FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  John Davis or Steve Jansen, Traffic Section, Lee County DOT
               (239) 694-7600

ALTERNATING LIGHTS TO BE REACTIVATED AT SAN CARLOS BLVD., PRESCOTT/BUTTONWOOD

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 6, 2004) - In anticipation of heavier traffic due to tourist season, Lee County and the Town of Fort Myers Beach are reactivating the alternating-lane traffic signal on southbound San Carlos Boulevard near Matanzas Pass Bridge.

County crews will be out Wednesday morning to turn on the signals.

Tests the last several years have shown the signal scheme improves driver attitudes and it reduces road rage. Gridlock and time waiting in traffic are reduced and more cars ultimately are served on Estero Boulevard at Times Square.

Here's how it works.

San Carlos Boulevard narrows from two southbound lanes to one as it crosses the Matanzas Pass Bridge. This results in a merging traffic situation between Prescott Street/Buttonwood and Main Street because most drivers are aware of the merge and move into the left lane north of Prescott Street.

The problem this leads to is long traffic queues in the left lane while the right lane is only lightly used. An alternating traffic signal plan for the two lanes is intended to control the merging traffic and reduce the length of the line of cars by encouraging more equal use of both southbound lanes at Prescott Street.

The traffic signal has five traffic signal heads on the mast arm:

• The two rightmost signal heads control the right hand through lane, the two left signal heads control the left hand through lane, and the leftmost signal head controls the left turns. A barrier separates the two southbound through lanes.
   
• First, the two left signal heads are green and the two right signal heads are red, and left lane traffic proceeds while the right lane is stopped. For safety reasons, the north and south left turns only are permitted on the green arrow.
   
• Second, the two right signal heads are green and the two left signal heads are red, and the right lane traffic proceeds while the left lane is stopped.
   
• Third, the side street traffic is served.