The technical term for these shark-teeth triangles is “advanced yield markings.” Photo from walksacramento.org.
Councilman Mark Clayton recently asked TxDOT to conduct a traffic study on the Gaston-Garland-Grand intersection. Its current configuration was created for 1966 traffic, save for some new striping and markings TxDOT did this summer after repaving the Texas Highway.
The new markings may have created more confusion, however, for drivers traveling northbound on East Grand and turning left onto Gaston. The technical term for those shark teeth-looking triangles in the street lane are “advanced yield markings.” Cars are supposed to stop at the triangles until it is safe to proceed, which mean cars can travel just past the green light before they have to stop again and yield to drivers traveling southbound on Garland and curving west onto Gaston. (I didn’t know that the first time I saw them and incited some very angry honks.)
Confusion and dysfunction seem to be common complaints at that intersection, which is why Clayton spearheaded the study. It should be complete by late summer, but TxDOT wants public input before the study is complete. Clayton says we can expect public meetings in mid- to late-April (as soon as we know details, we’ll post them on lakewood.advocatemag.com). He wants to know what neighbors want to see happen at the intersection because so many of his constituents drive through it.
“It touches two-thirds of the district,” Clayton says. “It’s the gateway to East Dallas.”
