Broken traffic signal flips off pedestrians

Britney Sorensen, traffic systems engineer, said the traffic department performs annual maintenance checks at each light and signal in town, but typically relies on the public to know when and where a system is not working properly. She suspects the explicit signal on South College uses outdated LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which likely caused the malfunction. There are not many older LED systems still being used in town, she said.

To fix the signal, Sorensen said it will likely cost $200, including labor and materials. The LED lights cost about $150.

The newer LED signals and lights, which last longer than and use less energy than incandescent lights, have a lifetime of about 10 years. Sorensen said the signals and lights are more susceptible to failure in the cold, but even then the department receives only "a handful" of repair calls every day.