We’ve received quite a few notes from readers that live in the Dearborn Hills area who, like us, are upset about the possible removal of the traffic signal at the intersection of Fordson and Telegraph. Those same people have contacted the Taylor office of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the office that is conducting the actual study on whether to keep the traffic signal or remove it. So we thought we might provide an update on the study now underway.

The study on whether to keep the signal was triggered by the state office of the Federal Highway Administration, whose ultimate role is to keep our roads safe. MDOT is working with the federal agency to deliver on that objective by studying traffic flow at this intersection.

Dearborn Hills residents want the traffic signal at Fordson and Telegraph to remain.

As MDOT describes it, any time a traffic signal (or stop sign) is installed it actually increases traffic accidents. Eliminate the signal and that section of roadway would see fewer rear end and side swipe accidents, according to MDOT.

While it sounds counterintuitive, MDOT says data shows that any time a motorist has to stop there is a high risk of vehicle “conflict.”

The city of Livonia, working with the Traffic Improvement Association (TIA), recently removed some 100 stop signs and traffic signals in its city as a way to reduce traffic accident and improve vehicle flow. The TIA has approached Dearborn, too, hoping to sell its services here.

The signal at Fordson was switched to a flashing signal on Dec. 5 and will continue through March 5, totaling 90 days in all. After that MDOT will finalize its study, working with Dearborn Police, and submit its findings to the Federal Highway Administration who will then make the determination on whether to remove the signal.

“It is not a foregone conclusion it will be removed,” said MDOT’s Michael Budai who is conducting the study. “We are working with the City of Dearborn, Dearborn Police and a very active neighborhood association. We are carefully studying the impact the flashing signal is having on traffic flow for that stretch of road.”

Dearborn Police have expressed concern to MDOT that the flashing signal has now caused vehicles to congest in the turnaround lane trying to head north on Telegraph from Rockford Street each morning and evening during peak business times. That isn’t safe.

Even so, the highway administration has a set of eight “signal rules” in its Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) handbook that it uses to determine whether to install or keep an existing traffic signal. Of course, the rules aren’t ironclad as city government, local police departments and neighborhood associations can have huge influences on placement of a signal should an intersection fail to meet the any of the eight signal rules.

One requirement in the MUTCD is that a traffic signal needs to have a vehicle flow of 400 vehicles per hour. Clearly, the number of vehicles exiting Fordson to the northbound lanes of Telegraph has never in its more than two decades in existence approached that level.

While people do cross at this interaction, it is not and was not designed as a crossing area, MDOT officials say. According to the MUTCD, to have a proper traffic walk signal installed for pedestrians there would require 150 crossings per hour. 

As much as we would want to have the traffic signal remain in operation, when you step back and look at the facts from MDOT, it appears the only way the light might stay is through a request or resolution by Dearborn city leaders. This is likely how the light was installed at this intersection more than 20 years ago – through city intervention on behalf of residents – as the intersection has likely never met the minimum traffic requirements set by the Federal Highway Administration in the first place.

“Everyone assumes it is going out but we are going to continue to evaluate it for the next 60 days,” Budai said. “It is by no means a foregone conclusion.”

Concerned residents can contact Mike Budai at MDOT at 313-375-2400 to make clear why the traffic signal should remain. Callers should be prepared to explain why the signal should remain in operation.