Yellow not so mellow in TD: Blinking yellow traffic lights could change

The blinking yellow traffic lights on Second and Third streets on Sundays and in the early morning hours don’t always work for pedestrians and bicyclists. There is a move afoot to curtail the hours they operate.

By Tom Peterson

Bob Kenyon

The Dalles, Ore., July 25, 2023- Traffic lights on Second and Third streets in downtown The Dalles have been set to a blinking yellow on Sundays for decades, based on the low traffic volume.

It’s a somewhat unique feature of The Dalles, harkening back to earlier days and a slower pace of life.

But that may change soon as traffic and pedestrian pressure are increasing.

The blinking yellows allow the main flow of traffic to pass through the streets without stopping. Those driving on sidestreets are faced with a blinking red traffic light, telling drivers to come to a complete stop and proceed when the thoroughfares are clear. 

That’s not working anymore, according to Bob Kenyon.

On Monday, July 24, Kenyon of The Dalles told The Dalles City Council that a proposal has been made to the Dalles Traffic Safety Commission to limit the blinking yellows to 10 p.m. at night until 6 a.m. in the morning.

That would stop the lights from blinking all day on Sundays and during the rest of the week they would switch from blinking yellow to normal function at 6 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.

Kenyon said he was in favor of the idea, and on Sunday he attempted to cross the streets and found it difficult as drivers don’t always slow down when they see the yellow blinking lights.

“Traffic on Third and Second has increased exponentially, and the traffic down to the river has increased with more cyclists and pedestrians,” he told City Council. 

Kenyon said the situation has arisen since the building of Riverfront Trail, The Union Street Underpass in 2003, and the building of the Dalles boat dock thereafter, which draws pedestrians and bicyclists.   

“I have limited vision,” Kenyon said. “I’ve had to adapt to the situation… I tried to cross 8 times yesterday… believe me it does not always work.”

The Dalles City Manager Matthew Klebes said he had yet to receive a formal recommendation from the Traffic Safety Commission.

Russ Brown, who was in the audience, confirmed that the Traffic Safety Commission had received the request and responded to it positively.