Kaunas resident slams traffic chaos after green arrow signal removal

A Kaunas resident has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the current traffic management at the Gimnazijos Street intersection, describing daily commutes as a frustrating ordeal. The removal of a white sign with a green arrow, previously attached to the traffic light, has allegedly turned the journey to work into a significant challenge.

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I drive there constantly and have never seen an accident due to the turn with the arrow. So what problem was being solved here? What data was used? Did anyone even look at what this would do to traffic, or did they just decide it was too easy for Kaunas residents to get to work?

The resident explained that the previous setup allowed drivers to stop, check for safety, and proceed if clear. Now, with the green arrow gone, the traffic light signal is very short, forcing drivers to wait approximately two minutes for the next cycle. This has led to substantial queues, with the resident observing a line of seven cars, only two of which could pass before the light changed again. They calculated that the seventh car had to wait eight minutes to proceed, estimating that the intersection now handles only about 60 cars per hour during peak times, a drastic reduction from before.

The driver questioned the rationale behind removing the sign, noting the absence of any reported accidents related to its previous use. They expressed bewilderment as to what problem was being solved or what data supported the decision, suggesting it might be making commutes unnecessarily difficult for Kaunas residents.

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Such a decision already impacts the traffic flow at the mentioned intersection. We will feel this particularly at the beginning of the school year, with increased transport flows. We are receiving complaints from Žaliakalnis residents who use this exit.

In response, Martynas Matusevičius, head of the Transport and Traffic Organization Department of the Kaunas City Municipality Administration, confirmed that the green arrow sign was removed following repeated complaints and court considerations. He acknowledged the sign's importance for traffic flow and expressed concern about the impact, especially with increased traffic expected at the start of the school year. The municipality has appealed to the Transport Competence Agency to reinstate the sign, but current methodology has prevented its return.

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In the opinion of the municipality, the sign at this intersection is extremely important, its installation was based on traffic safety analysis, so we believe its return would be very important.