Signs Signals & Streetlights

Vegetation left unmaintained grows and blocks signs and the view of drivers, creating safety concerns. Keeping hundreds of intersections and thousands of signs clear of vegetation is a daunting task, we struggle to find the staff resources and budget to maintain them all.

We could use your help:

If you live next to an intersection or traffic sign, please trim the vegetation.

How far to trim:

Please trim the vegetation so it does not block signage or impair sight distance for drivers. Below are some general guidelines:

• Shrubs: Trim shrubs to below 2.5 feet (below waist height).
• Trees: Trim trees so that they do not hang lower than 10 feet, and in no way block traffic signs.

The goal is to enable a driver sitting at an intersection to be able to see approximately half a City block in both directions.

Questions about what and where to trim, contact Lee Keech at 360.753.8565 or publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us

When traffic volumes are low, some signals are put in a flash mode. Signals flash yellow or red in flash mode; the predominant movement in an intersection flashes yellow signaling to proceed with caution, while the cross street flashes red, meaning stop before proceeding. Flash mode is used to reduce delays when lack of detectors does not allow fully-actuated operation. Where flash mode is used, it starts at 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and at 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday—always ending at 7:00 a.m.

• Your name & contact information
• Pole location, including nearest street address
• Pole number (if possible)

It may take several weeks before a streetlight is repaired. Why?

• When a light goes out, it is not as simple as changing a light bulb in your home. Imagine having a 16-foot ceiling and having to get scaffolding every time a light goes out. That is what it is like for transportation crews. Crews must use a specialized truck and often have to cone off part of the street to change a light bulb.
• Many times, the problem is not just a burned out light bulb. Very often, the light needs repairs, including parts that may have to be ordered.
• The average life of a streetlight bulb is 4 to 5 years. With over 3,800 streetlights, crews change about 1,000 each year.
• As streetlight outages are reported, they are placed on a list. From that list, work orders are issued for several repairs in one area of town, saving staff time and resources.