Flashing Yellow Turn Signals to Improve Traffic in Perimeter Mall Area

Provided by Susan Long 

The Perimeter Transportation Operations Program (PTOP) is upgrading left-turn signals with yellow flashing arrows during the week of Jan. 6, 2014 at four intersections on Perimeter Center Parkway around Perimeter Mall.  

Flashing yellow arrows will be installed at the following intersections on Perimeter Center Parkway:

• Marriott Hotel entrance.

• Dunwoody MARTA Station entrance.

• First Perimeter Mall entrance north of the MARTA station entrance.

• 211 Perimeter Center Parkway entrance.

Perimeter is among the first locations in Metro Atlanta to use the new left-turn signal configuration, which has been used successfully in numerous states throughout the U.S. 

The new phasing will include the standard red arrow meaning no left-turn movements can be made followed by a steady yellow arrow indicating the left-turn phase is about to end.  Then a flashing yellow arrow will be included that signals to drivers that they can make a left turn after yielding to any oncoming traffic and pedestrians.  The last steady green arrow gives a protected right-of-way to drivers intending to make a left turn.  

“Drivers will have more opportunities to make a left turn with the flashing yellow arrow than with the present signals,” said PCIDs Program Manager Jennifer Harper, in a press statement. “This will significantly reduce the time spent waiting on a traffic signal and keep traffic flowing better.”

Harper also says that a national study shows drivers had fewer crashes with flashing yellow left-turn arrows than with traditional signals and that drivers have a high level of understanding about how to use the flashing yellow arrows.  

Funded by a $2.8 million grant from Georgia Department of Transportation, the three-year PTOP is a collaborative effort between the PCIDs and the cities of Brookhaven, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.