St. Peters Approves Plan to Add More Flashing Yellow Lights

St. Peters will soon have more flashing yellow lights. 

In May 2011 the city tried out several flashing yellow lights at intersections throughout the city—the intersection on Mexico Road and Grand Teton Drive uses the flashing signal. According to the Suburban Journals, the city has plans to add 60 more of the signals to the 10 already in use. 

The lights will be added this spring. 

The St. Peters Board of Aldermen approved the new signals at the final meeting of 2012. The board approved an agreement with Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant and St. Charles County for matching funds. The project is expected to cost $300,000 with the bulk of the money, $240,000, coming from CMAQ grant. St. Peters will pick up $12,000 of the tab and St. Charles County's share is $48,000 from its half-cent transportation sales tax.

The flashing yellow signals are used in place of the green yield lights. Russ Batzel, St. Peters manager of transportation and development services, told the Journals that the reason for the increase of flashing yellows is safety. He said that the solid green light can sometimes be confusing and cause drivers to think they can go when they should yield. The flashing yellow, in Batzel's eyes, is easier understood. 

According to the Journals, the yellow arrows will be used throughout the city, but mainly on major roads Mexico, Willott and Jungermann roads and Mid Rivers Mall Drive.