BRATTLEBORO — As the complaints about the new downtown traffic light system grow, the town is taking note and trying do something about it.
At a special meeting of the Brattleboro Selectboard on July 19, it was announced that the Brattleboro Police Department will begin enforcement this week of the “no right on red” law, with particular attention to the junction of Main Street, Canal Street, and Routes 119 and 142, otherwise known as “Malfunction Junction.”
Police Chief Eugene Wrinn said that officers will be stationed at the junction to monitor traffic, and to issue warnings or traffic citations as necessary.
He said that the goal is to educate motorists and cut down on traffic congestion at that intersection, and that enforcement will be done in a way that won't make the traffic problem worse.
The town continues to work with the state Agency of Transportation to identify and address backups.
While the Agency of Transportation has had its design engineers in town to review the system, the board said the agency has agreed to the town's request to have employees of the company that constructed the light system, Moulison North Corp. of Biddeford, Maine, return to town to monitor the signals, make changes, evaluate the situation, and make further modifications, if necessary.
Due to schedule conflict, a Moulison North representative will not be in town until the week of Aug. 12, the board said.
Between now and then, the town is soliciting input from motorists and pedestrians who experience delays at the lights. The town has created a form on the front page of its website to collect and collate the information to present to the Moulison North engineers.