You Ask... Portsmouth Patch Answers

Many a Portsmouth area resident has contemplated why it takes them so long to cross some of the city's busiest intersections located at Congress, Islington streets and Maplewood Avenue as well as the intersections where Deer and Hanover streets meet Maplewood Avenue.

In this week's You Ask... Portsmouth Patch Answers, a reader named "Joe" asked this very question:

Hi Patch. My question, Why are the crossing lights at the intersections of Maplewood (Avenue) and Deer Street, Hanover Street, and Congress Street so pedestrian unfriendly? I've spent half my life waiting for the lights to allow me to cross and have watched many a person lose patience and take some terrible risks. My idea, no pedestrian should have to wait more than 15 seconds after pushing the button. What say you?

Well, Joe, according to Tom Cocchiaro, the city's parking operations supervisor, the answer lies in the number of traffic lights and when a pedestrian pushes the cross walk button. "Timing is everything," he said.

Cocchiaro said that particular area has four major through ways that have four different sets of traffic lights. When a pedestrian pushes the button to stop traffic so they can safely cross the intersection, Cocchiaro said all four traffic lights have to stop traffic and it takes longer than another street where one or two sets of traffic lights may exist.

Of the three intersections referenced in Joe's question, Cocchiaro said pedestrians should consider crossing Maplewood Avenue at the Hanover Street intersection if speed is of the essence.

"I would just go down to Hanover Street and just cross there and be done with it," he said.

If you have a question about Portsmouth that you like to get answered, send it to portsmouth-nh.patch.com or post a comment below and our team will dig up an answer. Be sure to check back each Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. for the next You Ask... Portsmouth Patch Answers column to get the answer.