government inefficiency in action, it took 10 months and 2.4 million dollars to activate a single stop light in Fresno

 According to a new report from Streets Are For Everyone, from 2021 to 2023, intersection violations in Fresno County led to 55 deaths and 153 serious injuries. that’s 18 people killed and 51 badly hurt each year, giving the county the dubious distinction of leading California’s larger counties in red-light and intersection crashes 

So in 2018 plans began for a new traffic light at the intersection of Fowler and Olive in Fresno County.

The county was behind the idea, but the light sat on the edge of city limits, and was built to meet city regulations

Add to the complication of those two government entities trying to work out the details to the work of purchasing the land, securing rights of way, buying equipment, etc

 

Once the signal was installed, it still took nearly ten months before the city could finally switch on the light.

A traffic light installation just a mile and a half away took only three months from ground-marking to activation, because that project fell entirely within city limits and was managed by a private homebuilder.

https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/10-months-and-2-4-million-later-fresno-turns-on-traffic-signal/