Traffic light
November 19th, 2012 by 
Alica
Now that the traffic light is installed at Holly Boulevard and Heritage Road, what do you think of it?
I’d like to hear from people who live in the Bluffs. Does the new light bring all the benefits you hoped it would?
How about the people in Eagle Creek? Does the light make things better, or worse, for you?
And how about everyone else? Is your commute to work easier now, or more complicated? Is it better in the morning than before? How about in the evening?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
November 19th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
This comment was posted on a different thread, but it is relevant here so I am reposting it on this thread.
Alica P. Thiele
What? Says:
November 19th, 2012 at 8:39 am e
Can we have a new blog started about the new light on Holly and the terrible light sequence they have out there. If anything is coming from the side streets or turning lanes the Holly lights turn red. Your now better off coming fromt he daycare or Bluffs. The poor people in the Eagle Creek division now have no hope of a left turn unless someone lets them in. Today it was solid traffic from the light back to Casey’s.
November 20th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Are you surprised the rich in the bluffs got the light, not the people in eagle creek?
November 20th, 2012 at 8:41 am
I wasn’t totally opposed to this stoplight originally. HOWEVER…
It has totally screwed up the morning and evening traffic flow!!! Between 7:30 - 8:00am (when I usually go to work)the new light has traffic backed up nearly into Brandon. I generally have to stop near the bridge just outside of town! I have timed how long it take to get through the light from that point, and it take around 10 minutes!!!
BRANDON OFFICIALS… Can you PLEASE change how this light functions!!!
The light is currently set to favor the cars coming from the Heritage Road sides or turning onto Heritage Rd. The second a car hits the sensors, the light changes. Sometimes I sit through 4-5 light changes in the morning! Even if the light had just changed, it will quickly change again with the next car! Also, if a car is in the turning lane on Holly to turn on Heritage, the light will change even if the car did not have to STOP on the sensor. So even without any oncoming traffic, the light changes and goes through a full cycle stopping traffic from all directions.
This is ludicrous! Please get this light set so that traffic flows better!
November 20th, 2012 at 11:52 am
Is this one of those things where goverment provides for the few and ignores the masses????
November 20th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
It’s money well spent! In my weekly commutes on Rice street (around 15 a week & outside of 7:00-8:45), I have seen maybe 2 cars utilize it.
Money (and pain in the ass) well spent. ::golf clap::
November 20th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Another half ass idea not thought out. If you can’t figure out how to program the light call someone from Sioux Falls, I’m sure they will help you out. Just like only doing half of Aspen Blvd, nice work, maybe spend less on the fancy sign at Aspen park and finish the road. You can only polish a turd so much and it is still a turd.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Lol, I thought that this would happen once that light would be installed. Cross traffic on an arterial road like Rice Street should take precedence over traffic coming from the bluffs and the green light should be ALOT longer, from what I gather here for east/west traffic.
November 20th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Also adding to this problem (now that light is installed) is just poor street planning by developers, why aren’t either Hertige Rd. or Creekside Cr./Dr. connected at all?? This would greatly improve commutes for anyone who lives in Eagle Creek if either were connected.
November 25th, 2012 at 7:53 am
The light should only function about 6 hrs per day. The rest of the time it should flash yellow/red
November 26th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Love the light! Try turning off of 6 mile road without the light, people made dangerous turns just to try to merge into oncoming traffic without it. Witnessed many of close calls.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:16 am
@6mile that makes no sense. There is a left turn lane onto 6 m where you can wait safely, a merge lane onto Rice to turn east without problems (I’ve done it almost daily for 15+ yrs) and if you’re trying to turn left onto Rice during the busiest times thats a you problem???
November 27th, 2012 at 10:21 am
The stoplight will be great once it gets adjusted correctly. Thank you to the city for putting it up and enhancing the safety in this area. It was a nightmare trying to get out of the daycare and dance studio! Good to have it in place!
November 27th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
To #12: Clarification: The state put up the stoplight. I’m glad you think it is a helpful light.
November 29th, 2012 at 7:43 am
It is our hope after some final inspections that are supposed occcur this week that the state will relinquish programming rights of the light to the City of Brandon. Keep your fingers crossed. Happy Holidays and God blessings to all.
November 29th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Thank you, Blaine. I always have hoped that this blog might be a venue for city and school officials to respond to public questions and comments, but that doesn’t happen very often. I try to respond to questions as best I can, but that often takes research on my part that cuts into my available work hours, sometimes significantly.
Open discussion is a good thing.
I hope the light gets set up for the most efficient use.
Thanks again.
Alica P. Thiele
November 29th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Wait, why did the state put this up? Last I checked Rice St. isn’t on the state highway system, but Minnehaha County and/or this portion lies with the city of Brandon.
December 4th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
the light cycling has NOT improved. residents at eagle creek addition AGAIN get the raw deal. WOW does traffic get backed up!all the way to the sioux river bridge. bumper to bumper! you Never get out. god forbid something bad should happen and then what? whoops oh well..the light for N/S traffic should not be tripped unless there is a vehcile there.. many a time i’ve stopped and NO CARS..so what tripped it? Nice knee jerk reaction to one dbag concern. wtg city council i commend you in not thinking the problem all the way through and just cowtowing to a few and forget the needs of the many. ughh
December 14th, 2012 at 10:30 pm
At 6:30am one Traffic was stopped at the light so a car could turn as I was approaching. The light turned green and about 30 seconds later it turned red again because another car came to the intersection to turn onto rice.. The car didn’t need the light as there was barely any traffic, but I of course had to stop. Definitely giving high priority to the few that have to turn onto Rice and low priority to the many that are driving to Sioux Falls.
December 14th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
With the frequent stops and disruptions of flow, there are actually more safety concerns due to this light. I understand the need for the light, but it is set up poorly and has an overall negative affect on traffic.