on an Action Line tip you tried to help me with. As of today's date, the owner of the oil change shop that damaged the hood of my car has not paid for the damage to my vehicle. I had to put the claim for payment through my insurance company, and the company has turned it over to collections. To refresh your memory: The hood of my Nissan Xterra was damaged during an oil change by employees at the shop. The owner said he would pay for the damage but then just kept putting me off and putting me off. When you called and spoke to him, he told you he intended to pay. But he has not paid and there is no indication that he intends to.

Answer -- The owner told me that he has paid for both the damage to your car and the $50 rental car that you had to get when the repair shop was working on your car.

When I spoke with you Friday afternoon, you told me that the insurance company did in fact receive payment from him for the car and the repairs a couple of days ago.

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My own warning

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