Photo by thisisbossi on Flickr.

Over the past two years, and especially over the past few months, the District Department of Transportation has re-timed hundreds of traffic signals throughout DC. Most recently, many stoplights downtown have been reprogrammed, which means that the street network now works very differently.

Some of our contributors have noticed, and have had divergent reactions. Ned Russell says his ride on Madison and then onto 15th is longer since the light at 15th and Maine no longer synchronizes with the previous light at Independence, especially considering it’s a downhill ride.

Jeff Lemieux thinks that there are longer cycles overall, which make things easier for rush hour commuters from Maryland and Virginia since there’s more time to clear intersections and also less box blocking.

Personally, I’ve noticed that I can now bike across the Mall at 4th or 7th streets without hitting a red light in the middle.

Regardless of whether you walk, bike, or drive to get around DC’s streets, have you noticed a change in the traffic signal timing along your route? If so, what have you noticed — are cycles generally longer or shorter, better or worse? Have these changes affected your travel patterns at all? Are there small changes to signal timing that could improve safety?

Payton Chung, LEED AP ND, CNUa, sees the promises and perils of planning every day as a resident of the Southwest Urban Renewal Area. He first addressed a city council about smart growth in 1996, accidentally authored Chicago’s inclusionary housing law, and blogs at west north. He currently serves as treasurer of GGWash's Board of Directors.