MDOT: We don't need no stinking traffic lights

This is an example of a city trying to take care of a problem before it happens, and a bureaucracy that won't take steps until after the problem occurs. Sandersville wants a traffic light because of expectations of more traffic once a new casino is open. But MDOT apparently can only react and not solve a problem before it happens.

Sandersville Mayor Walter “Buzz” Jack and other town and county officials met with Southern Transportation Commissioner Wayne H. Brown Wednesday to discuss the possibility of installing a traffic light at the intersection of Highway 11 and Main Street in the small Jones County community.

Brown and Pol said Mississippi Department of Transportation officials have determined that a traffic light is not warranted in the area. Brown said MDOT looked at such things as traffic, concentration, accident records, speed, proximity to the railroad and other factors in reaching its decision.

“Traffic signals do not necessarily reduce traffic,” explained Brown. “Neither do they promote safety.”

Now this is the best part.

He pointed out a section of highway in Gulfport were traffic signals were put up with the expectation of having a safer roadway. However Brown said more than 300 accidents occurred on the section of road that had traffic lights, while only about 45 occurred where there were no lights.

That's right. According to MDOT Commissioner Wayne Brown, traffic lights are dangerous. They increase accidents.

The commissioner told the group that the average cost of a traffic light is $500,000.

A traffic light costs half-a-million dollars. We're all in the wrong business. The good news is we can fix some of the state budget problems. According to Wayne Brown, traffic lights are expensive and dangerous. Why don't we just not install any more?

Still not convinced a traffic light wouldn’t be good for the area, Jack asked if a traffic light could be installed at the intersection if the town and Choctaws partnered to do it.

“No, we will not issue a permit for a traffic light unless it is warranted,” replied Brown. “We’ll look at it again if things change somewhere down the road.”

If something changes somewhere down the road...you mean like a casino opening down the road?

Strain advised those in attendance that the casino is scheduled to open Dec. 20. “We are looking at a daily average of about 500 to 600 cars,” said Strain. “That number may increase during the weekends.”

We suspect there are instances of MDOT putting up traffic lights in anticipation of events rather than just based on past traffic levels.

“We are concerned about safety, not so much for the people going to the casino, but for those who live here,” said Jack. “Once the casino opens, I’m sure we will begin to hear complaints from our people about not being able to get from one side of the road to the other.

“We wanted to avoid some of these things and were looking at a traffic light as a good way of doing it.”

Sandersville, this is really a local problem. It isn't like MDOT created it.

Jack said a traffic light once stood at the intersection, but was removed when the state did some work on Highway 11. He said the town was told that a traffic light or flashing yellow lights would be placed at the intersection, but so far the town hasn’t received anything.

Oh, well, look at it this way Sandersville, MDOT did you a favor by removing that dangerous traffic light. Although it would be interesting to know where that traffic light went. Did it go up somewhere else? Is it in storage? Was it sold? We have determined they are quite valuable. But then again, why anyone would want to buy such a dangerous thing?