City engineers have temporarily reconfigured the traffic lights at two central downtown intersections to flashing‑red, creating an all‑way stop environment for the duration of a month‑long pilot. The change affects Lincoln Avenue & Mill Street and Lincoln Avenue & Court Street and is intended to give planners real‑world data on how driver and pedestrian patterns respond to an alternate control scheme.

During the pilot the regular pedestrian signals have been turned off. Pedestrians remain permitted to use crosswalks, but the city emphasizes that drivers must yield to people in the crosswalks. Motorists will encounter the flashing red indications and are expected to stop and proceed in the same manner they would at an all‑way stop. The city has not activated temporary audible pedestrian cues, and there are no regular signal displays while the test is in effect.

Public Works is administering the pilot and will collect feedback and performance information from residents and traffic observations. Community members are encouraged to submit comments and any concerns through the city website so that staff can factor lived experience into the evaluation. The pilot is framed as a data‑gathering exercise to assess impacts on traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and local access.

For local drivers, the immediate effects may include changes in queuing and delays at peak times as motorists adjust to the all‑way stop behavior. Pedestrians, including older adults and people with disabilities, should be alert to the inactive pedestrian signals and should exercise caution when entering crosswalks. Businesses along Lincoln Avenue may notice slight changes to customer circulation and delivery timing while drivers adapt to the new control pattern.

The experiment follows common practice in traffic management where short, reversible pilots are used to test modifications before making permanent infrastructure changes. The compact duration allows engineers to compare vehicle counts, turning movements, and pedestrian crossings under different control regimes without committing to a long‑term overhaul.

Officials will analyze the pilot data alongside community feedback to decide whether to return the signals to automatic operation, keep the all‑way stop configuration, or explore other changes such as timing adjustments or enhanced signage. In the meantime, residents who use these intersections are asked to remain attentive, obey the flashing‑red indications as all‑way stops, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and provide feedback through the city’s Public Works portal.