Bureaucratic Delays and Million-Dollar Costs
Sometimes bureaucracy not only slows down processes but practically halts them. The term red tape is often associated with government excess, endless rules, and unfinished projects. However, we rarely get the opportunity to see exactly how this corresponds to stereotypes.
A vivid example comes from California, where one traffic light started operating only almost a year after installation, and its cost amounted to approximately $2.4 million.
Key Points of the Story
Project Start and Bureaucratic Obstacles
The project began in 2018 when planning started for a new traffic light at the intersection of Fowler and Olive in Fresno County. The idea belonged to the county, but because the traffic light was located on the border of the city territory, permission from the City of Fresno was required to advance the project.
The county had to build the traffic light in accordance with city standards. The difficulties associated with coordinating two government structures were compounded by tasks related to land purchase, obtaining right-of-way, equipment procurement, and landscaping, which partially explains the duration of the process.
The entire infrastructure was not available until recently. We saw some poles being installed in the ground, and it seemed they stood there for many months before we saw a fully formed intersection
After the traffic light was installed, it took almost ten more months before the city could finally turn it on. The City of Fresno will now maintain the traffic light.
Positive Changes for Local Residents
Local business owners report that the difference is significant. Hank Bocchini Jr., whose family owns the nearby Hank’s Golf Club, said that exiting his driveway used to be a daily risk.
There were times when we couldn’t even get out. Now traffic flow has improved significantly
Recent data confirms his words. According to a new report by the organization Streets for All, from 2021 to 2023, violations at intersections in Fresno County led to 55 deaths and 153 serious injuries. On average, 18 people died each year, and 51 sustained serious injuries, giving the county the dubious distinction of being the leader among large California counties in traffic light and intersection accidents.
Comparison with Other Projects
For comparison, another traffic light installation one and a half miles away, at Temperance Avenue and McKinley, took only three months from marking to commissioning. The reason for this difference was that this project was entirely within city limits and managed by a private developer. Fewer approval levels accelerated the process. This may not always be the perfect scenario, but it’s easy to imagine that Fresno residents would have liked their project to develop similarly.
This case illustrates how administrative barriers can significantly impact the efficiency of infrastructure project implementation. While road safety has improved, the time and cost to achieve this result raise questions about optimizing interagency cooperation. Perhaps the experience of other projects involving private contractors should be considered for future initiatives to reduce the burden on the budget and accelerate the implementation of vital changes.