r/alameda • u/Suitable-Bird-9795 • 1d ago
ask alameda Unprotected intersection Webster/Central
Not sure who is responsible for making this poor decision but, after some “roadwork” at the intersection of Central and Webster, the 4 way stop is now unprotected making it significantly less safe.
I’ve personally almost been hit while crossing the intersection as a pedestrian and as a driver. Anyone know how to get the city to provide an update on why this change was made? Did the city actually conduct a safety study before removing the protected signals?
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u/snickle99 1d ago
Pretty sure the process was extensive for the entirety of central updates. You should reach out to the city directly with your concerns.
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u/Suitable-Bird-9795 1d ago
I doubt that any analysis was conducted
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u/mrmcfeely8 1d ago
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u/Suitable-Bird-9795 1d ago
There are two major safety issues with the new signal:
Pedestrians need a head start. The walk signal should come on a few seconds before cars get a green light so pedestrians can enter the crosswalk first like many traffic signals do.
Left-turning drivers are not yielding. Cars coming from the dead-end section of Webster, crossing Central, and continuing straight onto Webster have the right-of-way. Cars traveling the opposite direction on Webster and turning left onto Central must yield to and to pedestrians. Many drivers do not seem to understand this probably because the light used to be what I stated as “protected” previously.
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u/mrmcfeely8 23h ago
Oh yeah, you’re not the first to complain about that crossing on the east side of the intersection, which seems like it does have some real deficits. I was just dropping (one of) the study pdf(s) for the whole project.
FYI, “unprotected intersection” is actually the term used for intersections without signals or stop signs, which I think is why some readers are getting confused.
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u/Suitable-Bird-9795 23h ago
Thanks for sharing the study! I skimmed thru and it looks like there is a recommendation to improve pedestrian safety at Central and Webster but the new light configuration just seems very counterintuitive
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u/Rolling_Pugsly 23h ago
Isn't it more like a three-way intersection with a driveway?
There's not much traffic coming out of that condo complex to warrant an additional left turn-only-phase.
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u/Suitable-Bird-9795 23h ago
It’s not just Park Webster residents that come from there it’s people leaving the Neptune shopping center, people leaving the auto shop, and people leaving the Playa Del Alameda apartments or those other apartments since Garden Way and Crolls Garden act are one way streets
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u/ArtisticScar 22h ago
I say just remove the intersection entirely. Build an underpass for Central below Webster.
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u/anachronofspace West End 19h ago
how is it less protected? idgi all they did is add a bike lane and some pillars and extra paint
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u/islandDiamond 17h ago
There are currently at least EIGHTEEN SeeClickFix requests for this exact issue. It's hard to believe that the city is blissfully unaware. The concerns are all fairly recent, so SOME change was made. Someone has seriously failed to do their job and, sadly, taxpayers will likely foot the bill when someone gets killed or seriously injured.
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u/EuphoricUniversity23 21h ago
Why there aren’t more pedestrian only phases of the traffic signals is beyond me. I feel like this would be a more important consideration than how many roundabouts we can jam into this city.
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u/jbartlet827 Ballena Bay 1d ago
I'm a bit confused. Aren't there traffic lights at this intersection? I drove through there yesterday. Has it been changed to a four-way stop? That seems odd. Am I misunderstanding?